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100 Bible Verses about Foolishness

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 264 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV / 241 helpful votes

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Psalm 14:1 ESV / 213 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

James 1:26 ESV / 183 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 164 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 161 helpful votes

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV / 158 helpful votes

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Romans 14:1 ESV / 134 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Mark 7:20-22 ESV / 125 helpful votes

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

Proverbs 28:26 ESV / 121 helpful votes

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV / 116 helpful votes

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Psalm 118:8 ESV / 115 helpful votes

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

1 Corinthians 1:21 ESV / 114 helpful votes

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Proverbs 19:3 ESV / 106 helpful votes

When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

Galatians 6:7-8 ESV / 104 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Luke 16:13 ESV / 100 helpful votes

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 99 helpful votes

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Corinthians 3:19 ESV / 96 helpful votes

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

Proverbs 14:16 ESV / 93 helpful votes

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Proverbs 26:11 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 26:4-5 ESV / 83 helpful votes

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 10:23 ESV / 83 helpful votes

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV / 75 helpful votes

But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

Proverbs 24:9 ESV / 75 helpful votes

The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 75 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 67 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 ESV / 66 helpful votes

I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

Proverbs 15:14 ESV / 66 helpful votes

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 66 helpful votes

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 27:22 ESV / 65 helpful votes

Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.

1 Corinthians 1:1-31 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ...

Proverbs 14:7 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

Proverbs 17:28 ESV / 56 helpful votes

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 15:21 ESV / 56 helpful votes

Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

1 Corinthians 1:20 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Psalm 69:5 ESV / 52 helpful votes

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Proverbs 18:6-7 ESV / 50 helpful votes

A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Mark 7:22 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

1 Corinthians 1:27 ESV / 46 helpful votes

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

Romans 1:16 ESV / 46 helpful votes

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 46 helpful votes

A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Psalm 53:1 ESV / 46 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Jeremiah 10:8 ESV / 45 helpful votes

They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!

Proverbs 14:24 ESV / 45 helpful votes

The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

Proverbs 12:23 ESV / 44 helpful votes

A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Proverbs 13:20 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

1 Corinthians 4:10 ESV / 41 helpful votes

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 40 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Jeremiah 4:22 ESV / 40 helpful votes

“For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”

Proverbs 29:20 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Galatians 3:1 ESV / 39 helpful votes

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

1 Corinthians 1:24 ESV / 39 helpful votes

But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 10:8 ESV / 39 helpful votes

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Proverbs 14:8 ESV / 38 helpful votes

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

Ephesians 5:17 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:1-7 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ...

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 1:22 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Proverbs 14:15 ESV / 36 helpful votes

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Matthew 7:24 ESV / 35 helpful votes

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Proverbs 21:20 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.

Proverbs 17:25 ESV / 34 helpful votes

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 33 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Luke 24:25 ESV / 33 helpful votes

And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Proverbs 19:1 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 14:9 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Jeremiah 17:11 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool.

Isaiah 32:6 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

Proverbs 26:5 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 31 helpful votes

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Psalm 74:18 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 30 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Romans 1:21-22 ESV / 29 helpful votes

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

1 Corinthians 2:6 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 28 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Matthew 23:16-19 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

Matthew 7:26-27 ESV / 28 helpful votes

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Philippians 2:2-8 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ...

Luke 6:39 ESV / 27 helpful votes

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Proverbs 24:29 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

Proverbs 23:9 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Titus 3:9 ESV / 26 helpful votes

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Proverbs 1:22 ESV / 26 helpful votes

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 29:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes

If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Revelation 22:18 ESV / 24 helpful votes

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,

2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 24 helpful votes

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Galatians 3:1-3 ESV / 23 helpful votes

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Matthew 16:26 ESV / 23 helpful votes

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 23 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

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