100 Bible Verses about Bad Friends

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 1,201 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 565 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Matthew 5:30 ESV / 482 helpful votes

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV / 472 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 453 helpful votes

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 341 helpful votes

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 14:7 ESV / 297 helpful votes

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

1 John 4:8 ESV / 261 helpful votes

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 232 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 225 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 3:17 ESV / 222 helpful votes

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Proverbs 12:26 ESV / 218 helpful votes

One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

1 John 3:7-8 ESV / 208 helpful votes

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Titus 3:9-11 ESV / 197 helpful votes

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 197 helpful votes

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 1:10 ESV / 153 helpful votes

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 151 helpful votes

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 126 helpful votes

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 118 helpful votes

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 118 helpful votes

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 117 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 104 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

James 4:4 ESV / 84 helpful votes

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Luke 6:31 ESV / 84 helpful votes

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

John 8:34 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 68 helpful votes

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

John 15:13 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:12-15 ESV / 61 helpful votes

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 27:9 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

Job 2:11 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 58 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 56 helpful votes

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Psalm 139:14 ESV / 56 helpful votes

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 52 helpful votes

Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Proverbs 14:6-7 ESV / 50 helpful votes

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Psalm 1:1 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

Proverbs 24:5 ESV / 47 helpful votes

A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

John 3:16 ESV / 46 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Job 22:18 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Yet he filled their houses with good things— but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

2 Kings 2:2 ESV / 46 helpful votes

And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV / 45 helpful votes

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Romans 12:10 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Proverbs 12:6 ESV / 45 helpful votes

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

Matthew 28:20 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 25:46 ESV / 38 helpful votes

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Jonah 2:2 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

Job 6:14 ESV / 38 helpful votes

“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 37 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 15:15 ESV / 36 helpful votes

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Exodus 33:11 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

John 1:3 ESV / 35 helpful votes

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

John 8:44 ESV / 34 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Psalm 35:11 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know.

1 John 3:1-2 ESV / 33 helpful votes

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Acts 20:29 ESV / 33 helpful votes

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Proverbs 22:11 ESV / 33 helpful votes

He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

Proverbs 2:12-15 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Romans 1:24 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Psalm 55:12-14 ESV / 31 helpful votes

For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

Psalm 86:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalm 3:2-3 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

John 15:13-15 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 28:7 ESV / 28 helpful votes

The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

James 4:7 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Proverbs 27:10 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Proverbs 1:1-33 ESV / 27 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ...

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 5:10 ESV / 26 helpful votes

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Acts 4:12 ESV / 26 helpful votes

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV / 25 helpful votes

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:1-31 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ...

Romans 7:7-14 ESV / 24 helpful votes

What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. ...

Acts 2:31 ESV / 24 helpful votes

He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Acts 2:25 ESV / 24 helpful votes

For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

Luke 2:52 ESV / 24 helpful votes

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Psalm 26:4-5 ESV / 24 helpful votes

I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

1 Samuel 18:1-3 ESV / 24 helpful votes

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

Matthew 5:29-30 ESV / 23 helpful votes

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Matthew 18:20 ESV / 22 helpful votes

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Luke 1:37 ESV / 21 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV / 21 helpful votes

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

1 John 4:7 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

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