The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. – Proverbs 12:26
Some places where else this is discussed:
Prov. 18:24; 22:24-25
My thoughts:
How do you pick your friends? I know for myself people can come into my life and I’m drawn to them, not thinking about their character too much. It can be easy to connect with people at an emotional or intellectual level, but not delve into all of who they are. 
Friends do influence us both in good and bad ways, and this proverb speaks of how it is the mark of the righteous to choose them carefully. Let’s be wise with who we hang out with so we aren’t influenced to turn away from God.
Thanks for reading! Pete.
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Thoughts or questions? Have your say in the comments section!
Note: All scripture is taken from Bible.com and is the New International Version. I am using a commentary by John A. Kitchen for help with references, and difficult concepts and words. Plus he has a real way with words!
Photo Attribution: Tuyền Dương Used under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0
all we need to get out of our mental or emotional slump. So often I’m then reminded of God’s goodness and how I’ve been losing control of my mind. Don’t ever underestimate the power of encouragement!
one may find themselves if they work well or not. I wonder how it would feel to be forced to work hard after years of not even trying? May we be motivated to work hard in all we do, regardless of the benefits.
often mean that we change from our initial thoughts. This proverb talks of a fool spouting their folly, meaning words that have no value or context. Let’s seek to be slow to speak, in order to edify at the right time, when we have a wise response.
has played a part in many surrounding verses, and we have found one thing common among them: it matters what we say. God cares and that should be reason enough for us to care too.
harm overcome them and the opposite for the wicked. How can we interpret this? Well in the context of proverbs about how words affect us, the fill of trouble could be self-inflicted. The one who mistreats another could easily find a similar response right back.
We are to seek the good for others and the outcome is that we can be blessed by that too. The alternative lifestyle, to seek for others’ downfall promises only problems for us too. Deceit is a double-edged sword and can affect the perpetrator.
speaks of truth lasting forever, which can speak of it’s powerful nature here on earth, but also could be of the eternal nature of God’s judgement and kingdom. Only the truth will endure under His rule.
tongue, saying it pierces like a weapon. How often do we let loose the fire-starter that is our mouth! The much wiser way to use our words is to heal and encourage. We have all benefited from such blessing, I’m sure.
anywhere, and only an honest witness will avoid spinning a tale. The direct opposite to this is the false witness, whose very nature will reveal dishonesty. Where there are talebearers, you have injustice, and our just LORD will not be mocked forever. I look for the Day of Judgement, when all lies will be stripped of their power.
On Proverbs 