Proverbs 18:24

What’s in your Bible: Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

That makes sense, if you have friends you have to reciprocate and be friendly back if you want to keep them.

If you want a relationship with Jesus, you still need to be in a relationship with Him but He will never leave you.

What do the new versions say?

NIV One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin.

Unreliable friends, oh, okay. So unreliable friends will ruin you.

They won’t just leave, they’ll ruin you?

Does that also mean reliable friends won’t ruin you?

Won’t bad reliable friends still ruin you?

ESV A man of many companions may come to ruin.

So having lots of friends may ruin you.

NASV too many friends comes to ruin

Too many friends will ruin you. How many is too many?

New World Translation: There exist companions disposed to break one another to pieces.

(They evidently haven’t seen my two boys when they’re together.)

So, let’s recap.

NIV says unreliable friends will ruin you

ESV says lots of friends may ruin you

NASV says lots of friends will ruin you

NWT says companions want to break you.

King James says in order to have friends you have to be friendly.

All Bibles say the same thing right?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God!

Dr. Steven A. HIte