41 Bible Verses about Watchfulness, Of Believers

Be temperate, be vigilant: for your adversary the Devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Beware of false prophets, who to outward appearance are sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Jesus answered them, take care not to be deceived by any one: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ: and shall deceive many.

as he was then directing them diligently to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod,

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark those who cause divisions and revolts against the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.

Be upon the watch, stand firm in the faith, behave your selves like men of fortitude:

watch and pray that ye may not sink under the trial: the mind indeed is vigorous, but the flesh is weak.

watch and pray, that you may not yield to temptation: the mind indeed is vigorous, but the body is weak.

then he said to them, take care to be clear of all avarice: for the enjoyment of life does not depend upon the having large possessions.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, it is impossible but that discouragements should come: but wo to him, who is the occasion of them. it were better for him that a milstone were hang'd about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should occasion any innocent person to relapse. take care of your conduct. if your brother offend you, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him.

wherefore let him that thinks he stands firm, take heed lest he fall.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, do you, who are spiritual, restore him with all gentleness, taking heed lest you yourselves be overcome by temptation.

Therefore we ought to give the greater attention to the things we have heard, for fear we should abandon the gospel.

Take care that you be not deaf to him that speaketh: for if they did not escape, who disregarded the oracles pronounc'd on earth, much less shall we escape, if we turn away from him that delivered the oracles from heaven:

Besides, we have the more authentic accounts of the prophets, to which you do well in giving your attention, as to a lamp shining in an obscure place, till the day dawn, and the morning-star arises in your hearts.

If a person of an ungovernable tongue pretends to religion, he abuses himself: for his religion is meer illusion.

so the tongue is but a small part of the body, yet how grand are its pretensions. a spark of fire! what quantities of timber will it blow into a flame? the tongue is a brand that sets the world in a combustion: it is but one of the numerous organs of the body, yet it can blast whole assemblies: tipp'd with infernal sulphur it sets the whole train of life in a blaze. creatures of every kind, beasts, birds, reptiles, and sea-monsters, are frequently tamed by human industry.read more.
but who could ever tame the tongue? arm'd with deadly poison, the mischief scorns restraint.

" He that desires to live in prosperity, must restrain his tongue from detraction, and his lips from uttering falsehood:

At that time there dwelt at Jerusalem one Simeon, an honest, religious man, one who expected the appearance of the Messiah, and was endued with the spirit of prophecy.

Persevere and be vigilant in prayer and in thanksgiving: put up your requests likewise for me, that God would give me an opportunity to declare the mystery of Christ (for which I am even in bonds:)

be circumspect, be vigilant, and devout: because you are uncertain when that time will be.

be therefore upon your guard, be constant in prayer, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those future ills, and be able to stand in the presence of the son of God.

Pour out your souls unto God upon all occasions, watching in prayer with all perseverance and supplication for all christians:

The consummation of all things draws nigh. be temperate, be vigilant in prayer.

watch therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord shall come. but this you conceive, that if a man knew at what hour of the night the thief would come, he would set a watch, and not suffer his house to be broke open. therefore be ye also prepar'd: for the son of man may come at an hour you least expect.

The kingdom of the Messiah will then be such, as when ten virgins took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. five of them were wise, and five were foolish. they that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:read more.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. while the bridegroom tarried, they were drowsy and slept. and at midnight there was a sudden cry, see the bridegroom comes; go and meet him. then the virgins all arose, and trimmed their lamps. and the foolish said to the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are going out. but the wise answered, for fear there should not be enough for us and you, go rather to those that sell; and buy for your selves. and while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, entred with him into the hall, and the door was shut. afterwards came the other virgins likewise, and cry'd, Lord, Lord, pray let us in. but he answered, I assure you, I know you not. watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour.

as to the day and hour, that no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor even the son; but the father only. be circumspect, be vigilant, and devout: because you are uncertain when that time will be. when a man travels into foreign parts, he leaves his goods in charge to his servants, he appoints to every one his task, and orders the porter to be vigilant,read more.
watch ye therefore (for you don't know when the master of the house will return; whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning) for fear by his sudden return he should surprize you sleeping. what I say to you, I say to all, be vigilant.

Let your loins be girt, and your lamps burning: imitate those servants who stand waiting for their master's return from the wedding, to let him in as soon as he comes to the door. happy those servants, whom the master at his arrival shall find thus watching: I assure you, he shall gird himself, and make them sit at table, and will come to serve them.read more.
happy are the servants he finds in such a state, whether it be at the second or at the third watch of the night, when he comes. if the master of a house knew at what hour the thief would come, no doubt he would be on his guard, and not suffer him to break into his house. be ye therefore likewise prepar'd; for the son of man will come, when you least expect him.

I tell it you for certain, this generation shall not pass away, till all these things are accomplished. heaven and earth shall fail sooner than my predictions shall fail. set a guard upon yourselves, that ye be not stupified by surfeiting and drunkenness, or by the disquietudes of this life, and so that day come upon you with a surprize.read more.
for like a snare, it shall surprize all the inhabitants of the earth. be therefore upon your guard, be constant in prayer, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those future ills, and be able to stand in the presence of the son of God.

but you, my brethren, are too well inform'd to be surpriz'd by that day, as by a thief. you inherit the advantages of meridian light: we are not involv'd in the obscurity of night. therefore let us not sleep away our time like others, but be vigilant and temperate.read more.
they that are sober take their rest in the night, whilst they that are sots, are drunk in the night: but let us, who enjoy the light, be temperate; let us be arm'd with the breast-plate of faith and charity, and for an helmet, with the hope of salvation.

"I shall come with surprize, happy he that is upon the watch, and keepeth his garments pure, that his vices may not put him to shame."

adore the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready to show with modesty and respect to every one that asks it, what ground there is for the expectations you have:

See then that you behave circumspectly, and not as fools, but as wise, weighing the circumstances of the season, because the times are dangerous.

Be prudent in your conduct to those, who are not christians: and make the best of of every opportunity. let an air of modesty appear in all your discourse; and let it be seasoned with discretion, in making a proper reply, when you are call'd into question.

After this, Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemani, and said to the disciples, stay here, while I go there and pray. but he took with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be in a very great agony of grief. and he said to them, "my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death:" stay here and watch by me.read more.
Then advancing a little further, he fell prostrate in prayer, and said, "O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not mine, but thy will be done." then returning to the disciples, and finding them asleep, he said to Peter, what, could ye not watch by me one hour?

therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good offices to all men, especially to the family of believers.

Admonish them to be subject to princes and to magistrates, to obey their orders, and to exert their virtue and loyalty upon all occasions.

from which time he watched a favourable opportunity to deliver him.

the Pharisees watched Jesus, to see if he would heal him on the sabbath-day, that so they might accuse him.

but Saul was appriz'd of their plot. and as they were night and day upon the watch at the gates, in order to kill him,

be watchful, and fortify the rest that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. remember therefore what thou hast received and heard: observe it and repent. if therefore thou art not vigilant, I will come upon thee as a thief, thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.