62 Bible Verses about Shrewdness

Lo! I, send you forth as sheep amidst wolves; become ye therefore - prudent, as serpents, and simple, as doves.

And the lord praised the unrighteous steward, in that with forethought he acted: - Because, the sons of this age, have more forethought than the sons of light, respecting their own generation. And, I, unto you, say - For yourselves, make ye friends, with the unjust Riches, in order that, as soon as it shall fail, they may welcome you into the age-abiding tents.

And he went on to say, unto his disciples also, - There was, a certain rich man, who had a steward, and, the same, was accused to him as squandering his goods. And, accosting him, he said unto him - What is this I hear of thee? Render the account of thy stewardship, for thou canst no longer be steward. And the steward said within himself - What shall I do, because my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? Dig, I cannot: to beg, I am ashamed.read more.
I know what I will do, that, when I am removed out of the stewardship, they may welcome me into their own houses. And, calling unto him each one of the debtors of his own lord, he was saying unto the first, - How much owest thou my lord? And, he, said - A hundred baths of oil. And, he, said unto him - Kindly take thine accounts, and, sitting down, make haste and write - Fifty! After that, unto another, he said - And how much owest, thou? And, he, said - A hundred homers of wheat. He saith unto him - Kindly take thine accounts, and write - Eighty!

Every one, therefore, who heareth thesemy words, and doeth them, shall be likened to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock; And the rain descended, and the streams came, and the winds blew, and rushed against that house, and it fell not; for it had been founded upon the rock.

Every one coming unto me, and hearkening unto my words, and doing them, I will suggest to you, whom he is like: He is like unto a man building a house, who digged, and deepened, and laid a foundation upon the rock, - and, a flood, coming, the stream burst against that house, and was not strong enough to shake it, because it had been, well, built.

A prudent man, concealeth knowledge, but, the heart of dullards, proclaimeth folly.

The simple, believeth every word, but, the prudent, looketh well to his going.

A foolish son , spurneth the correction of his father, but, he that heedeth a reproof, sheweth prudence.

the heart of the intelligent, acquireth knowledge, yea, the ear of the wise, seeketh knowledge.

Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master hath appointed over his household, to give them food in season? Happy! that servant, whom his master, when he cometh, shall find so doing! Verily, I say unto you - Over all his substance, will he appoint him.

And the Lord said - Who then is the faithful steward, the prudent one, whom the lord will appoint over his body of attendants, to be giving, in due season, the measured allowance of wheat? Happy, that servant, whom the lord, when he cometh shall find doing, thus! Of a truth, I say unto you - Over all his possessions, will he appoint him.

But Jesus, taking note of their wickedness, said - Why are ye tempting me, hypocrites? Shew me the coin appointed for the tax. And, they, brought unto him a denary. And he saith unto them - Whose, is this image and the inscription?read more.
They say - Caesar's. Then, saith he unto them - Render, therefore, the things of Caesar, unto Caesar, - and, the things of God, unto God. And, hearing, they marvelled, - and, leaving him, departed.

But, he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them - Why are ye, tempting, me? Bring me a denary, that I may see it. And, they, brought one. And he saith unto them - Whose, is this image, and the inscription? And, they, said unto him - Caesar's. And, Jesus, said - the things of Caesar, render, unto Caesar, and, the things of God, unto God. And they were marvelling at him.

But, observing their villainy, he said unto them - Shew me a denary. Of whom, hath it an image and inscription? And, they, said - Of Caesar. And, he, said unto them - Well then! render the things of Caesar, unto Caesar, and the things of God, unto God.read more.
And they could not lay hold of the saying, before the people; and, marvelling at his answer, they held their peace.

But, as touching the resurrection of the dead - Have ye not read what was spoken unto you by God, saying - I, am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? - He is not God, of the dead, but, of the living.

But, as touching the dead, that they, do rise, - Have ye not read in the book of Moses, at the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying - I am the God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, and God of Jacob: - He is not a God of, dead, men, but of, living. Greatly, are ye deceiving yourselves.

But, that the dead do rise, even Moses, disclosed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord - The God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob: Now, God, he is not, of the dead, but, of the living, - for, all, unto him, do live.

Go, I pray you, make ready yet further, and get to know and see his place, where may be his track, who hath seen him there, - for it hath been said unto me, Cunning indeed, is, he! See, then, and get to know - of all the hiding places, where he hideth himself, and return unto me, for certainty, then will I go with you, - and it shall be, if he is in the land, that I will search him out, through all the thousands of Judah.

And Joab, son of Zeruiah, perceived that the heart of the king was towards Absolom. So Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched from thence, a wise woman, - and said unto her - I pray thee, feign thyself a mourner, and put on, I pray thee, mourning apparel, and do not anoint thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath, these many days, been mourning for the dead; so shalt thou come in unto the king, and speak unto him, after this manner. And Joab put the words in her mouth.

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had delivered, and they stood in awe before the king, - for they saw, that, the wisdom of God, was in him, to execute justice.

So he took heed, and dispersed all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto all the fortified cities, and gave them food in abundance, - and asked a multitude of wives.

Then said Daniel, unto the overseer whom the ruler of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: I pray thee - prove thy servants, ten days, - and let them give us vegetable food, that we may eat, and water that we may drink: then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the youths who have been eating the delicacies of the king, - and, as thou shalt see, deal thou with thy servants.

Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly enraged, - and sent and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all its bounds, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.

And he was saying to her - Suffer, the children, first, to be fed; for it is not seemly to take the bread of the children, and, unto the little dogs, to cast it; but she answered and saith to him - Yea, Lord! and yet, the little dogs under the table, do eat of the crumbs of the children; and he said to her - Because of this word, go thy way, the demon hath gone forth out of thy daughter;

But, he, answering, said, It is, not seemly, to take the loaf of, the children, and cast, to the little dogs. And, she, said, True, Lord! for, even the little dogs, eat of the crumbs which are falling from the table of, their masters. Then, answering, Jesus said to her - O woman! great, is, thy faith! Be it, done, for thee, as thou desirest. And her daughter was healed, from that hour.

They devise perverse things, They have completed the device well devised, Both the intent of each one, and the mind, are unsearchable.

For thine own mouth would teach thine iniquity, and thou wouldst choose the tongue of the crafty.

Against thy people, they craftily devise a secret plot, And conspire against thy treasured ones.

Rescue me, O Yahweh, from the men of mischief, From the men of violence, wilt thou preserve me: Who have devised mischiefs in their heart , Every day, do they stir up wars: They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent, - The poison of the asp, is under their lips. Selah.

And lo! a woman, came to meet him, attired as one unchaste, of a wily heart.

Said - O full of all guile, and all recklessness! Son of an adversary! Enemy of all righteousness! - Wilt thou not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?

That we may, no longer, be infants - billow-tossed and shifted round with every wind of teaching, - in the craft of men, in knavery suited to the artifice of error;

With the loving, thou didst show thyself loving, - with the blameless hero, thou didst show thyself blameless; With the pure, thou didst show thyself pure, - but, with the perverse, thou didst shew thyself ready to contend:

With the loving, thou didst show thyself loving, - With the blameless man, thou didst show thyself blameless; With the pure, thou didst show thyself pure, But, with the perverse, thou didst show thyself ready to contend.

Who doth frustrate the schemes of the crafty, that their hands cannot achieve abiding success; Who captureth the wise in their own craftiness, yea the headlong counsel of the crooked:

Yahweh, knoweth the plans of men, That, they, are a breath!

An abandoned man, a man of iniquity, is he who - goeth on in perversity of mouth; Winketh with his eyes, speaketh with his foot, pointeth with his fingers; Hath perverse things in his heart, deviseth mischief on every occasion, strifes, he sendeth forth.read more.
For this cause, suddenly cometh his doom, in a moment, shall he be torn in pieces and there be no mending.

A good man, obtaineth favour from Yahweh, but, a man of wicked devices, will he condemn.

Alas for them Who are wise in their own eyes, - And in their own sight, are prudent.

Thus, saith Yahweh Who hath redeemed thee, Who hath fashioned thee from birth, - I - Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens, alone, Spreading forth the earth, of myself; Frustrating the signs of praters, And, diviners, he confoundeth, - Turning wise men backwards, And their knowledge, he maketh folly;

For it is written - I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and, the discernment of the discerning, will I set aside.

Therefore, behold me! again dealing wonderfully with this people, doing wonderfully a wonderful thing, - So shall perish, the wisdom of their wise men, And the intelligence of their intelligent men, shall vanish!

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 impatient, worketh folly, and, a man of wicked devices, is hated.

A north wind, bringeth forth rain, and, a face stirred with indignation, a secretive tongue.

But I fear lest, by any means, as, the serpent, completely deceived Eve, in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the singleness and the chastenesswhich are due unto the Christ.

Now, the serpent, was more crafty than any living thing of the field which Yahweh God had made, so he said unto the woman, Can it really be that God hath said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Lest we should be overreached by Satan, for, of his thoughts, we are not ignorant.

For, such as these, are false apostles, deceitful workers, transfiguring themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel! for, Satan himself, doth transfigure himself into a messenger of light! No great thing, therefore, if, his ministers also, are transfiguring themselves as ministers of righteousness! - whose end, shall be according to their works.

Then, went the Pharisees and took, counsel, that they might ensnare him, in discourse. And they sent forth to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher! we know that, true, thou art, and, the way of God, in truth, dost teach, and it concerneth thee not about anyone, - for thou lookest not unto the face of men: Tell us then, how, to thee, it seemeth? Is it allowable to give tax unto Caesar, or not?

And they send forth unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might, catch, him, in discourse. And, coming, they say unto him - Teacher! we know that, true, thou art, and it concerneth thee not about anyone, - for thou lookest not unto the face of men; but, in truth, the way of God, dost teach: - Is it allowable to give tax unto Caesar, or not? Should we give, or should we not give? But, he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them - Why are ye, tempting, me? Bring me a denary, that I may see it.

And, watching narrowly, they sent forth suborned men, feigning themselves to be, righteous, that they might lay hold of a word of his, so as to deliver him up unto the rule and the authority of the governor. And they questioned him, saying - Teacher! we know that, rightly, thou speakest and teachest, and respectest no person, but, in truth, the way of God, dost teach: Is it allowable for us to give, unto Caesar, tribute, or not?

Then, were gathered together, the High-priests and the Elders of the people, into the court of the High-priest who was called Caiaphas; and they took counsel together, in order that, Jesus, by guile, they might secure, and slay.

Now it was the Passover and the Unleavened cakes , after two days. And the High-priests and Scribes were seeking, how, with guile, they might secure, and lay him; for they were saying - Not in the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.

And the feast of the unleavened bread, which is called a Passover, was drawing near. And the High-priests and the Scribes were seeking, how they might get rid of him; for they feared the people.

And Jacob said, - Come sell, just now, thy birthright unto me. And Esau said, Here am I, on the point of dying, - wherefore, then, should I, have, a birthright? And Jacob said, Come swear to me just now! And he sware to him, - and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Then took Rebekah the garments of Esau her elder son, the costly ones, which were with her in the house, - and put them on Jacob her younger son: and the, skins of the kids of the goats, put she upon his hands, - and on the smooth part of his neck;

Come on! let us shew ourselves wise with regard to them, lest they so multiply that it shall come to pass when war befalleth us, that they also, shall join themselves unto them who hate us, and shall make war upon us. and then go up out of the land.

Now, the inhabitants of Gibeon, heard that which Joshua had done unto Jericho and unto Ai; they, however, acted craftily, and went and started, - and took old sacks for their asses, and leathern wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and sandals, old and patched, upon their feet, and worn-out mantles upon them, - and, all the bread of their provision, was dry and broken.read more.
So they took their journey unto Joshua, unto the camp, at Gilgal, - and said unto him, and unto the men of Israel, From a far country, are we come, Now, therefore, solemnise with us a covenant.

But, Amnon, had a friend, whose name, was Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, - and, Jonadab, was a very cunning man.

that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come! and let us meet together in the villages, in the valley of Ono, - But, they, were plotting to do me harm. So I sent unto them messengers, saying, A great work, am, I, doing, and cannot come down, - wherefore should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down unto you? Yet they sent unto me, according to this message, four times, - and I replied to them according to this answer.read more.
Then Sanballat sent unto me, according to this message, a fifth time, by his young man, - with an open letter, in his hand: wherein was written - Among the nations, it is reported, and, Gashmu, saith it, that, thou and the Jews, are plotting to rebel, for which cause, thou art building the wall, - and, thou, art to become their king, according to these words. Moreover also, prophets, hast thou set up to make proclamation concerning thee in Jerusalem, saying, He hath become king in Judah! Now, therefore, will it he reported to the king, according to these words. Now, therefore, come, and let us take counsel together. Then sent I unto him, saying, Nothing hath been done, according to these words, which thou art saying, - but, out of thine own heart, art thou feigning them. For, they all, were seeking to put us in fear, saying, Their hands will slacken from the work, and it will not be accomplished. Now, therefore, strengthen thou my hands! When, I, came into the house of Shemaiah, son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, he, being shut in, he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, in the midst of the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to slay thee, yea, by night, are they coming to slay thee. Then said I, Should, such a man as I, flee? Who then, being such as I, would enter the temple to save his life? I will not enter. Then perceived I, that lo! it was, not God, who had sent him, - though, a prophecy, he had spoken concerning me, but, Tobiah and Sanballat, had hired him: to this end, hired, he was, to the end that I might be afraid and do so, and might sin, - and it might serve them for an evil report, to the end they might bring reproach upon me.

But let it be! - I, myself, did not burden you, - Notwithstanding, being crafty, with guile, I caught you?