603 verses about Friendship

Jonathan the high priest, and the senate of the nation, and the priests, and the rest of the people of the Jews, to their kindred the Spartans, greeting:

And Onias entreated honorably the man that was sent, and received the letters, wherein declaration was made of confederacy and friendship.

have assayed to send that we might renew our brotherhood and friendship with you, to the end that we should not become estranged from you altogether: for long time is passed since you⌃ sent to us.

We were not minded therefore to be troublesome to you, and to the rest of our confederates and friends, in these wars;

We chose therefore Numenius the son of Antiochus, and Antipater the son of Jason, and have sent them to the Romans, to renew the friendship that we had with them, and the former confederacy.

We commanded them therefore to go also to you, and to salute you, and to deliver you our letters concerning the renewing of friendship and our brotherhood.

And this is the copy of the letters which they sent to Onias:

Arius king of the Spartans to Onias the chief priest, greeting:

and now, since this is come to our knowledge, you⌃ shall do well to write to us of your prosperity.

And we moreover do write on our part to you, that your cattle and goods are ours, and ours are yours. We do command therefore that they make report to you on this wise.

and he received him honorably, and commended him to all his Friends, and gave him gifts, and commanded his forces to be obedient to him, as to himself.

And he said to Jonathan, Why have you put all this people to trouble, seeing there is no war between us?

King Demetrius to Simon the high priest and Friend of kings, and to the elders and nation of the Jews, greeting:

they wrote to him on tables of brass, to renew with him the friendship and the confederacy which they had confirmed with Judas and Jonathan his kindred;

And this is the copy of the letters which the Spartans sent: The rulers of the Spartans, and the city, to Simon the high priest, and to the elders, and the priests, and the residue of the people of the Jews, our kindred, greeting:

The ambassadors that were sent to our people made report to us of your glory and honor: and we were glad for their coming,

and we did register the things that were spoken by them in the public records after this manner: Numenius son of Antiochus, and Antipater son of Jason, the Jews’ ambassadors, came to us to renew the friendship they had with us.

and made him one of his Friends, and honored him with great honor;

for he had heard say, that the Jews had been called by the Romans friends and confederates and kindred, and that they had met the ambassadors of Simon honorably;

The Jews’ ambassadors came to us as our friends and confederates, to renew the old friendship and confederacy, being sent from Simon the high priest, and from the people of the Jews:

And Athenobius the king’s Friend came to Jerusalem; and he saw the glory of Simon, and the cupboard of gold and silver vessels, and his great attendance, and he was amazed; and he reported to him the king’s words.

For Antiochus, on the pretense that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his Friends that were with him, that they might take a great part of the treasures in name of a dowry.

But quickly certain of Heliodorus’s familiar friends implored Onias to call upon the Most High, and grant life to him who lay quite at the last gasp.

And setting aside the royal ordinances of special favor to the Jews, granted by the means of John the father of Eupolemus, who went on the ambassage to the Romans for friendship and alliance, and seeking to overthrow the lawful modes of life, he brought in new customs forbidden by the law:

But those who had the charge of that forbidden sacrificial feast took the man aside, for the acquaintance which of old times they had with him, and privately implored him to bring flesh of his own providing, such as was befitting for him to use, and to make as if he did eat of the flesh from the sacrifice, as had been commanded by the king;

that by so doing he might be delivered from death, and for his ancient friendship with them might be treated kindly.

But Antiochus, thinking himself to be despised, and suspecting the reproachful voice, while the youngest was yet alive did not only make his appeal to him by words, but also at the same time promised with oaths that he would enrich him and raise him to high estate, if he would turn from the customs of his fathers, and that he would take him for his Friend and intrust him with affairs.

and persuaded them to come to terms on condition that all their rights were acknowledged, and promised that he would also persuade the king to become their friend.

And on this behalf I have given order in detail, both to these men and to those that are sent from me, to confer with you.

You will therefore do well to send messengers to them and give them the right hand of friendship, that they, knowing our mind, may be of good heart, and gladly occupy themselves with the conduct of their own affairs.

They therefore that depart home up to the thirties day of Xanthicus shall have our friendship, with full permission

And when a sore battle had been fought, and Judas and his company by the help of God had good success, the nomads being overcome implored Judas to grant them friendship, promising to give him cattle, and to help his people in all other ways.

So Judas, thinking that they would indeed be profitable in many things, agreed to live in peace with them; and receiving pledges of friendship they departed to their tents.

But when the Jews that were settled there testified of the good will that the Scythopolitans had shewn toward them, and of their kindly bearing toward them in the times of their misfortune,

And when he had spoken such words as these, at once the rest of the king’s Friends, having ill will against Judas, inflamed Demetrius yet more.

Wherefore he sent Posidonius and Theodotus and Mattathias to give and receive pledges of friendship.

And he kept Judas always in his presence; he had gained a hearty affection for the man;

and when they are in their cups, they forget their love both to friends and kindred, and a little after draw their swords:

As many therefore as have a mind thereto, let them depart with you, as it has seemed good both to me and my seven friends the counselors;

and carry the gifts to the Lord of Israel to Jerusalem, which I and my friends have vowed; and that all the gold and silver that can be found in the country of Babylonia for the Lord in Jerusalem,

and has honored me in the sight of the king, and his counselors, and all his friends and nobles.

He proceeded to Egypt, grew worse in wickedness through his before mentioned companions in wine, who were lost to all goodness;

and not satisfied with countless acts of impiety, his audacity so increased that he raised evil reports there, and many of his friends, watching his purpose attentively, joined in furthering his will.

Some of the neighbors, friends, and fellow dealers of the Jews, even called them secretly to an interview, pledged them their assistance, and promised to do their very utmost for them.

The king, after issuing these orders, went to his feasting, and gathered together all those of his friends and of the army who hated the Jews the most.

Hermon explained that he had done his bidding over night; and in this he was confirmed by his friends.

The sun’s rays were not yet shed abroad, and the king was waiting for his friends, when Hermon came to him, calling him out, and saying, That his desires could now be realized.

Had it not been for familiar friendship, and the claims of your office, your life should have gone for theirs.

The friends, too, stole out one by one, and dismissed the assembled multitudes to their respective occupations.

Joyfully his friends broke up, together with his kinsmen; and, trusting in his determination, arranged their forces in guard at the most convenient places of the city.

For when he heard the cry, and saw them all on the verge of destruction, with tears he angrily threatened his friends, saying,

Certain of our friends did of malice vehemently urge us to punish the Jews of our realm in a body, with the infliction of a monstrous punishment.

and salt waters shall be found in the sweet, and all friends shall destroy one another; then shall wit hide itself, and understanding withdraw itself into its chamber;

And in the second night it came to pass, that Phaltiel the captain of the people came to me, saying, Where have you been? and why is your countenance sad?

At that time shall friends make war one against another like enemies, and the earth shall stand in fear with those that dwell therein, the springs of the springs shall stand still, so that for three hours they shall not run.

whether fathers for children, or children for parents, or kindred for kindred, or kinsfolk for their next of kin, or friends for those who are most dear.

And he answered me, and said, Since you have found favor in my sight, I will show you this also: The day of judgement is a day of decision, and displays to all the seal of truth; even as now a father sends not his son, or a son his father, or a master his slave, or a friend him that is most dear, that in his stead he may be sick, or sleep, or eat, or be healed:

Then we all overthrew the lights, and all my neighbors rose up to comfort me: and I remained quiet to the second day at night.

And it lords it over the love of parents toward their children, for they punish them for vice; and it domineers over the intimacy of friends, reproving them when wicked.

but I do beg you to yield, and to enjoy my friendship; for I possess the power, not only of punishing those who disobey my commands, but of doing good to those who obey them.

But if you obey, you shall be my friend, and have a charge over the affairs of the kingdom.

Release me that I may speak to the king and all his friends.

Brotherly love being thus sympathetically constituted, the seven kindred had a more sympathetic mutual harmony.

For a like ardour for what is right and honorable increased their fellow-feeling towards each other.

For it acting along with religion, made their brotherly feeling more desirable to them.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

As he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”

“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.

“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?

and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.

He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.

When they could not come near to him for the crowd, they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up, they let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.

He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many, and they followed him.

When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, “He is insane.”

He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.”

For whoever is not against us is on our side.

As they sat and were eating, Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, one of you will betray me—he who eats with me.”

When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him.

But he again denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’

I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.

He also said to the one who had invited him, “When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’

But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal tents.