53 Bible Verses about Self Deception

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us.

{To the Chanter, of David the servant of the Lord} My heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own sight, until his abominable sin be found out. The words of his mouth are unrighteous and full of deceit; he hath left off to behave himself wisely, and to do good.read more.
He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no good way; neither doth he abhor any thing that is evil.

Upon thy wings is found the blood of poor and innocent people; and that not in corners and holes only, but openly in all these places. Yet darest thou say, 'I am guiltless: Tush, his wrath cannot come upon me.' Behold, I will reason with thee because thou darest say, 'I have not offended.'

Among all things living, man hath the most deceitful and unsearchable heart. Who shall then know it? "Even I the LORD search out the ground of the heart, and try the reins, and reward every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his counsels."

Do ye not remember how that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. For neither fornicators, neither worshippers of images, neither whoremongers, neither weaklings, neither abusers of themselves with mankind, neither thieves, neither the covetous, neither drunkards, neither cursed speakers, neither extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

because thou sayest thou art rich and increased with goods, and hast need of nothing, and knowest not how thou art wretched and miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven before men: ye yourselves go not in, neither suffer ye them that come to enter in. Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, for ye devour widows' houses: and that, under a colour of praying long prayers, wherefore ye shall receive greater damnation. Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye which compass sea and land, to bring one into your belief: and when he is brought, ye make him twofold more the child of hell, than ye yourselves are.

But woe be to you Pharisees: for ye tithe the mint, and rue, and all manner herbs; and pass over judgment, and the love of God. These ought ye to have done, and yet not to have left the other undone. Woe be to you Pharisees: for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe be to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are as graves which appear not; And the men that walk over them, are not aware of them."read more.
Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, "Master, thus saying, thou puttest us to rebuke also." Then he said, "Woe be to you also ye lawyers: for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be born, and ye yourselves touch not the packs with one of your fingers. Woe be to you that build the sepulchers of the prophets: for your fathers killed them: Truly ye bear witness, that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they killed them, and ye build their sepulchers. "Therefore said the wisdom of God: I will send them prophets and apostles, and of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all prophets, which was shed from the beginning of the world, may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this nation. Woe be to you lawyers: for ye have taken away the key of knowledge, ye entered not in yourselves, and them that came in ye forbade."

They answered him, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never bond to any man: why sayest thou then, 'Ye shall be made free?'" Jesus answered them, "Verily, verily I say unto you, That whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin.

And see that ye be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves with sophistry. For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man that beholdeth his bodily face in a glass. For as soon as he hath looked on himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what his fashion was:read more.
but whoso looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein - if he be not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work - the same shall be happy in his deed. If any man among you seem devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain.

Go to now, ye that say, "Today and tomorrow let us go into such a city and continue there a year and buy, and sell, and win," and yet cannot tell what shall happen tomorrow. For what thing is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that, ye ought to say, "If the Lord will, and if we live, let us do this or that."read more.
But now ye rejoice in your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil.

The Prophets teach falsely, and the priests follow them, and my people hath pleasure therein. What will come thereof at the last?

"For from the least unto the most, they hang all upon covetousness: and from the prophet unto the priest, they go all about with falsity and lies. And beside that, they heal the hurt of my people with sweet words, saying, 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace at all.

Wherefore, I will give their wives unto aliens, and their fields to destroyers. For from the lowest to the highest, they follow all filthy lucre: and from the Prophet unto the priest, they deal all with lies. Nevertheless, they heal the hurt of my people with sweet words, saying, 'Peace, peace,' where there is no peace at all.

And the LORD said unto me, "The prophets preach lies unto them in my name. I have not spoken with them, neither gave I them any charge, neither did I send them. Yet they preach unto you false visions, charming vanity, and deceitfulness of their own heart. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD: As for those prophets that preach in my name, whom I nevertheless have not sent, and that say, 'Tush, there shall neither battle, nor hunger be in this land': With sword and with hunger shall those prophets perish, and the people to whom they have preached shall be cast out of Jerusalem; die of hunger; and be slain with the sword. And there shall be no man to bury them, both they and their wives, their sons and their daughters. For thus will I pour their wickedness upon them.

And therefore the LORD of Hosts giveth you this warning, "Hear not the words of the prophets, that preach unto you, and deceive you: for they speak the meaning of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say unto them, that despise me: The LORD hath spoken it, 'Tush, ye shall prosper right well.' And unto all them that walk after the lusts of their own heart, they say, 'Tush, there shall no misfortune happen you.' For who hath sitten in the council of the LORD, that he hath heard and understood what he is about to do? Who hath marked his device, and heard it?

Vain visions have ye seen, and spoken false prophesies, when ye say, 'The LORD hath spoken it,' whereas I never said it. Therefore, thus sayeth the LORD God. Because your words be vain, and ye seek out lies: Behold, I will upon you, sayeth the LORD. Mine hands shall come upon the prophets that look out vain things and preach lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor written in the book of the house of Israel, neither shall they come in the land of Israel: that ye may know how that I am the LORD God.

And as concerning the prophets that deceive my people, thus the LORD sayeth against them: When they have any thing to bite upon, then they preach that all shall be well. But if a man put not some thing in to their mouths, they preach of war against him.

And he put forth a similitude unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth fruits plenteously, and he thought in himself saying, 'What shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits.' And he said, 'This will I do. I will destroy my barns, and build greater: and therein will I gather all my fruits, and my goods:read more.
and I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up in store for many years, take thine ease: eat, drink and be merry.' But God said unto him, 'Thou fool, this night will they fetch away thy soul again from thee. Then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?'

For when ye have stolen, murdered, committed adultery and penury; When ye have offered unto Baal, following strange and unknown gods; Then come ye, and stand before me in this house, which hath my name given unto it, and say 'Tush, we are absolved quite, though we have done all these abominations.' What? Think you this house that beareth my name, is a den of thieves? And these things are not done privily, but before mine eyes, sayeth the LORD.

"Also, I make not this covenant and this oath with you only: but both with him that stoodeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day. For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations which we passed by.read more.
And ye have seen their abominations and their idols - wood, stone, silver, gold - which they had. Lest there be among you man or woman, kindred or tribe, that turneth away in his heart this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations: and lest there be among you some root that beareth gall and wormwood, so that when he heareth the words of this curse, he bless himself in his heart saying, 'I shall have peace; I will therefore work after the lust of mine own heart, that the drunken may perish with the thirsty.' "And so the LORD will not be merciful unto him, but then the wrath of the LORD and his jealousy, smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book light upon him, and the LORD do out his name from under heaven, and separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel according unto all the curses of the covenant that is written in the book of this law.

For thus sayeth the LORD: Deceive not your own minds, thinking on this manner, 'Tush, the Chaldeans go now their way from us.' No, they shall not go their way. For though ye had slain the whole host of the Chaldeans that besiege you, and every one of the slain lay in his tent, yet should they stand up, and set fire upon this city.'"

Bring forth therefore the fruits belonging to repentance: And see that you think not to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father': for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Bring forth due fruits of repentance; And begin not to say in yourselves, we have Abraham to our father. For I say unto you: God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

"Not all they that say unto me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter in to the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth my father's will which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many miracles?' And then will I knowledge unto them, that I never knew them: 'Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.'

When the good man of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, ye shall begin to stand without, and to knock at the door saying, 'Lord, Lord, open unto us.' And he shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are.' Then shall ye begin to say, 'We have eaten, and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.' And he shall say, 'I tell you, I know you not whence ye are: depart from me all ye workers of iniquity.'

Then shall the King say unto them that shall be on the left hand, 'Depart from me ye cursed, into everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was a hungered, and ye gave me no meat. I thirsted, and ye gave me no drink. I was harborless, and ye lodged me not. I was naked, and ye clothed me not. I was sick and in prison, and ye visited me not.'read more.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, 'Master, when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or harborless, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and have not ministered unto thee?' Then shall he answer them, and say, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.' And these shall go into everlasting pain: And the righteous into life eternal.

They answered, and said unto him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the deeds of Abraham. But now ye go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God: This did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father." Then said they unto him, "We were not born of fornication. We have one father which is God."read more.
Jesus said unto them, "If God were your father, then would ye have loved me. For I proceeded forth and come from God. Neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not know my speech? Even because ye cannot abide the hearing of my words. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father, ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning; And abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, then speaketh he of his own. For he is a liar, and the father thereof. And because I tell you the truth, therefore ye believe me not. "Which of you can rebuke me of sin? If I say the truth, why do not ye believe me? He that is of God, heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."

Behold, thou art called a Jew, and trustest in the law and rejoicest in God, and knowest his will, and hast experience of good and bad, in that thou art informed by the law: And believest that thou thyself art a guide unto the blind, a light to them which are in darkness,read more.
an informer of them which lack discretion, a teacher of the unlearned, which hast the example of that which ought to be known, and of the truth in the law. But thou which teachest another, teachest not thyself. Thou preachest, a man should not steal: and yet thou stealest. Thou sayest, a man should not commit adultery: and thou breakest wedlock. Thou abhorrest images: and robbest God of his honour. Thou rejoicest in the law: and through breaking the law dishonourest God. For the name of God is evil spoken-of among the gentiles, through you, as it is written. Circumcision verily availeth if thou keep the law: But if thou break the law thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the right things contained in the law: shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it keep the law, judge thee, which being under the letter and circumcision, dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is a Jew outward. Neither is that thing circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew which is hid within, and the circumcision of the heart is the true circumcision, which is in the spirit, and not in the letter: whose praise is not of men but of God.

Circumcision is nothing, uncircumcision is nothing: but the keeping of the commandments of God is altogether.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers. Beware of dissension: For we are circumcision which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh: though I have whereof I might rejoice in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, much more I:read more.
circumcised the eighth day, of the kindred of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew born of the Hebrews; as concerning the law, a Pharisee, and as concerning ferventness I persecuted the congregation, and as touching the righteousness which is in the law, I was unrebukable. But the things that were vantage unto me I counted loss for Christ's sake.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man seem wise among you, let him be a fool in this world, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He compasseth the wise in their craftiness." And again, "God knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they be vain."

Look: what a fool taketh in hand, he thinketh it well done; but he that is wise, will be counseled.

Thy high stomach and the pride of thy heart have deceived thee; Because thou wilt dwell in the holes of stony rocks, and have the high mountains in possession. Nevertheless, though thy nest were as high as the Eagles, yet will I cast thee down, sayeth the LORD.

Peter answered, and said unto him, "Though all men should be offended by thee, yet would I never be offended." Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, that this same night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Peter said unto him, "If I should die with thee, yet would I not deny thee." Likewise also said all the disciples.

And Jesus said unto them, "All ye shall be offended through me this night. For it is written, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.' But after that I am risen again I will go into Galilee before you." Peter said unto him, "And though all men should be offended, yet would not I."read more.
And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee this day even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." And he spake bolder, "No, if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee." Likewise also said they all.

And he said unto him, "Lord, I am ready to go with thee into prison, and to death." And he said, "I tell thee Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou have thrice denied that thou knowest me."

Peter said unto him, "Lord why cannot I follow thee now? I will give my life for thy sake." Jesus answered him, "Wilt thou give thy life for my sake? Verily, verily I say unto thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou have denied me thrice."

For we cannot find in our hearts to make ourselves of the number of them, or to compare ourselves to them, which laud themselves. Nevertheless, while they measure themselves with themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they understand nought.

If any man seem to himself that he is somewhat, when indeed he is nothing, the same deceiveth himself in his imagination.

Why offer ye so many sacrifices unto me, sayeth the LORD? I am full of the burnt offerings of weathers, and with the fatness of fed beasts. I have no pleasure in the blood of bullocks, lambs, and goats. When ye appear before me, who requireth this of you to tread within my porches? Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your new moons, your Sabbaths and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain.read more.
I hate your new holidays and fastings, even from my very heart. I cannot away with such vanity and holding in of the people. They lay upon me as a burden, and I am weary of bearing them! When ye hold out your hands, I will turn my eyes from you. And though ye make many prayers, yet will I hear nothing at all; for your hands are full of blood. Thus saith the LORD God: Wash and be clean; put away the wickedness of your imaginations out of my sight. Cease to do evil and learn to do well. Study to do righteously, and help the oppressed. Avenge the fatherless and defend the cause of widows. Come, let us show each his grief to other and make an atonement, saith the LORD.

For me they seek day by day; and will know my ways, as a people that doth righteousness, and hath not forsaken the equity of their God. They seek of me righteous judgments, and will draw nigh unto God. Why have we fasted and thou hast not looked upon it? Have humbled our souls, and thou wouldest not wit it? Behold when ye fast, ye can find your own lusts, and can call cruelly on all your debtors. Ye fast to law and strive and to smite with fist wickedly. Fast not as ye now do, to make your voice to be heard upon high.read more.
Should it be such a manner of fast that I should chose? A day that a man should hurt his soul in? Or to bow down his head like a bulrush? Or to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Shouldest thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable unto the LORD? Or is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? To loose wicked bonds, and to unbind bundles of oppression? And to let the bruised go free? And that ye should break all manner yokes? Yea, and to break the bread to the hungry; and to bring the poor that are harborless unto house; and when thou seest a naked, that thou clothe him and that thou shouldest withdraw thyself from helping thine own flesh?

"Stand under the gates of the LORD's house, and cry out these words there, with a loud voice, and say, Hear the word of the LORD all ye of Judah, that go in at this door, to honour the LORD. Thus sayeth the LORD of Hosts the God of Israel. Amend your ways and your counsels, and I will let you dwell in this place. Trust not in false lying words, saying, 'Here is the temple of the LORD, here is the temple of the LORD, here is the temple of the LORD.'read more.
"For if ye will amend your ways and counsels, if ye will judge right betwixt a man and his neighbour; If ye will not oppress the stranger, the fatherless and the widow; if ye will not shed innocent blood in this place; if ye will not cleave to strange gods to your own destruction; then will I let you dwell in this place, yea in the land that I gave afore time unto your fathers forever. But take heed: ye trust in counsels that beguile you and do you no good.

"'I hate and abhor your holidays, and whereas ye cense me when ye come together I will not accept it. And though ye offer me burnt offerings and meat offerings, yet have I no pleasure therein. As for your fat thank offerings, I will not look upon them. Away with that noise of thy songs, I will not hear thy plays of music:read more.
but see that equity flow as the water, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

"Should not a son honour his father, and a servant his master? If I be now a father, where is mine honour? If I be the LORD, where am I feared? sayeth the LORD of Hosts, now, to you priests that despise my name. And if ye say, 'Wherein have we despised thy name?' In this: that ye offer unclean bread upon mine altar. And if ye will say, 'Wherein have we offered any unclean thing unto thee?' In this that ye say: the altar of the LORD is not to be regarded. If ye offer the blind, is not that evil? And if ye offer the lame and sick, is not that evil? Yea offer it unto thy prince: shall he be content with thee, or accept thy person, sayeth the LORD of Hosts?read more.
And now make your prayer before God, that he may have mercy upon us: for such things have ye done. Shall he regard your persons, think ye, sayeth the LORD of Hosts? Yea, what is he among you, that will do so much as to shut the doors, or to kindle the fire upon mine altar for naught? I have no pleasure in you, sayeth the LORD of Hosts: and as for the meat offering, I will not accept it at your hand. For from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, my name is great among the Gentiles. Yea, in every place shall there sacrifice be done, and a clean meat offering offered up unto my name: for my name is great among the Heathen, sayeth the LORD of Hosts. But ye have unhallowed it, in that ye say, 'The altar of the LORD is not to be regarded, and the thing that is set thereupon, not worthy to be eaten.' Now say ye, 'It is but labour and travail,' and thus have ye thought scorn at it, sayeth the LORD of Hosts; offering robbery, yea the lame and the sick. Ye have brought me in a meat offering? Should I accept it of your hand? sayeth the LORD. Cursed be the dissembler, which hath in his flock one that is male, and when he maketh a vow, offereth a spotted one unto the LORD. For I am a great King, sayeth the LORD of Hosts, and my name is fearful among the Heathen.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, because they would be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

and he said unto them, "Ye are they, which justify yourselves before men: but God knoweth your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is abominable in the sight of God.

The generation that think themselves clean, shall not be cleansed from their filthiness.

For thus long have I ever holden out my hands to an unfaithful people, that go not the right way, but after their own imaginations: To a people that is ever defying me to my face. They make their oblations in gardens, and their smoke upon altars of brick; they lurk among the graves, and lie in the dens all night. They eat swine flesh, and unclean broth is in their vessels.read more.
If thou comest nigh them, they say, "Touch me not, for I am holier than thou." All these men when I am angry, shall be turned to smoke and fire, that shall burn forever.

And he put forth this similitude, unto certain which trusted in themselves, that they were perfect, and despised others. "Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are; extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or as this publican.read more.
I fast twice in the week. I give tithe of all that I possess.' And the publican stood afar off, and would not lift up his eyes to heaven, but smote his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me, a sinner.' I tell you, This man departed home to his house justified more than the other. For every man that exalteth himself, shall be brought low: And he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted."

So that his invisible things, that is to say, his eternal power and godhead, are understood and seen by the works from the creation of the world. So that they are without excuse, inasmuch as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became foolsread more.
and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image: of mortal man, and of birds, and four footed beasts and of serpents.

And of the residue he maketh him a god, and an Idol for himself. He kneeleth before it, he worshippeth it, he prayeth unto it, and sayeth, "Deliver me, for thou art my god!" Yet men neither consider nor understand; because their eyes are stopped that they cannot see, and their hearts, that they can not perceive. They ponder not in their minds, for they have neither knowledge nor understanding, to think thus, "I have burnt one piece in the fire; I have baked bread with the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh withal, and eaten it: shall I now of the residue make an abomination, and fall down before a rotten piece of wood?"read more.
The keeping of dust, and foolishness of heart hath turned them aside: so that none of them can have a free conscience to think, "Do not I err?"