40 Bible Verses about Pretence

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said unto his wife, "Up, a fellowship, and change thine apparel that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and get thee to Shiloh. For there is Ahijah the prophet which told me that I should be king over this people. And take with thee ten loaves and cracknels and a cruse of honey, and go to him: for he will tell thee what shall come of the lad."read more.
And Jeroboam's wife did so: she arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were waxen dim for age. And the LORD said unto Ahijah, "Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh, to question with thee about her son which is sick. This wise and this wise answer her." And when she came, she feigned herself to be another woman. But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came to the door, he said, "Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam: why feignest thou thyself to be another? I am sent to thee a cruel messenger.

But Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And as soon as Esau was gone to the field to catch venison, and to bring it, she spake unto Jacob her son, saying, "Behold, I have heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, and saying, 'bring me venison and make me meat, that I may eat and bless thee before the LORD yer I die.'read more.
Now therefore, my son, hear my voice in that which I command thee: get thee to the flock, and bring me thence two good kids, and I will make meat of them for thy father, such as he loveth. And thou shalt bring it to thy father and he shall eat, that he may bless thee before his death." Then said Jacob to Rebekah his mother, "Behold, Esau my brother is rough and I am smooth. My father shall peradventure feel me, and I shall seem unto him as though I went about to beguile him, and so shall he bring a curse upon me and not a blessing." And his mother said unto him, "Upon me be thy curse, my son, only hear my voice, and go and fetch me them." And Jacob went and fetched them and brought them to his mother. And his mother made meat of them, according as his father loved. And she went and fetched goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau which she had in the house with her, and put them upon Jacob her youngest son, and she put the skins upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck. And she put the meat and bread which she had made in the hand of her son Jacob. And he went in to his father saying, "My father." And he answered, "Here am I, who art thou my son?" And Jacob said unto his father, "I am Esau, thy eldest son. I have done according as thou baddest me: up and sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me."

And Laban had two daughters, the eldest called Lea and the youngest Rachel. Lea was tender eyed, but Rachel was beautiful and well favored. And Jacob loved her well, and said, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngest daughter."read more.
And Laban answered, "It is better that I give her thee, than to another man: bide therefore with me." And Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. And Jacob said unto Laban, "Give me my wife, that I may lie with her. For the time appointed me is come." Then Laban bade all the men of that place, and made a feast. And when even was come, he took Lea his daughter and brought her to him and he went in unto her. And Laban gave unto his daughter Lea, Zilpah his maid, to be her servant. And when the morning was come, behold, it was Lea. Then said he to Laban, "Wherefore hast thou played thus with me? Did not I serve thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?"

And one told Tamar, saying, "Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath, to shear his sheep." And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her with a cloak, and disguised herself: And sat her down at the entering of Enaim which is by the high way's side to Timnath, for because she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought it had been an whore, because she had covered her face.read more.
And turned to her unto the way and said, "Come, I pray thee, let me lie with thee." For he knew not that it was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What wilt thou give me, for to lie with me?"

When Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was turned again to Absalom, he sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, "Feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel. And anoint not thyself with oil. But be as a woman that had long time mourned for the death of somebody. And go to the king and speak of thus manner unto him." And so Joab taught her what she should say.

When Joseph saw his brethren, he knew them: But made strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them saying, "Whence come ye?" And they said, "Out of the land of Canaan, to buy victuals."

Then the sons of Jacob answered to Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because he had defiled Dina their sister. And they said unto them, "We cannot do this thing, that we should give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, for that were a shame unto us. Only in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that all the men children among you be circumcised,

And it chanced that Absalom, David's son, had a fair sister named Tamar, whom afterward Amnon, another son of David, loved. And this Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick for the love of his sister Tamar: for he thought it hard to come by his purpose of her, seeing she was yet a virgin. But Amnon had a companion called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah the brother of David: which Jonadab was a very wise man.read more.
And he said unto him, "How cometh it that thou, being the king's son, art thus consumed every morning? Mayest thou not tell it me?" And Amnon answered him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister." Then said Jonadab unto him, "Lie on thy bed and feign thyself sick. And when thy father is come to see thee, say unto him, 'Let my sister Tamar come and give me meat and dress it in my sight, that I may see it and eat it of her hand." And Amnon lay down and made himself sick. And when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto him, "Let Tamar my sister come and make me a couple of fritters in my sight, that I may eat of her hand." And David sent home to Tamar, saying, "Go to thy brother Amnon's house and dress him meat. When Tamar came to her brother Amnon's house, he lay. And she took flour and made paste and made fritters in his sight and did bake them, and took a platter and poured them out before him. And Amnon would not eat, but commanded to have out all men from him. And they went all out from him. Then said Amnon unto Tamar, "Bring the meat into the chamber that I may eat it of thine hand." And Tamar took the fritters which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother, and set them before him to eat. And he took her and said unto her, "Come, lie with me my sister."

After that, Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little: but Jehu shall serve him a good. Now, therefore, call unto me all the Prophets of Baal and all his servants and all his priests that none be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal: and if any be missed, he shall not live." But Jehu did it for a subtlety, to destroy the servants of Baal.

Some men are rich, though they have nothing; again, some men are poor having great riches.

They have set their stole in the midst of deceit, and for very dissembling falsity they will not know me, sayeth the LORD. Therefore thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts, "Behold, I will melt them, and try them, for what should I else do to my people? Their tongues are like sharp arrows, to speak deceit. With their mouth they speak peaceably to their neighbour, but privily they lay wait for him.read more.
Should I not punish them for these things, sayeth the LORD? Or should I not be avenged of any such people as this?

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel, how they might tangle him in his words. And they sent unto him their disciples with Herod's servants, saying, "Master, we know that thou art true, and that thou teachest the way of God truly, neither carest for any man, for thou considerest not men's estate. Tell us, therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"read more.
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites? Let me see the tribute money." And they took him a penny. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said he unto them, "Give therefore to Caesar, that which is Caesar's: and give unto God, that which is God's." When they heard that, they marveled, and left him and went their way.

And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees with Herod's servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come, they said unto him, "Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: For thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not? Ought we to give, or ought we not to give?" He understood their dissimulation, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it."read more.
And they brought him one. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" And they said unto him, "Caesar's." And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Then give to Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar: and give to God that which pertaineth to God." And they marveled at him.

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves perfect, to take him in his words, and to deliver him unto the power, and authority of the deputy. And they asked him saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither considerest thou any man's degree, but teachest the way of God truly. Is it lawful for us to give Caesar tribute, or no?"read more.
He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And he said unto them, "Give then unto Caesar, that which belongeth unto Cesar: And to God, that which pertaineth to God." And they could not reprove his saying before the people. But they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.

But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared.read more.
And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us." And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, "Peradventure you dwell among us, and then how should we make peace with you?" And they said unto Joshua, "We are thy servants." And Joshua said unto them, "What are ye, and whence come ye?" And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan which dwelt at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabiters of our country spake to us saying, 'Take victuals with you to serve by the way, and go against them, and say unto them: We are your servants.' Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This, our provision of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey." And the men took of their victuals, and counseled not with the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made peace with them, they heard that they were neighbours unto them, and that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriathjearim. And the children of Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And therefore all the multitude murmured against the lords. But all the lords said unto all the congregation, "We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them. But this we will do to them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of the oath which we sware unto them." And the lords said unto them, "Let them live, that they may be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation," as the lords said unto them. Then Joshua sent for them, and talked with them, and said, "Wherefore have ye beguiled us and yet ye dwell among us?

Then said Saul unto his servants, "Seek me a woman that is mistress of a spirit of prophecy; that I may go to her and ask of her." And his servants said to him, "See, there is a woman that hath a spirit of Prophecy in her possession at Endor." And Saul changed his clothes and put on other raiment; and then went he, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, "Prophesy unto me by the spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee." And the woman said unto him, "Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath destroyed the women that had prophesying spirits, and the sorcerers, out of the land. Wherefore then layest thou a net for my soul to kill me?"read more.
And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, "As surely as the LORD liveth, there shall no harm chance thee for this thing." Then said the woman, "Whom shall I fetch up unto thee?" And he said, "Bring me up Samuel." When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spake to Saul, saying, "Why hast thou mocked me? For thou art Saul."

And so the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth in Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to war: but put on thine own apparel." And the king of Israel changed himself, and went to battle also. But the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, of which he had thirty two, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, save with the king of Israel only."read more.
And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought he had been the king of Israel, and therefore turned to him to fight.

And so the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth in Gilead. Then said the king of Israel to Jehoshaphat, "Change thee and get thee to battle, but see thou have thine own apparel upon thee." And the king of Israel changed himself, and they went to battle. But the king of Syria commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "See that ye fight not against small or great, save against the king of Israel only."read more.
And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, "It is the king of Israel!" - And therefore compassed about him, to fight. But Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him, and God tysed them away from him. For when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from him.

And David arose and fled the same day from the presence of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said of him, "Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing unto this fellow in dances saying, 'Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand'?" And David put those words into his heart and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.read more.
And he changed his countenance before them, and raved in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

Then Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him and to slay him in the morning. But Michal his wife told it him saying, "If thou save not thyself this night, tomorrow thou art a dead man." And so Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled and saved himself. And then she took an image and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow stuffed with goat's hair under the head of it, and covered it with a cloth.read more.
And when Saul sent messengers to fetch David, she said that he was sick. Then Saul sent the messengers to see David saying, "Bring him to me, bed and all, that he may be slain." And when the messengers were come in, "Behold there lay an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat's hair under the head of it. Then said Saul to Michal, "Why hast thou mocked me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said unto me, 'Let me go, or else I will kill thee.'"

{Of David, when he changed his speech before Abimelech; which drove him away, and he departed} I will always give thanks unto the LORD; his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

Then fearing, lest they should have fallen on some rock, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. As the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, and had let down the boat into the sea, under a colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship:

A simple man which laboureth and worketh, is better than one that is gorgeous and lacketh bread.

After all this, when Josiah had finished the temple, Neco king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish upon Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him. And the other sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I came not against thee now at this time, but against a house with whom I have war, and God bade me haste. Leave off therefore and meddle not with God, which is with me, lest he destroy thee." Nevertheless, Josiah turned not his face from him, but made him ready to fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco out of the mouth of God. And when he was come to fight in the valley of Megiddo,

Whensoever therefore thou givest thine alms, thou shalt not make a trumpet to be blown before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, and in the streets, for to be praised of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

Woe be to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like unto painted tombs which appear beautiful outwards: but are within full of dead men's bones and of all filthiness. So are ye, for outward ye appear righteous unto men, when within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you; For many shall come in my name saying, 'I am Christ': and shall deceive many.

And Jesus answered them, and began to say, "Take heed, lest any man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, 'I am Christ,' and shall deceive many.

And he said, "Take heed, that ye be not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying of themselves, 'I am he.' And the time draweth near. Follow ye not them, therefore.

Nevertheless, her unfaithful sister Judah is not turned unto me again with her whole heart, but feignedly, sayeth the LORD."

Hypocrites; well prophesied of you Isaiah, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, howbeit their hearts are far from me:

He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.'

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD, "Forsomuch as this people, when they be in trouble, do honor me with their mouth, and with their lips, whereas their heart nevertheless is far from me; and the fear which they owe unto me, that turn they to men's laws and doctrines;

Then he found another man and said to him, "Smite me, I pray thee." And the man gave him a good stripe and wounded him. And the Prophet went forth and waited for the king by the way and altered his face with ashes. And when the king came by, he cried unto him and said, "Thy servant went out in the midst of the battle. And see, there was one began to flee. And there came a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. And if he be missed thy life shall go for his, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.'read more.
And as thy servant had here and there to do, he was gone." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Even so shall thy judgment be, as thou hast defined it thyself." And he hasted and took the ashes away from his eyes: and the king of Israel knew him, that he was of the Prophets. And he said unto the king, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Because thou hast let go a man that ought to have died, thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his." And the king of Israel went to his house wayward and heavy, and entered into Samaria.

Wherefore, lay aside all maliciousness, and all guile, and dissimulation, and envy, and all backbiting:

Take from me the way of lying, and grant me thy law.

As there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people - insomuch that they trod one another - he began to say unto his disciples, "First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

For hereunto verily were ye called, for Christ also suffered for us: leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps, which did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth:

He put his sepulchre with the wicked, and with the rich in his death: because he did none iniquity, neither was guile found in his mouth.

wherewith we overthrow imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity all understanding to the obedience of Christ,