31 Bible Verses about Shrewdness

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

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he acted prudently. For the children of this age are more prudent toward their generation than the children of light. And I say to you, Make for yourselves friends with the unrighteous riches, that when you fail, you may be received into the everlasting habitations.

And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and he was accused to him of wasting his goods. And he called him, and said to him: What is this that I hear of you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer act as steward. And the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord takes from me the stewardship. I have not strength to dig; I am ashamed to beg.read more.
I am resolved on what I shall do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, I may be received into their houses. And he called to him every one of his lord's debtors, and said to the first, How much do you owe my lord? He replied, A hundred baths of oil. And he said to him, Take back your note, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then he said to another, How much do you owe? He replied, A hundred homers of wheat. And he said to him, Take back your note, and write eighty.

Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, and the torrents came, and the winds blew, and they beat against that house, and it fell not: for it was founded on the rock.

Every one that comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man that, when building a house, digged deep, and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the torrent dashed against that house, and it was not able to shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

Who then is that faithful and wise servant, whom his master has made ruler over his household servants, to give them their food in due time? Blessed is that servant, whom his master, when he comes, shall find so doing. Verily I say to you, That he will make him ruler over all his goods.

And the Lord said: "Who, then, is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his servants, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Of a truth, I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

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?read more.
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 when they heard it, they were astonished, and left him, and went away.

Must we give, or must we not give? But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them: Why do you tempt me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it. They brought it; and he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this? They said to him: Caesar's. And Jesus answered and said to them: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s. And they were astonished at him.

But he perceived their cunning, and said to them: Why do you tempt me? Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription has it? They answered and said: Caesar's. He said to them: Give, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar s, and to God the things that are God s.read more.
And they were not able to take hold of his words before the people. And they were astonished at his answer, and were silent.

But, concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

But concerning the dead, that they do rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, at The Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Therefore, you do greatly err.

But: that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at The Bush, since he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.

But as they continued to ask him, he stood up, and said to them: Let him among you who is without sin, first throw a stone at her.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the Magi, was greatly enraged, and sent out and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all its borders, from the age of two years and under, according to the time which he had strictly inquired of the Magi.

But Jesus said to her: Let the children be satisfied first; for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. She answered and said to him: Yes, Lord; and yd you can help me, for the little dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said to her: For this saying, go your way: the demon has gone out of your daughter.

He answered and said: It is not good to take the children's bread, and throw it to the little dogs. She replied: Yes, Lord; and yet thou canst help me; for the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters. Then Jesus answered and said to her: woman, great is your faith; be it to you as you desire. And her daughter was restored to health from that hour.

said: full of all deceit and all wickedness, child of the devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

that we might no longer be children, tossed and carried about by every wind of teaching, through the artifice of men, through craftiness used by them for the deliberate planning of deceit;

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

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written: He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

But I fear lest, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity which pertains to Christ.

lest an advantage should be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, trans forming themselves into the apostles of Christ; and no wonder, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves so as to be like the ministers of righteousness; of such, the end shall be according to their works.

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?

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might entrap him in his words. And they came and said to him: Teacher, we know that you are true, and that you care for no one; for you do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Must we give, or must we not give? But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them: Why do you tempt me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.

And they watched him, and sent spies, who feigned them selves to be just men, that they might take hold of his words, in order to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying: Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not regard the person of any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Then the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people met together at the palace of the chief priest, who was called Caiaphas. And they consulted together that they might take Jesus by craft and kill him.

After two days was the passover and the feast of unleavened bread; and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and kill him. But they said: Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people.

Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the passover, was at hand. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Be it so, indeed; I did not burden you; but being crafty, I caught you by deceit.