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100 Bible Verses about Flattery

Proverbs 29:5 ESV / 156 helpful votes

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

Proverbs 26:24-28 ESV / 131 helpful votes

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 28:23 ESV / 102 helpful votes

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.

Romans 16:18 ESV / 87 helpful votes

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Job 32:21-22 ESV / 86 helpful votes

I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away.

Psalm 5:9 ESV / 72 helpful votes

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 ESV / 52 helpful votes

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. ...

Jude 1:16 ESV / 49 helpful votes

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

Psalm 12:3 ESV / 49 helpful votes

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,

Proverbs 27:6 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 26:28 ESV / 38 helpful votes

A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Psalm 12:2 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Galatians 1:10 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Psalm 36:2 ESV / 26 helpful votes

For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Proverbs 6:24 ESV / 25 helpful votes

To preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Job 17:5 ESV / 24 helpful votes

He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property— the eyes of his children will fail.

Psalm 12:2-4 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

Psalm 78:36 ESV / 22 helpful votes

But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV / 17 helpful votes

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

Luke 6:26 ESV / 15 helpful votes

“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

Ezekiel 33:31-32 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

Psalm 55:21 ESV / 13 helpful votes

His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Acts 12:22 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

Daniel 11:21-22 ESV / 12 helpful votes

In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant.

Daniel 11:34 ESV / 11 helpful votes

When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,

Daniel 11:32 ESV / 11 helpful votes

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

Proverbs 10:17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

Proverbs 7:1-27 ESV / 11 helpful votes

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. ...

Romans 16:17-19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Daniel 6:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

Proverbs 7:21 ESV / 10 helpful votes

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

Psalm 12:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Ezekiel 12:24 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

Proverbs 27:21 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.

Proverbs 26:4-5 ESV / 9 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 9:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 7:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

To keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

2 Samuel 15:2-6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 14:17-20 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!” Then the king answered the woman, “Do not hide from me anything I ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king speak.” The king said, “Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?” The woman answered and said, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king has said. It was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words in the mouth of your servant. In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Jeremiah 23:14-29 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.” Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets: “Behold, I will feed them with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has gone out into all the land.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? ...

Ecclesiastes 7:3-4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Psalm 109:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

May his days be few; may another take his office!

Psalm 62:1-12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. ...

Psalm 28:1-9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Of David. To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord or the work of his hands, he will tear them down and build them up no more. ...

Psalm 12:2-3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,

Psalm 5:8-9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Job 32:22 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away.

James 1:27 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Romans 8:26 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Acts 24:2-4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: “Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

Proverbs 24:24 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

Proverbs 16:25 ESV / 7 helpful votes

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Psalm 12:1-13:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” ...

Revelation 22:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.

Revelation 17:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.

Revelation 12:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Jude 1:16-19 ESV / 6 helpful votes

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

2 Peter 2:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Acts 26:2-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

John 14:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:44 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Luke 20:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.

Matthew 21:42 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Proverbs 29:1-27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. ...

Proverbs 25:26 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Proverbs 25:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen

Proverbs 5:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,

Proverbs 4:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Psalm 49:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah

Psalm 36:1-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord. Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil. Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. ...

1 Kings 22:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.”

1 Kings 20:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.”

2 Samuel 19:41-43 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king, “Why have our brothers the men of Judah stolen you away and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?” All the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, “Because the king is our close relative. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?” And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

James 3:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Acts 24:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Proverbs 19:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

Proverbs 19:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Wealth brings many new friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 14:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 7:21-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

1 Kings 1:42 ESV / 5 helpful votes

While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. And Adonijah said, “Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news.”

2 Samuel 9:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”

Judges 8:1-3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely. And he said to them, “What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer? God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. What have I been able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger against him subsided when he said this.

Genesis 33:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ...

Zechariah 14:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

Daniel 11:1-45 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. “And now I will show you the truth. Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them. And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills. And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these. “Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority. ...

Daniel 10:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

Daniel 2:44 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Proverbs 27:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Colossians 2:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

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