64 Bible Verses about Fools, Characteristics Of

We [are] fools for the sake of Christ, but you [are] prudent in Christ! We [are] weak, but you [are] strong! You [are] honored, but we [are] dishonored!

For consider your calling, brothers, that not many [were] wise according to human standards, not many [were] powerful, not many [were] well born. But the foolish [things] of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the wise, and the weak [things] of the world God chose in order that he might put to shame the strong, and the insignificant of the world, and the despised, God chose, the things that are not, in order that he might abolish the things that are,read more.
so that all flesh may not boast before God. But from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "The one who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Where [is] the wise person? Where [is] the scribe? Where [is] the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. For indeed, Jews ask for sign miracles and Greeks seek wisdom,read more.
but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a cause for stumbling, but to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those [who are] called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ [is] the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human [wisdom], and the weakness of God [is] stronger than human [strength].

[The] fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt and they have done abominable iniquity. There is none who does good.

[The] fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They do abominable deeds. There is none who does good.

For [although they] knew God, they did not honor [him] as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasoning, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

Ephraim was like a dove, silly, {without sense}; they call [to] Egypt, they go [to] Assyria.

And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "On account of your reliance upon the king of Aram, and [since] you did not rely on Yahweh your God, therefore the troops of the king of Aram escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with very abundant chariots and horsemen? And because of your reliance on Yahweh he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of Yahweh roam throughout all the earth to strengthen those whose heart is fully devoted to him. You have been foolish in this, for from now on you will have wars."

Surely the princes of Zoan [are] foolish; the wise of the counselors of Pharaoh [give] senseless counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, "I myself [am] a son of sages, a {descendant} of ancient kings"? Where [are] your sages then? Now, let them tell you, and let them know what Yahweh of hosts has planned against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have become foolish; the princes of Memphis are deceived; the leaders of her tribes have led Egypt astray.

"Oh rebellious children!" {declares} Yahweh, "to make a plan, but not from me, and pour out a libation, but not [from] my Spirit, {so as to add} sin to sin.

"For my people [are] foolish, they have not known me. They [are] foolish children, and they do not have insight. They [are] skillful at doing evil, and they do not know [how] to do good."

Then I said, "[They are] just simple people, they are foolish, for they know not the way of Yahweh, the law of their God.

[The] brutish man does not know, and [the] fool cannot understand this.

And he said to them, "O foolish and slow in heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Therefore, consider carefully how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil. Because of this do not become foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord [is].

{At the same time} they are stupid and foolish, [in the] instruction of idols, it [is] wood.

{Everyone} is stupid, {without knowledge}, every goldsmith is ashamed by [his] divine image, for his cast image [is] an illusion, and [there is] no breath in them.

All humankind turns out to be stupid, without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by [the] divine image. For his cast image [is] a lie, and [there is] no breath in them.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God with the likeness of an image of mortal human beings and birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.

For a fool speaks folly, and his {mind} does iniquity: to {behave wickedly}, and to speak error concerning Yahweh, to leave [the] throat of [the] hungry empty, and he deprives [the] thirsty [of] drink.

They crush your people, O Yahweh; they oppress your inheritance. They kill widow and stranger, and they murder orphans, while they say, "Yah does not see," and "The God of Jacob does not pay attention."read more.
You pay attention, O brutes among the people. And [you] fools, when you will show insight?

[It is] like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.

[Like] a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay [is] one who amasses wealth without justice. In the middle of his days it will leave him, and at his end he will [prove to] be a fool."

A fool gives all his breath, but [the] wise holds back in quiet.

Then Samuel said to Saul, "You have behaved foolishly! You have not kept the command of Yahweh your God which he commanded you. For then, Yahweh would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

The heart of David struck him after he had counted the people, and David said to Yahweh, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done! So then, O Yahweh, please forgive the guilt of your servant because I have acted very foolishly."

Then David said to God, "I have sinned severely [in] that I have done this thing. But now, please forgive the sin of your servant, for I have been very foolish."

Fools, because of their rebellious way and their iniquities, were afflicted.

A heart of wisdom will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

"{How long}, O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And [how long] will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?

then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me. Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh, they were not willing [to accept] my counsel, they despised all my reproof.read more.
They shall eat from the fruit of their way, and they shall be sated from their own schemes, for the waywardness of the simple ones will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. Whoever listens to me will dwell in security and rest securely from dread and disaster."

He shall die {for lack of} discipline, and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

The way of a fool is upright in his [own] eyes, but he who listens to advice [is] wise.

I spread out my hands all day to a stubborn people, those who walk after their thoughts [in] the way [that is] not good,

But they will say, '[It is] hopeless, for we will go after our [own] plans, and each one of us will act [according to] the stubbornness of his evil heart.'

And the house of Israel, they are not willing to listen to you, for they [are] not willing to listen to me, for all of the house of Israel is hard of forehead, and they [are] hard of heart.

The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging. The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, and his lips [are] a snare to his soul.

and obscenity, and foolish talk, or coarse jesting (which [are] not proper), but rather thanksgiving.

He who conceals hatred [has] lips of deceit, and he who utters slander--he is a fool.

[By] leaving the straight path, they have gone astray, [because they] followed the way of Balaam the [son of] Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,

Fools mock [the] guilt offering, but among the upright, it is favorable.

A scoffer seeks wisdom, but there is none, but knowledge {comes easily to him who understands}.

In the ears of a fool do not speak, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Devising folly [is] a sin, and an abomination to humankind [is] a scoffer.

[It is] honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

Better a poor person walking in integrity than one who is perverse {in his speech} and is a fool.

and not to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which cause useless speculations rather than God's plan [that is] by faith.

he is conceited, understanding nothing, but having a morbid interest concerning controversies and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, slanders, evil suspicions,

But avoid foolish and uninformed controversies, [because you] know that they produce quarrels.

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and contentions and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and fruitless.

The tongue of the wise will dispense knowledge, but the mouth of fools will pour out folly.

Leave {the presence of a foolish man}, [for] you will not [come to] know {words of knowledge}.

[Like] legs that hang limp from a lame person, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.

There is a way [that seems] upright {to} a man, but its end [is] the way of death.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

But do you want to know, O foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness. Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

The wise is cautious and turns from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is confident.

The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways, but the folly of fools is deceit.

The lips of a fool will bring strife, and his mouth calls out for a flogging.

A grief to his father [is] the child of a fool, and bitterness to her who bore him.

A foolish child is a ruin to his father, and the quarreling of a woman is a continuous dripping.