100 Bible Verses about Seeking Wisdom

James 1:5 ESV / 315 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 176 helpful votes

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

Colossians 3:16 ESV / 149 helpful votes

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Proverbs 8:11-12 ESV / 144 helpful votes

For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

James 3:17 ESV / 120 helpful votes

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Ephesians 1:17 ESV / 107 helpful votes

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,

Proverbs 3:13 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

Luke 21:15 ESV / 100 helpful votes

For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

Proverbs 4:7 ESV / 94 helpful votes

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Romans 11:33 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Proverbs 16:16 ESV / 65 helpful votes

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 63 helpful votes

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 63 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs 2:6 ESV / 61 helpful votes

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 ESV / 56 helpful votes

A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. 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. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. ...

1 Corinthians 2:13 ESV / 55 helpful votes

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 51 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.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 ESV / 51 helpful votes

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

John 5:30 ESV / 48 helpful votes

“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV / 45 helpful votes

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Matthew 13:11 ESV / 45 helpful votes

And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Psalm 90:12 ESV / 43 helpful votes

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Proverbs 4:5 ESV / 42 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:10 ESV / 41 helpful votes

By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:2 ESV / 41 helpful votes

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 38 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 36 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.

Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV / 35 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.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 19:8 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 ESV / 34 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 4:6-7 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Psalm 111:10 ESV / 34 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Matthew 7:24 ESV / 33 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 3:7 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

James 3:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

John 14:6 ESV / 30 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.

Proverbs 15:12 ESV / 30 helpful votes

A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 29 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...

Colossians 2:2-3 ESV / 29 helpful votes

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 28 helpful votes

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

1 Timothy 2:4 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 8:22-23 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

Proverbs 3:5 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 1:5 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 26 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:33 ESV / 25 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 13:1 ESV / 25 helpful votes

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

Hebrews 13:15 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Colossians 4:5-6 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 24 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 21:5 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

Psalm 37:30 ESV / 24 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

Job 28:28 ESV / 24 helpful votes

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Job 12:12 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 23 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Isaiah 28:29 ESV / 23 helpful votes

This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom.

John 8:32 ESV / 22 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Daniel 2:23 ESV / 22 helpful votes

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.”

Ecclesiastes 7:10 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 ESV / 22 helpful votes

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Proverbs 15:22 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 21 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

Colossians 1:9 ESV / 21 helpful votes

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...

Acts 2:38 ESV / 21 helpful votes

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 23:23 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

Proverbs 10:23 ESV / 21 helpful votes

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

Hebrews 11:1 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Isaiah 40:28 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Proverbs 10:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 19 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.

Matthew 7:7 ESV / 19 helpful votes

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Psalm 107:43 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

John 10:10 ESV / 18 helpful votes

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Proverbs 28:26 ESV / 18 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

James 1:1-27 ESV / 17 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 17 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 24:14 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Proverbs 8:17 ESV / 17 helpful votes

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Matthew 7:7-8 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Proverbs 18:15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 17:28 ESV / 16 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 11:14 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

1 John 2:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 ESV / 15 helpful votes

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.

1 John 2:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 13 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, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Proverbs 14:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

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