53 Bible Verses about Self Deception

If we say - Sin, have we none! we are deceiving, ourselves, and, the truth, is not in us.

Declareth the transgression of the lawless one, within my heart, There is, no dread of God, before his eyes; For he flattereth himself too much in his own eyes, to find his iniquity - to hate it . The words of his mouth, are iniquity and deceit, he hath left off to show discretion by doing well:read more.
Iniquity, deviseth he upon his bed, - he taketh his stand in a way, not good, Wrong, doth he not abhor!

Even in thy skirts, is there found, The blood of the lives of the helpless innocents, - Not in the act of breaking in, didst thou find them, yet the blood is on all these. Although thou saidst, Because I am innocent, surely hath his anger turned back from me, - Behold me! entering into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned!

Deceitful is the heart above all things And, dangerously wayward, - Who can know it? I - Yahweh, Searching the heart, Testing the affections; And giving to every man According to his way, According to the fruit of his doings.

Or know ye not that, wrong-doers, shall not inherit, God's kingdom? Be not deceiving yourselves: - neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor sodomites, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners - shall inherit, God's kingdom.

If we say - We have not sinned! false, are we making, him, and, his word, is not in us.

Because thou sayest, Rich, am I, and have become enriched, and, of nothing, have I need, and knowest not that, thou, art the wretched one, and pitiable, and destitute, and blind, and naked,

But alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because ye are locking up the kingdom of the heavens before men, - for, ye, are not entering, neither, them who are entering, suffer ye to enter. Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: because ye compass sea and dry land, to make one convert - and, when it is done, ye make him a son of gehenna, twofold more than ye.

But alas for you, the Pharisees! because ye tithe the mint, and the rue, and every garden herb, and pass by justice, and the love of God. But, these things, it was biding to do, and, those, not to pass by. Alas for you, the Pharisees! because ye love the first seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the market-places! Alas for you! because ye are as the secret tombs: even the men that are walking above them, know it not.read more.
And, making answer, one of the Lawyers saith unto him, Teacher! these things, saying, us also, dost thou insult! And, he, said - And, for you, the lawyers, alas! because ye lade men with burdens hard to be borne, and, yourselves, with one of your fingers, touch not the burdens. Alas for you! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers slew them! Hence, witnesses, are ye, and find consenting pleasure in the works of your fathers: because, they, indeed, slew them, and, ye, are building, their tombs . For this cause, the Wisdom of God hath said - I will send forth, unto them, prophets and apostles, - and, some from among them, will they slay, and, some persecute: That the blood of all the prophets which hath been shed from the foundation of the world, may be sought out, from this generation, - From the blood of Abel, unto the blood of Zachariah who was destroyed betwixt the altar and the house; Yea! I say unto you - It shall be sought out from this generation. Alas for you, the lawyers! because ye took away the key of knowledge: yourselves, entered not, and, them who were entering, ye hindered.

They made answer unto him - Seed of Abraham, are we, and, unto no one, have been brought into bondage, at any time: How sayest, thou, Free, shall ye be made? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you: Every one who committeth sin, is, a slave, of sin:

Become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only - reasoning yourselves astray; Because, if any is, a word-hearer, and not a doer, the same, is like unto a man observing his natural face in a mirror, - For he observed himself, and is gone away, and, straightway, it hath escaped him, - what manner of man, he was!read more.
But, he that hath obtained a nearer view into the perfect law of liberty, and hath taken up his abode by it, becoming - not a forgetful hearer, but a work doer, the same, happy in his doing, shall be. If any thinketh he is observant of religion, not curbing his own tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this one's, religious observance is, vain:

Come now! ye that say - Today or To-morrow, we will journey unto this city here, and will spend there a year, and will trade and get gain, - Men who are not versed in the morrow - of what sort your life will be ; for ye are, a vapour - for a little, appearing, then, just disappearing! Instead of your saying - If, the Lord, be pleased, we shall both, live and do this or that;read more.
Whereas, now, are ye boasting in your pretensions: - All boasting like this, is, wicked,

The prophets, have prophesied, falsely, And the priests tread down by their means, And, my people, love it, so, - What then can ye do as to her latter end?

For, from the least of them, even unto the greatest of them, Every one, graspeth with greed, - And from the prophet even unto the priest, Every one, dealeth, falsely; And so they have healed the grievous wound of my people, slightly, Saying, Peace, peace, when there was no peace,

Therefore, will I give - Their wives to others, Their fields to such as shall take possession of them, For from the least, even unto the greatest, Every one, is, wholly given to extortion: From the prophet even unto the priest, Every one, dealeth, falsely. And so they have healed the grievous wound of the daughter of my people, slightly, - Saying, Peace! peace! when there was no peace!

So then Yahweh said unto me, Falsehood, are the prophets prophesying in my name, I have not sent them Neither have I commanded them, Neither have I spoken unto them, - A vision of falsehood, and A divination of worthlessness and A fraud of their own hearts, They, are prophesying unto you. Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh concerning the prophets who are prophesying in my Name though, I, sent them not, and yet, they have beer, saying, Neither sword nor famine, shall there be in this land, - By sword or by famine, shall these prophets be consumed; And the people to whom they have been prophesying shall be getting cast out into the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword, and of there being none to give burial unto them, them, their wives, nor their sons nor their daughters, - So will I pour out upon them their own wickedness.

Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, - Do not hearken unto the words of the prophets who are prophesying unto you, They are filling you, with vain hopes, - The vision of their own hearts, do they speak, Not from the mouth of Yahweh! They keep on saying to them who despise me, Yahweh, hath spoken, saying, Prosperity, shall ye have! And to every one who is going on in the stubbornness of his own heart, have they said, There shall come on you, no calamity For who hath stood in the council of Yahweh, that he should see and hear his word? Who hath given ear to his word and heard it?

Is it not a Vision of falsehood, ye have seen, and a Divination of lies, ye have spoken, Since ye are saying. Declareth Yahweh! when I have not spoken Therefore Thus saith My Lord Yahweh, Because ye have spoken falsehood, And have had visions of lies, Therefore behold me! against you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh. So then my hand shall be against the prophets who have Visions of falsehood and who divine Divinations of lies - In the council of my people, shall they not be found. And in the register of the house of Israel, shall they not be written, And Upon the so of Israel, shall they not enter, - So shall ye know that, I, am The Lord Yahweh,

Thus, saith Yahweh, concerning the prophets who are leading astray my people, - who bite with their teeth, and then cry - Prosper! and whoso holdeth not to their mouth, they hallow against him a war!

And he spake a parable unto them, saying - A certain rich man's estate, bare well. And he began to deliberate within himself, saying - What shall I do? because I have not where I can gather my fruits. And he said - This, will I do, - I will pull down my barns, and, greater ones, build, and gather, there, all my wheat and good things;read more.
and will say to my soul - Soul! thou hast many good things lying by for many years: be taking thy rest, eat, drink,be making merry! But God said unto him - Simple one! on this very night, they are asking, thy soul, from thee; The things, then, which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?

Are ye to steal, commit murder and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, - and walk after other gods whom ye have not known; And will ye then come in and stand before me in this house whereon my Name hath been called, and say, - We have set ourselves free, - for the purpose of committing all these abominations? A den of robbers, hath this house on which my Name hath been called become in your own eyes? I, also, - lo! I have seen it Declareth Yahweh.

And not with you alone, am I solemnising this covenant and this oath; but with him who is here with us, standing to-day before Yahweh our God, - and with him who is not here with us to-day. (For, ye, know, how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, - and how we passed through the midst of the nations which ye did pass through;read more.
and ye saw their disgusting images, and their manufactured gods, - the wood and the stone, the silver and the gold that are with them.) Lest there be among you - a man or a woman or a family or a tribe, whose heart is turning to-day, from Yahweh our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations, - lest there be among you a root fruitful of poison and wormwood; and so it come to pass while he is hearing the words of this oath, that he will bless himself in his heart - saying, Prosperity, shall I have, although in the stubbornness of my heart, I go on, - so that the drunkenness addeth to the thirst: Yahweh will not be willing to forgive him, but, then, will the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy smoke against that man, and all the oath that is written in this scroll, shall settle down upon him, - and Yahweh wipe out his name from under the heavens; and Yahweh single him out for calamity, out of all the tribes of Israel, - according to all the oaths of the covenant that is written in this scroll of the law.

Thus, saith Yahweh, - Let not your own souls, deceive you saying, The Chaldeans will, surely depart, from us! For they will not depart; For though ye had smitten all the force of the Chaldeans who are fighting with you and there had remained of them only desperately wounded men, yet, every man in his tent, should have arisen and burnt this city with fire.

Bring forth, therefore, fruit worthy of repentance; and think not to be saying within yourselves, - As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you, that God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.

Bring forth, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to be saying within yourselves, As our father, we have, Abraham; for, I say unto you - God is able, out of these stones, to raise up children unto Abraham.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord! Lord! shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, - but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in the heavens. Many, will say unto me, in, that, day, Lord! Lord! did we not, in thy name, prophesy, and, in thy name, cast, demons, out, - and, in thy name, many works of power, perform? And, then, will I confess unto them, Never, have I acknowledged you, - Depart from me, ye workers of lawlessness!

when once the householder shall rouse himself, and lock the door, and ye begin to stand, outside, and to knock at the door, saying - Lord! open to us; and he shall answer and say unto you - I know you not, whence ye are. Then, will ye begin to say - We did eat and drink in thy presence, and, in our broadways, thou didst, teach; And he will speak, saying unto you - I know not whence ye are; Depart from me, all workers of unrighteous -

Then, will he say unto those also, on his left hand: Depart ye from me, accursed ones! Into the age-abiding fire, which hath been prepared for the adversary and his messengers; For I hungered, and ye gave me not to eat, and I was thirsty, and ye gave me not to drink, A stranger, was I, and ye took me not home, naked, and ye clothed me not, sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.read more.
Then, will, they also, answer, saying: Lord! when saw we thee - hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and ministered not unto thee? Then, will he answer them, saying: Verily, I say unto you - Inasmuch as ye did it not, unto one of these least, neither unto me, did ye it. And, these, shall go away, into, age-abiding, correction, but, the righteous, into, age-abiding, life.

They answered and said unto him - Our father, is, Abraham. Jesus saith unto them - If, children of Abraham, ye are, the works of Abraham, are ye doing. But, now, ye are seeking, to kill me, - A man who, the truth, unto you, hath spoken, which I have heard from God: this, Abraham, did not. Ye, are doing the works of your father. They said unto him - We, of fornication, were not born: One father, have we - God.read more.
Jesus said unto them - If, God, had been your father, ye had been loving me, for, I, from God, came forth, and am here; for, not even of myself, have I come, but, he, sent me forth. Wherefore, is it, that, my speech, ye do not understand? because ye cannot hear my word. Ye, are, of your father - the adversary, and, the covetings of your father, ye choose to be doing. He, was, a murderer, from the beginning, and, in the truth, he stood not; because truth is not in him: Whensoever he speaketh falsehood, of his own, he speaketh; because, false, he is, and, the father of it. But, as for me, because, the truth, I speak, ye do not believe me. Which of you convicteth me of sin? If, truth, I speak, wherefore, do, ye, not believe me? He that is of God, heareth, the sayings of God; therefore, do, ye, not hear, because, of God, ye are not.

If, however, thou, art taking the name of Jew, and resting thyself upon law, and boasting in God, And art taking note of his will, and testing the things that differ - when receiving oral instruction out of the law, Art persuaded, moreover, that, thou thyself, art - a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,read more.
A trainer of the simple, a teacher of babes, having the forming of knowledge and truth in the law, - Thou, therefore, that art teaching someone else, thyself, art thou not teaching? Thou that proclaimest - Do not steal! Art thou, stealing? That sayest - Do not commit adultery! Art thou, committing adultery? That abhorrest sacrilege, Art thou, robbing temples? That in law dost boast, Through the transgression of the law, art thou dishonouring God? For the name of God, because of you, is defamed among the nations, - even as it is written. For, circumcision, indeed, profiteth - if, law, thou be practising; but, if thou be a transgressor of law, thy circumcision, hath become, uncircumcision If then, the uncircumcision, be guarding the righteous requirement of the law, shall not, his uncircumcision, as circumcision be reckoned? - And the uncircumcision by nature, completing the law, shall judge, thee, who, notwithstanding letter and circumcision, art a transgressor of law! For, not he who is one in appearance, is a Jew, nor is, that which is such in appearance in flesh, circumcision; But, he who is one in secret, is a Jew, - and, that is , circumcision, which is of the heart, in spirit, not in letter, - whose, praise, is not of men, but of God.

The circumcision, is, nothing, and, the uncircumcision, is, nothing, - but keeping the commandments of God.

Beware of the dogs, beware of mischievous workers, beware of the mutilation; For, we, are the circumcision, who in the Spirit of God, are doing divine service, and are boasting in Christ Jesus, and, not in flesh, having confidence, - Although, indeed, I, might have confidence even in flesh. If any other thinketh to have confidence in flesh, I, more: -read more.
Circumcised, the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, - regarding law, a Pharisee, Regarding zeal, persecuting the assembly, regarding the righteousness that is in law, having become blameless. But, whatever things, unto me, were gain, the same, have I accounted, for the Christ's sake, loss;

Let no one be deceiving himself: - if anyone imagineth himself to be wise among you, in this age, let him become foolish, that he may become wise; For, the wisdom of this world, is, foolishness with God; for it is written - He that taketh the wise in their knavery, - And again - The Lord taketh note of the speculations of the wise, that they are vain.

The way of the foolish, is right in his own eyes, but, he that hearkeneth to counsel, is wise.

Thy monstrous thing, hath deceived thee, The insolence of thy heart, O thou that inhabitest the hidden recesses of the cliff, That boldest fast the height of the hill, - Though thou set high as an eagle, thy nest, From thence, will I bring thee down, Declareth Yahweh;

Now Peter, answering, said unto him - Though, all, shall find cause of stumbling in thee, I, shall never find cause of stumbling. Jesus saith unto him: Verily, I say unto thee - During this night, before a cock crow, Thrice, wilt thou deny me. Peter saith unto him: Even though it be needful for me, with thee to die, in nowise, will I deny thee. Likewise, all the disciples also, said.

And Jesus saith unto them - Ye, all, will find cause of stumbling, because it is written, - I will smite the shepherd, and, the sheep, will be scattered abroad; And, Peter, said unto him - Even if, all, shall find cause of stumbling, certainly not, I. And Jesus saith unto him - Verily, I say unto thee, thou, this day, in this night, before that twice a cock crow, thrice, will deny me.read more.
But he, most vehemently, was saying - Even though I must needs die with thee, in nowise, will I, deny thee. Likewise, indeed, were, all besides, saying.

But, he, said unto him - Lord! with thee, am I, ready, both into prison and unto death, to be going. And, he, said: I tell thee, Peter - A cock will not crow this day, until, thrice, thou deny that thou knowest me.

Peter saith unto him - Lord! why, cannot I follow thee, even now? My life, in thy behalf, will I lay down. Jesus answereth - Thy life, in my behalf, wilt thou lay down? Verily, verily, I say unto thee - In nowise shall a cock crow till thou hast denied me, thrice.

For we dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

For, if any one thinketh he is something, when he is, nothing, he deceiveth himself;

Of what use to me, is your multitude of sacrifices: Saith Yahweh: I am sated with ascending-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts, - In the blood of bulls and young rams and he-goats, have I no pleasure. When ye enter to see my face, Who hath required this at your hand trampling my courts? Ye shall not again bring in an empty, present, Incense, an abomination, is that unto me! New moon, and sabbath calling an assembly - I cannot endure, iniquity and sacred festival!read more.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts, my soul, hateth, - They have become unto me a burden I am too weary to bear: Even when ye spread forth your open palms, I hide mine eyes from you; Yea, though ye multiply prayers, I am not hearkening, - Your hands, with deeds of blood, are filled. Wash you make you clean, Put away the wickedness of your doings from before mine eyes, - Cease to do evil. Learn to do well - Seek justice, Correct the oppressor, - Vindicate the fatherless, Plead the cause of the widow,

Yet, me - day by day, do they seek, And in the knowledge of my ways, they delight, - Like a nation that had done righteousness, And the justice of their God, had not forsaken They ask of me the just regulations, In approaching God, they delight. Wherefore have we Fasted and thou hast not seen? Humbled our soul, and thou wouldst take no note? Lo! in the day of your fast, ye take pleasure, But all your toilers, ye drive on! Lo! for strife and contention, ye fast, And to smite with the fist of lawlessness, - Ye shall not fast as to-day, To cause to be heard on high your voice!read more.
Like this, shall the fast be that I choose, A day for the son of earth to humble his soul? Is it to bow down as a rush his head, And sackcloth and ashes, to spread out? Is it, this, thou wilt call a fast, Or a day of acceptance with Yahweh? Is not, this, the fast that I must ever choose - To unbind the tight cords of lawlessness, To unloose the bands of the yoke, - and To let the crushed go free, and That every yoke, ye tear off? Is it not to break unto the hungry, thy bread, And the thrust-out oppressed, that thou bring into a home, - When thou seest one naked, that thou cover him, And from thine own flesh, shalt not hide thyself?

Stand thou in the gate of the house of Yahweh, and thou shalt proclaim there this word, - and shalt say - Hear ye the word of Yahweh all Judah ye who are entering in at these gates, to bow down unto Yahweh: Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts God of Israel, Amend your ways, and your doings, - That I may cause you to dwell in this place. Do not, on your part trust in false words, saying, - The temple of Yahweh The temple of Yahweh, The temple of Yahweh they are!read more.
But, if ye shall thoroughly amend, your ways, and your doings, - Shall thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbour; The sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, shall not oppress, And innocent blood, shall not shed in this place, - And after other gods, shall not walk to your own hurt, Then will I cause you to dwell In this place, In the land which I gave to your fathers, - From one age even unto another, Lo! ye, on your part, are trusting in false words, - To no profit!

I hate, I despise your festivals, - and can scent no fragrance in your solemn feasts. Nay, though ye cause to ascend unto me ascending-sacrifices, and your meal-offerings, I will not accept them , - nor, the peace-offering of your fat heifers, will I regard. Take thou away from me, the noise of thy songs, - Even the melody of thy harps, will I not hear.read more.
But let, justice, roll along like water, - and, righteousness, as a torrent over flowing.

A son, will honour a father, and, a servant, his lord, - If then, a father, I am, where is mine honour? And, if, a lord, I am, where is my reverence? saith Yahweh of hosts - to you, ye priests, who despise my Name, and yet say, Wherein have we despised thy Name? In bringing near upon mine altar, polluted food, while yet ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? Because ye say, As for the table of Yahweh, a thing to be despised, it is; And when ye bring near the blind as a sacrifice, saying - No harm! or when ye bring near the lame or the sick saying - No harm! Offer it, I pray you, unto thy pasha, Will he accept thee? or lift up thy countenance? saith Yahweh of hosts.read more.
Now, therefore, pacify, I pray you, the face of GOD, that he may grant us favour, - at your hands, hath this come to pass, Will he lift up the countenances, of any of you? saith Yahweh of hosts. Who is there, even among you, that will shut the doors, so as not to set light to mine altar, for nothing? I can take no pleasure in you, saith Yahweh of hosts, and, your present, can I not accept at your hand. For, from the rising of the sun, even unto the going in thereof, great is my Name among the nations, and, in every place, incense, is offered to my Name, and a pure present, - for great is my Name among the nations, saith Yahweh of hosts. But ye are profaning me, - in that ye say, As for the table of the Lord, polluted it is, and, as for his produce, contemptible is his food. And ye have said, Lo! what a weariness! And ye have snuffed at Me, saith Yahweh of hosts, and have brought in the torn and the lame and the sick, thus have ye brought the present, - Could I accept it at your hand? saith Yahweh. But accursed is he that defraudeth, who, when there is in his flock a male, yet voweth and sacrificeth a corrupt thing to the Lord, for, a great king, am I, saith Yahweh of hosts, and, my Name, is revered among the nations.

And, when ye may be praying, ye shall not be as the hypocrites, because they love, in the synagogues, and at the corners of the broad ways, to take their stand and pray, that they may shine before men; Verily, I say unto you, they are getting back their reward.

And he said unto them - Ye, are they who justify themselves before men, but, God, knoweth your hearts; because, that which amongst men is lofty, is an abomination before God.

A generation! Pure in its own eyes, yet, from its filth, hath it not been bathed,

I have spread out my hands all the day, Unto a rebellious people, - Who walk In the way that is not good, After their own devices. The people who are provoking me to anger to my face continually, - Sacrificing in gardens, and Burning incense upon bricks; Who tarry among groves, And in the secret places, do lodge, Who eat the flesh of swine, And the broth of refuse things is in their vessels, -read more.
Who say - Draw near by thyself, Do not approach with me, For I am holier than thou! These, are A smoke in my nostrils, A fire, burning all the day.

And he spake, even unto certain who were confident in themselves that they were righteous, and were despising the rest, this parable: - Two men, went up into the temple to pray, one, a Pharisee, and, the other, a tax-collector. The Pharisee, taking his stand, these things unto himself was praying: O God! I thank thee, that I am not like the rest of men, - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or, even as this tax-collector;read more.
I fast twice in the week, I give a tenth of whatsoever things I gain! But, the tax-collector, afar off, standing, - would not so much as lift up, his eyes, unto heaven, but kept smiting his own breast saying - O God! be propitiated unto me, the sinner! I tell you - This one went down justified, unto his house, rather than that one; because, every one who exalteth himself, shall be abased, but, he that abaseth himself, shall be exalted?

For, the unseen things of him, from a world's creation, by the things made, being perceived, are clearly seen, even his eternal power and divinity, - to the end they should be without excuse; Inasmuch as, having come to know God, not, as God, did they glorify him, or give him thanks, but were made fruitless in their reasonings, and darkened was their undiscerning heart, Professing to be wise, they were made foolish,read more.
And, exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God, for the likeness of an image of a corruptible man, and of birds and fourfooted beasts and reptiles:

And the residue thereof, Into a GOD, he maketh, Into his carved image, - Adoreth it, and boweth down and prayeth unto it, And saith Deliver me, for, my GOD, thou art! They have not taken note, neither can they perceive, - He hath besmeared - past seeing - their eyes, Past understanding, their hearts; And no one reflecteth - There is neither knowledge nor discernment - to say, Half thereof, have I burned up in the fire Moreover also I have baked, on the coals thereof, breed, I roasted flesh, and have been eating, - And of the remainder thereof, an abomination, shall I make? And, to a log of wood, shall I pay adoration?read more.
He is feeding on ashes, A deluded heart, hath turned him aside, - And he cannot deliver his own soul nor say, Is there not a falsehood in my right hand?