the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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New Living Translation
Proverbs 18:24
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A man of too many friends comes to ruin,But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man that wyll haue frendes, must shewe hym selfe frendly: and there is a frende whiche is nearer then a brother.
A man of [many] friends will come to ruin but there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, [fn] But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of friends may be broken up, but there is a Lover who sticks closer than a brother.
Some friends are fun to be with, but a true friend can be better than a brother.
A man of many companions may be ruined, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man that hath friends must shewe himselfe friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer then a brother.
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A frende that delyteth in loue, doth a man more fredshipe, and sticketh faster vnto him then a brother.
Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
He that makes many friends [does it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
Some "friends" pretend to be friends, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
A man that hath friends, ought to shew him selfe friendly: for a friend is neerer then a brother.
There are friends who are merely friends; and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may be ruined, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
There are friends that one hath to his own hurt; but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man who has friends must be a friend, but there is a friend who stays nearer than a brother.
He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction: but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.
A man having many friends, shall come to ruin, but there is a loving one, who sticketh closer than a brother.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
A man of many friends will come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Some friends may ruin you, but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother.
Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.
A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
A man freendli to felouschipe schal more be a frend, than a brothir.
There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
that hath: Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 27:9, 1 Samuel 19:4, 1 Samuel 19:5, 1 Samuel 30:26-31, 2 Samuel 9:1-13, 2 Samuel 16:17, 2 Samuel 17:27-29, 2 Samuel 19:30-39, 2 Samuel 21:7, 1 Chronicles 12:38-40, Matthew 26:49, Matthew 26:50
there: 2 Samuel 1:26, John 15:14, John 15:15
Reciprocal: Genesis 21:27 - took Genesis 23:7 - General Genesis 39:8 - my master Deuteronomy 13:6 - thy brother Joshua 2:14 - when the Lord Ruth 1:14 - but Ruth Ruth 4:15 - better 1 Samuel 18:1 - loved him 1 Samuel 20:17 - for he loved 2 Samuel 15:15 - Behold 2 Samuel 15:21 - surely Job 2:11 - friends Job 19:14 - kinsfolk Proverbs 27:10 - better Mark 14:31 - he spake Luke 5:7 - that they should
Cross-References
Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?'
Is anything too hard for the Lord ? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son."
Finally, Abraham said, "Lord, please don't be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?" And the Lord replied, "Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten."
If the Lord of Heaven's Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.
"Run up and down every street in Jerusalem," says the Lord . "Look high and low; search throughout the city! If you can find even one just and honest person, I will not destroy the city.
and he said, ‘Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.'
Gill's Notes on the Bible
A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly,.... Friendship ought to be mutual and reciprocal, as between David and Jonathan; a man that receives friendship ought to return it, or otherwise he is guilty of great ingratitude. This may be spiritually applied; a believer is "a man of friends" b, as it may be rendered; he has many friends: God is his friend, as appears by his early love to him, his choice of him, and provisions of grace for him; by sending his son to save him; by visiting him, not only in a way of providence, but of grace; by disclosing his secrets, showing his covenant to him, and by making him his heir, and a joint heir with Christ. Christ is his friend, as is evident from his visiting him at his incarnation; and in a spiritual way, by the communication of his secrets to him; by his hearty counsel and faithful reproofs; by his undertaking and doing for him what he has; and especially by suffering and dying in his room and stead. The Holy Spirit is his friend, which he has shown by discovering to him his woeful estate by nature, and the way of salvation by Christ; by working all his works in him; by acting the part of a Comforter to him; by revealing divine things to him, by helping him under all his infirmities; by making intercession for him according to the will of God; and by making him meet for eternal glory and happiness: angels are his friends, as is plain by their well pleasedness with the incarnation of Christ for men; and which they express at their conversion; by their ministering to them, their protection of them, and the good offices they do them both in life and at death; and saints are friends to one another: and such should show themselves friendly to God, their covenant God and Father; by frequently visiting him at the throne of grace; by trusting in him; by a carefulness not to offend, but please him; and by a close and faithful adherence to his cause and interest: to Jesus Christ their Redeemer, by a ready obedience to his commands; by owning and using him as their friend; by taking notice of his friends, and showing them respect, his ministers and poor saints; by cleaving to him, and renouncing the friendship of his enemies: and likewise to the Holy Spirit, by not grieving, quenching, and despising him; but by making use of him, and giving up themselves to his influence and direction; and by acknowledging him as the author of all their grace: also to angels, by speaking well of them, owning their good offices, and reckoning it an honour that they are come and joined to such a company; and to the saints, by Christian conversation with them, by sympathizing with them in all conditions, by hearty counsel, faithful reproofs and admonitions, and by helping them in every distress, inward and outward;
and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother; who is to a man as his own soul, Deuteronomy 13:6; and so are of one heart and soul, as Jonathan and David, and the first Christians, were; this is true of Christ, and may be expressive of the close union between him and his people; and of his close adherence to their cause and interest; and of his constancy and continuance as a friend at all times; and of his faithfulness and unchangeableness as such; see Proverbs 17:17. The Heathens had a deity which presided over friendship, which they called Jupiter Philios c: the character best agrees with the true God, who is a friend to men himself, and loves friendship among them.
b איש רעים "vir amicorum", Montanus, Vatablus, Baynus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "vir sodalium", Cocceius, Schultens. c Aristoph. Acharn. Act. 3. Sc. 2. v. 2. Pausan. Arcadica sive, l. 8. p. 506.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Better, “A man of many companions is so to his own destruction, but there is a friend (the true, loving friend) etc.” It is not the multitude of so called friends that helps us. They may only embarrass and perplex. What we prize is the one whose love is stronger and purer even than all ties of kindred.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 18:24. A man that hath friends must show himself friendly — Love begets love; and love requires love as its recompense. If a man do not maintain a friendly carriage, he cannot expect to retain his friends. Friendship is a good plant; but it requires cultivation to make it grow.
There is a kind of factitious friendship in the world, that, to show one's self friendly in it, is very expensive, and in every way utterly unprofitable: it is maintained by expensive parties, feasts, c., where the table groans with dainties, and where the conversation is either jejune and insipid, or calumnious backbiting, talebearing, and scandal, being the general topics of the different squads in company.
There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. — In many cases the genuine friend has shown more attachment, and rendered greater benefits, than the natural brother. Some apply this to God; others to Christ; but the text has no such meaning.
But critics and commentators are not agreed on the translation of this verse. The original is condensed and obscure. אוש רעים להתרועע ish reim lehithroea, or lehithroeang, as some would read, who translate: A man of friends may ring again; i.e., he may boast and mightily exult: but there is a friend, אהב oheb, a lover, that sticketh closer, דבק dabek, is glued or cemented, מאח meach, beyond, or more than, a brother. The former will continue during prosperity, but the latter continues closely united to his friend, even in the most disastrous circumstances.
Hence that maxim of Cicero, so often repeated, and so well known: -
Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur.
"In doubtful times the genuine friend is known."
A late commentator has translated the verse thus: -
The man that hath many friends is ready to be ruined:
But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
HOLDEN.
"A frende that delyteth in love, doth a man more frendship, and sticketh faster unto him, than a brother." - Coverdale.
"A man that hath friends ought to show himself friendly, for a friend is nearer than a brother." - BARKER'S Bible, 1615.
"A man amyable to felowschip, more a freend schal ben thanne a brother." - Old MS. Bible. The two last verses in this chapter, and the two first of the next, are wanting in the Septuagint and Arabic.
These are the principal varieties; out of them the reader may choose. I have already given my opinion.
