Proverbs 18:24 (ASV)

Passage

He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

Proverbs 18:23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.

Proverbs 18:24 He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "maketh", "friends", "doeth", "destruction", "sticketh", "closer", and "than". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "maketh" and "friends", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "The poor useth entreaties But the rich...", giving immediate footing for "maketh" and "friends". In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "maketh" and "friends" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.