11 Bible Verses about Prudence

Jesus answered and said to them: I also will ask you one thing, which if you will tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The immersion of John, whence was it? from heaven, or from men? But they reasoned among themselves, and said, If we reply, From heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him? But if we reply, From men, we fear the multitude; for all regard John as a prophet. read more.
And they answered and said to Jesus: We know not. And he said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Then the Pharisees went and held a consultation, that they might entrap him in his words. And they sent to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying: Teacher, we know that you are true, and that you teach the way of God in truth, and care not for any one: for you do not look upon the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? read more.
But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said to them: "Why do you tempt me, hypocrites? Show me the tribute-money. And they brought him a denarius. And he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this? They said to him: Caesar's. Then he said to them: Give, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s.

And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, till the Son of man should rise from the dead.

And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more earnestly they published it.

Then he charged his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus strictly charged them, saying: See that no one know it,

And he strictly charged them, that they should not make him known.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be, therefore, wise as serpents, and guileless as doves.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are without, redeeming the time.

See, then, that you walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise men,

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin, and said: What are we doing? For this man does many signs. If we thus let him alone, all will believe on him, and the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year, said to them: You know nothing, read more.
nor do you consider that it is profitable for us, that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish. But this he did not speak of himself; but being chief priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but that he should gather into one the children of God that were scattered abroad. From that day, therefore, they consulted together to put him to death. Therefore, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but withdrew thence to the region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, that they might destroy him. But Jesus perceived it, and withdrew from that place. And many multitudes followed him, and he cured them all. And he charged them not to make him known;

And Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea; and there followed him a great multitude from Galilee, and from Judea,

For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; and I will set aside the understanding of the prudent.

And they all wept much, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, grieving most of all for the word he had spoken, that they would see his face no more. And they conducted him to the ship.

And as we remained there many days, there came down, from Judea, a certain prophet, named Agabus; and he came to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own hands and feet, and said: Thus says the Holy Spirit; the Jews that are in Jerusalem will so bind the man to whom this girdle belongs; and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, we, and those of that place also, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. read more.
But Paul answered: What do you effect by weeping, and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to suffer death in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus. And as he would not be persuaded, we kept silence, and said: The will of the Lord be done.

And now, behold, I am going, bound in spirit, to Jerusalem, not knowing what shall befall me there, except that in every city the Holy Spirit testifies to me, saying, That bonds and afflictions await me. But I esteem this a matter of no importance, nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to bear full testimony to the gospel of the grace of God. read more.
And now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

Those who were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise answered, saying: Lest there may not be enough for us and you, go rather to those who sell, and buy for your selves.

Therefore, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but withdrew thence to the region near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.

While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become the sons of light. These things spoke Jesus, and he departed, and concealed himself from them.

At that time Jesus answered and said: I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.

And the scribe said to him: Teacher, in truth you have well said, that there is one God, and there is no other beside him; and to love him with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength, and to love one's neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. And Jesus perceiving that he answered with understanding, said to him: You are not far from the kingdom of God. And no one, after that, ventured to ask him a question.

which he has made to abound to us in all wisdom and understanding,

Then arose a certain man in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people; and he commanded them to put the apostles out for a little while, and said to them: Men of Israel, consider well with yourselves what you are about to do to these men. For before these days Theudas arose, declaring himself to be some great one; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; and he was slain; and all, as many as believed him, were scattered and brought to naught. read more.
After this man, Judas the Galilean arose, in the days of the enrollment, and drew over many people after him; and he was destroyed, and all, as many as believed him, were scattered. And now I say to you, keep away from these men, and let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to an end; but if it is of God, you can not bring it to an end: and take heed, lest you be found fighting also against God.

And the whole city was filled with confusion. And they seized Gains and Aristarchus, who were Macedonians, Paul's fellow-travelers, and, with one consent, rushed into the theater. And when Paul wished to go in among the people, the disciples did not permit him. Some of the Asiarchs also, who were friendly to him, sent to him, and besought him not to trust himself into the theater. read more.
Some, therefore, were crying one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused, and the greater part knew not for what they had come together. And some of the multitude put Alexander forward, the Jews urging him on. And Alexander waved his hand, and wished to make a defense to the people. But perceiving that he was a Jew, they all cried out, with one voice, for about two hours: Great is Diana of the Ephesians. But the town-clerk quieted the multitude, and said: Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great Diana, and of the image that fell down from Jupiter? As these things, then, can not be contradicted, you ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly. For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples, nor revilers of your goddess. Therefore, if Demetrius, and the artists who are with him, have a charge against any one, the courts are in session, and the proconsuls are there; let them accuse each other. But if you have any inquiries to make about other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being called to answer for this day's tumult, since there is no cause by which we shall be able to account for this concourse. And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea; and when they had come, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were of a better disposition than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed; both of influential women, who were Greeks, and of men, not a few. read more.
But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came thither, and excited the multitude. Then the brethren immediately sent Paul away, to go as if to the sea; but Silas and Timothy remained there. And those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens: and having received a commandment for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him: You see, brother, how many myriads of the Jews there are that believe, and they are all zealous for the law. And they have heard it reported of you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses; commanding them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs. What, then, is to be done? A. multitude must certainly come together; for they will hear that you have come. read more.
Do, therefore, this which we advise you. We have four men who have a vow on them. Take them, and join with them in their vow of abstinence, and pay their expenses, in order that they may shave their heads; and all will know that the things which they have heard reported of you are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. But with respect to the Gentiles that believe, we have written; having decided that they should observe no such thing; but that they keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from lewdness. Then Paul took the men, and, on the following day, joining in their vow of abstinence, he entered the temple, and gave notice when the days of abstinence would be completed, at which time an offering should be made for each of them.

and he was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who was a man of intelligence. This man called for Barnabas and Saul, and expressed an earnest wish to hear the word of God.

But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrin: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I judged.

But, having made a sign to them with his hand, that they should keep silence, he made known to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison, and he said: Tell this to James, and to the brethren. And he went out, and departed to another place.

But when his brothers had gone up, then he also went up to the feast, not openly, but, as it were, in secret.

being careful for this that no one shall blame us in this abundance, which is ministered by us;

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not choosing to make an example of her, intended to put her away privately.

being aware of it, they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and to the region round about,

This man Paul wished to go with him: and he took him and circumcised him, on account of the Jews that were in those places: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

But when Paul perceived that one part belonged to the Sadducees, and the other to the Pharisees, he cried out, in the Sanhedrin: Brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; for the hope of the resurrection of the dead am I judged.