35 Bible Verses about Worldly Wisdom

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness.

This wisdom is not that which descends from above, but is earthly, natural, diabolical.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was desirable to the eyes, and a tree of covetousness to understand, she took of its fruit and ate and gave also unto her husband with her; and he ate. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves girdles.

Behold, he put no trust in his slaves, and his angels he charged with folly. How much more with those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who shall be crushed by the moth! They are destroyed from morning to evening; they perish for ever without anyone regarding it.read more.
Does their beauty perish with them? They die and do not know.

He takes the wise in their own prudence, and the counsel of his adversaries is turned to folly.

Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?

The vain man shall make himself understood, though man is born like a wild ass's colt.

Men, therefore, shall fear him; all the crafty of heart shall not see him.

Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Folly is joy to him that is destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly. Without counsel purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor that has understanding is wiser than he.

For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.

A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left. Even when the fool walks by the way, he lacks prudence, and he says unto every one that he is a fool.

Woe unto those that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people with a fearful miracle: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall fade away. Woe unto those that hide themselves from the LORD, covering the counsel; and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us? Surely your subversion shall be as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He did not make me? or shall the vessel say of him that made it, He did not understand?

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, No one sees me. Thy wisdom and thine own knowledge; it has deceived thee; for thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and no one else beside me. Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from where it rises; and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and destruction shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

Even the stork in the heaven knows her appointed time; and the turtle dove and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people did not know the judgment of the LORD. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Behold, certainly in vain did he make the pen; the scribes were in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

Thus hath the LORD said, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands me and knows me, that I am the LORD who does mercy, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, said the LORD.

Concerning Edom, thus hath the LORD of the hosts said: Is there no more wisdom in Teman? Has the counsel of the wise perished? Is their wisdom corrupted?

But if thine eye is evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness!

At that time Jesus answered and said, I praise thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and understanding and hast revealed them unto children.

because having known God, they did not glorify him as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and of fourfooted beasts and of serpents.

And I, brothers, when I came to you, came not with puffed up speech or wisdom to declare unto you the testimony of God. For I judged not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.read more.
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be founded in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. For we speak perfect wisdom of God, and not the wisdom of this age nor of the princes of this age, that come to nought, but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages unto our glory, which none of the princes of this age knew (for had they known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory). But as it is written, That which eye has not seen nor ear heard neither has entered into the heart of man is that which God has prepared for those that love him. But God has revealed this unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no one has known the things of God, but the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that God has given us. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but with doctrine of the Holy Spirit, jointly fitting spiritual things by spiritual means. But the natural man does not perceive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, turn away from profane voices and vain things and arguments in the vain name of science, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people with a fearful miracle: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall fade away.

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, No one sees me. Thy wisdom and thine own knowledge; it has deceived thee; for thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and no one else beside me.

For my people are foolish; the ignorant sons with no understanding have not known me; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

with thy wisdom and with thine intelligence thou hast gotten thee riches and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

For we speak perfect wisdom of God, and not the wisdom of this age nor of the princes of this age, that come to nought,

For all the promises of God are yes in him, and in him Amen, by us for the glory of God.

which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship and humility and neglecting of the body, but they have absolutely no value against the appetites of the flesh.