Daily Bible Nugget #733, Proverbs 18:24

The Nugget:

Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (KJV)

Pro 18:24 A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Darby Bible, 1889)

Pro 18:24 There are friends who may be a man’s destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother. (Basic English Bible)

Pro 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (ESV)

Pro 18:24  Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Pro 18:24  Friends can destroy one another, but a loving friend can stick closer than family. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 18:24  A man with many friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (TLV, Tree of Life Version)

Pro 18:24  Some friendships don’t last for long, but there is one loving friend who is joined to your heart closer than any other! (TPT, The Passion Translation)

Pro 18:24  A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NIV, New International Version, 1984)

Pro 18:24  There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT, New Living Translation, 2004)

My Comment:

Compare Proverbs 18:24 to 1 Corinthians 15:33,

1 Corinthians 15:33
33  So stop fooling yourselves! Evil companions will corrupt good morals and character.
The Passion Translation

See also Psalm 119:63,

Psa 119:63 I choose as my friends everyone who worships you and follows your teachings. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Psa 119:63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (KJV)

Always be extremely careful of the friends you choose and of anyone with whom you enter any kind of business relationship!

2 Corinthians 6:14
14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
King James Version

At one time it was possible to find reliable friends who regularly attended a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. Even there you must be careful. It is more likely that you will find those of more mature faith among those who regularly attend prayer meetings and small group Bible studies, not just the Sunday services. Even there you must be careful to find those who are genuinely doers of the Word and not hearers only!

James 1:22
22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
King James Version

This entry was posted in Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Practical Application Bible Studies, Principles of Christian Living and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Daily Bible Nugget #733, Proverbs 18:24

  1. Lisa K Leo says:

    I noticed you sometimes use TPT which is not a good translation of the Bible – the person who wrote it (Brian Simmons) claims to expand on God’s word through special revelation. Are you aware of this and do you plan to continue to use TPT? Thank you, Lisa

  2. Jerry says:

    Thank you, Lisa, for calling attention to potential problems with The Passion Translation (TPT).

    I just did a brief search on line and among other things found this statement on Wikipedia:

    “However, many pastors and denominations reject the translation. Pastor Andrew Wilson writes: “The Passion ‘translation’ inserts all kinds of concepts, words and ideas of which the original gives no hint whatsoever […] This example comes from the promotional website. In Gal 2:19, hina theō zēsō, which simply means ‘that I might live for God’, has been ‘translated’ as ‘so that I can live for God in heaven’s freedom’ To be clear: there is no indication whatsoever in the Greek of that sentence, or the rest of the chapter, that either heaven or its freedom are in view in this text. It’s not a translation. It’s an interpolation, or a gloss, or (more bluntly) an addition.”

    In regard to Galatians 2:19, it reads:

    Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. (KJV)

    Gal 2:19  “But because the Messiah lives in me, I’ve now died to the law’s dominion over me so that I can live for God. (TPT)

    As with some other modern English translations, there is a difference in the versification such that part of Galatians 2:20 is included in Galatians 2:19.

    The additions to the text at Galatians 2:19, “in heaven’s freedom” are not included in the 2017 e-Sword edition that I have used.

    I saw no specific statement of faith on the Passion translation website, but I observed that it is a newer Pentecostal/Charismatic group or movement.

    I, personally, am not charismatic or Pentecostal. God is NOT in the business today of bringing forth any new divine revelation. We are to go entirely by what is written in the Bible, and certainly we are not to add to the words of its text.

    I read that Bible Gateway has removed the Passion Translation from its site. I respect their choice.

    I know enough about the original text of Scripture such that I can tell if a translation has misrepresented what the original text intended to convey if I have made a careful study of the text involved.

    If I use the TPT in the future, I will certainly watch extra carefully for any possible problems present in the translation, thanks to your kind alert.

    I have not been able to verify or document your comment that “the person who wrote it (Brian Simmons) claims to expand on God’s word through special revelation” is correct. If you have a linkable source or can quote exactly a printed/published source that documents this claim, feel free to post it here!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with Facebook

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.