What Does the Bible Say About Good Companions?

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 12:26 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

John 15:12-15 ESV / 6 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.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV / 6 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!

Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV / 6 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 16:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

John 15:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

James 4:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

1 Samuel 18:1-3 ESV / 4 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.

1 John 4:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 3 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.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

1 John 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

2 Peter 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

James 4:4 ESV / 2 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.

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 2 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 2 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 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV / 2 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,

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 2 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.

Romans 12:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 5:10 ESV / 2 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.

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

Acts 15:36-41 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ...

Acts 1:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ...

John 15:15 ESV / 2 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.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 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.

Luke 5:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Matthew 19:3-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” ...

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 2 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 25:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it. Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

Proverbs 22:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

Proverbs 22:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 3:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.

Psalm 55:12-14 ESV / 2 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 23:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Job 2:11 ESV / 2 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.

2 Kings 2:2 ESV / 2 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.

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV / 2 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.”

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

62 Bible Verses about Good Companions

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:17 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:26 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:12-15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:24-25 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 27:5-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 18:1-3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Samuel 18:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 6:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 5:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 15:36-41 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 1:1-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:3-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 25:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 22:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 3:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:63 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 55:12-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Job 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Kings 2:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ruth 1:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 2:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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