Proverbs 27:17

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Heb 10:24 : 24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,
  • Job 4:3-4 : 3 Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands. 4 Your words have supported those who stumbled, and you have strengthened the knees that gave way.
  • Prov 27:9 : 9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.
  • 1 Sam 23:16 : 16 Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God.
  • 2 Tim 2:3 : 3 Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
  • 1 Pet 4:12-13 : 12 Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.
  • Isa 35:3-4 : 3 Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake! 4 Tell those who panic,“Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.”
  • 2 Tim 1:8 : 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.
  • Jas 1:2 : 2 Joy in Trials My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,
  • 2 Tim 1:12 : 12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
  • 1 Thess 3:3 : 3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
  • 2 Sam 10:11-12 : 11 Joab said,“If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue. 12 Be strong! Let’s fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The LORD will do what he decides is best!”
  • 2 Tim 2:9-9 : 9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned! 10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 27:18-19
    2 verses
    77%

    18The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever takes care of his master will be honored.

    19As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person’s heart reflects the person.

  • Prov 27:9-11
    3 verses
    75%

    9Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.

    10Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

    11Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

  • Prov 17:17-18
    2 verses
    74%

    17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.

    18The one who lacks sense strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

  • Eccl 10:9-10
    2 verses
    74%

    9One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

    10If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

  • Prov 18:24
    73%

    24There are companions who harm one another, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

  • Prov 27:14-16
    3 verses
    72%

    14If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.

    15A continual dripping on a rainy day– a contentious wife makes herself like that.

    16Whoever contains her has contained the wind or can grasp oil with his right hand.

  • Prov 27:21
    71%

    21As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person must put his praise to the test.

  • Jer 15:12
    71%

    12Can you people who are like iron and bronze break that iron fist from the north?

  • Isa 41:6-7
    2 verses
    71%

    6They help one another; one says to the other,‘Be strong!’

    7The craftsman encourages the metalsmith, the one who wields the hammer encourages the one who pounds on the anvil. He approves the quality of the welding, and nails it down so it won’t fall over.”

  • Prov 27:5-6
    2 verses
    69%

    5Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

    6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

  • Prov 6:3
    69%

    3then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.

  • Prov 22:11
    68%

    11The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious– the king will be his friend.

  • Prov 17:3
    68%

    3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.

  • Eccl 4:9-11
    3 verses
    68%

    9Labor is Beneficial When Its Rewards Are Shared Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

    10For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

    11Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

  • Prov 16:28
    68%

    28A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.

  • Prov 21:29
    68%

    29A wicked person has put on a bold face, but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

  • 1 Sam 13:20
    68%

    20So all Israel had to go down to the Philistines in order to get their plowshares, cutting instruments, axes, and sickles sharpened.

  • Ps 55:13
    68%

    13But it is you, a man like me, my close friend in whom I confided.

  • Job 41:27
    68%

    27It regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood.

  • Job 6:27
    67%

    27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend.

  • Eccl 8:1
    67%

    1Human Government Demonstrates Limitations of Wisdom Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person’s wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

  • Prov 17:9
    67%

    9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

  • Ezek 21:9-11
    3 verses
    67%

    9“Son of man, prophesy and say:‘This is what the Lord says:“‘A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also polished.

    10It is sharpened for slaughter, it is polished to flash like lightning!“‘Should we rejoice in the scepter of my son? No! The sword despises every tree!

    11“‘He gave it to be polished, to be grasped in the hand– the sword is sharpened, it is polished– giving it into the hand of the executioner.

  • Prov 25:18
    67%

    18Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

  • Prov 26:18-19
    2 verses
    67%

    18Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows,

    19so is a person who has deceived his neighbor, and said,“Was I not only joking?”

  • Prov 25:22-23
    2 verses
    67%

    22for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

    23The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

  • Job 5:17
    67%

    17“Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

  • Job 28:2
    67%

    2Iron is taken from the ground, and rock is poured out as copper.

  • Prov 25:11
    67%

    11Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.

  • Prov 15:23
    67%

    23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!

  • Job 22:21
    66%

    21“Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.

  • Prov 22:24
    66%

    24Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person,

  • Prov 19:4
    66%

    4Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.

  • Prov 13:20
    66%

    20The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

  • Job 6:14
    66%

    14Disappointing Friends“To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.