SinaiBible verses about Wisdom
Where wisdom starts, how to ask for it, and what it looks like in speech, decisions and daily life.
100 verses in 10 themes · World English Bible
The Beginning of Wisdom
Wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord, not with information.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who shall hear all these statutes and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
There will be stability in your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of Yahweh is your treasure.
Asking God for Wisdom
The one thing God promises to give generously to anyone who asks.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this great people of yours?”
behold, I have done according to your word. Behold, I have given you a wise and understanding heart; so that there has been no one like you before you, and after you none will arise like you.
yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings, and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
Finding and Valuing Wisdom
What wisdom is worth, and what it costs to get it.
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding. For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you, so as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
“But where will wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding?
For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
Wisdom From Above
God's wisdom set against the kind the world respects.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:
We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing. But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.”
in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!
Wisdom in Words
Knowing what to say, and when to say nothing.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Wisdom in Decisions
Guidance, planning, and counsel before you commit.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go. I will counsel you with my eye on you.
He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
and when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”
Wisdom and Correction
Staying teachable — the difference between the wise and the stubborn.
Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning.
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel.
Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is with people who take advice.
The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray.
He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.
All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
The Wise and the Foolish
Two ways of living, and where each one ends up.
A wise man fears and shuns evil, but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.
Living Wisely
Wisdom applied to time, conduct and the ordinary day.
Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
A prudent man sees danger and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Wisdom and Humility
Knowing the limits of what you know.
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding. I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.
For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
Yahweh says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am Yahweh who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for I delight in these things,” says Yahweh.