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Proverbs 18:24
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24, King James Version (KJV)
“A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
World English Bible (WEB)
Proverbs 18 (KJV)
- 1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
- 2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
- 3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
- 4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
- 5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
- 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
- 8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
- 9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
- 10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
- 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
- 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
- 13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- 14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
- 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
- 16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
- 17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
- 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
- 19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
- 20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
- 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
- 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
- 23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
- 24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Related verses
Passages that readers often connect with Proverbs 18:24, in the King James Version.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. …
Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
2 Samuel 1:26
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
1 Samuel 19:4–5
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: …
2 Samuel 9:1–13
And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake? …
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1769 standardized text (eBible.org eng-kjv). Public domain outside the United Kingdom. Text courtesy of the Crosswire Bible Society and eBible.org. World English Bible Protestant Edition (eBible engwebp, 2026-09-15 snapshot). Public domain. World English Bible is a trademark of eBible.org. Text unmodified; footnotes and formatting omitted. Related verses: OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0), from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.