63 Bible Verses about Shrewdness

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.

And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely. For the children of this world, are in their kind, wiser than the children of light. And I say also unto you, Make you friends of the wicked mammon, that when ye shall have need they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

And he said also unto his disciples, "There was a certain rich man, which had a steward, that was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, 'How is it, that I hear this of thee? Give accounts of thy stewardship. For thou mayest be no longer my steward.' The steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master will take away from me the stewardship. I cannot dig, and to beg, I am ashamed.read more.
I know what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' Then called he all his master's debtors, and said unto the first, 'How much owest thou unto my master?' And he said, 'An hundred tonnes of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.' Then said he to another, 'What owest thou?' And he said, 'An hundred quarters of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take thy bill, and write fourscore.'

"Whosoever heareth of me these sayings, and doeth the same, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house on a rock: And abundance of rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that same house, and it fell not: because it was grounded on the rock.

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doth the same, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built a house: and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock. When the waters arose, the flood beat upon that house, and could not move it. For it was grounded upon a rock.

He that hath understanding can hide his wisdom; but an indiscreet heart telleth out his foolishness.

An ignorant body believeth all things; but whoso hath understanding, looketh well to his goings.

A fool despiseth his father's correction; but he that taketh heed when he is reproved, shall have the more understanding.

A wise heart laboureth for knowledge; and a prudent ear seeketh understanding.

If there be any faithful servant and wise, whom his master hath made ruler over his household, for to give them meat in season convenient; Happy is that servant: whom his master, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

And the Lord said, "If there be any faithful servant, and wise, whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their duty of meat, at due season: Happy is that servant, whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, That he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites? Let me see the tribute money." And they took him a penny. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?"read more.
They said unto him, "Caesar's." Then said he unto them, "Give therefore to Caesar, that which is Caesar's: and give unto God, that which is God's." When they heard that, they marveled, and left him and went their way.

Ought we to give, or ought we not to give?" He understood their dissimulation, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it." And they brought him one. And he said unto them, "Whose is this image and superscription?" And they said unto him, "Caesar's." And Jesus answered, and said unto them, "Then give to Caesar that which belongeth to Caesar: and give to God that which pertaineth to God." And they marveled at him.

He perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And he said unto them, "Give then unto Caesar, that which belongeth unto Cesar: And to God, that which pertaineth to God."read more.
And they could not reprove his saying before the people. But they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.

As touching the resurrection of the dead: have ye not read what is said unto you of God, which sayeth, 'I am Abraham's God, and Isaac's God, and the God of Jacob?' God is not the God of the dead: but of the living."

As touching the dead, that they shall rise again: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto 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 the God of the living. Ye are therefore greatly deceived."

And that the dead shall rise again, even Moses signified besides the bush, when he said, 'The Lord God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' For he is not the God of the dead, but of them which live. For all live in him."

And while they continued asking him, he lifted himself up; And said unto them, "Let him that is among you without sin, cast the first stone at her."

Go, I pray you, and mark more diligently; and know and see his haunt, where his foot hath been, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he is very subtle. See therefore and know all the lurking places where he lurketh, and come again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you. And then if he be in the land, I will hunt him out with all the thousands of Judah.

When Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was turned again to Absalom, he sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, "Feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel. And anoint not thyself with oil. But be as a woman that had long time mourned for the death of somebody. And go to the king and speak of thus manner unto him." And so Joab taught her what she should say.

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged and feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

And he played wisely and scattered of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin in every strong city. And he gave them abundance of victuals, and asked many wives.

Then Daniel answered Melzar, whom the chief chamberlain had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and said, "O prove but ten days with thy servants, and let us have pottage to eat, and water to drink: Then look upon our faces, and theirs that eat of the king's meat. And as thou seest, so deal with thy servants."

Then Herod, perceiving that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, as many as were two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently searched out of the wise men.

And Jesus said unto her, "Let the children first be fed. For it is not meet, to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto whelps." She answered and said unto him, "Even so, Master. Nevertheless, the whelps also eat under the table of the children's crumbs." And he said unto her, "For this saying, go thy way, the devil is gone out of thy daughter."

He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread, and to cast it to whelps." She answered and said, "It is truth, nevertheless the whelps eat of the crumbs, which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, and said unto her, "O woman great is thy faith, be it to thee, even as thou desirest." And her daughter was made whole even at that same hour.

They imagine wickedness, and keep it secret among themselves; every man in the deep of his heart.

But thy wickedness teacheth thy mouth, and so thou hast chosen thee a crafty tongue.

They imagine craftily against thy people, and take counsel against thy secret ones.

{To the Chanter, a Psalm of David} Deliver me, o LORD, from the evil men, and preserve me from the wicked men, which imagine mischief in their hearts, and stir up strife all the day long. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.

And behold, there met him a woman with open tokens of a harlot. Only her heart was hid.

"O full of all subtlety and deceitfulness, and child of the devil, and the enemy of all righteousness: thou ceasest not to pervert the straight ways of the Lord.

That we henceforth be no more children, wavering and carried with every wind of doctrine, by the wiliness of men and craftiness, whereby they lay a wait for us to deceive us.

With the holy thou shalt be holy, and with the man that is uncorrupt, thou shalt be uncorrupt. With the pure thou shalt be pure, and with the froward thou shalt be froward also.

With the holy thou shalt be holy, and with a perfect man thou shalt be perfect. {TYNDALE: With the holy thou shalt be holy, and with the man that is uncorrupt, thou shalt be uncorrupt.} With the clean thou shalt be clean, and with the froward thou shalt be froward. {TYNDALE: With the pure thou shalt be pure, and with the froward thou shalt be froward also.}

Which destroyeth the devices of the subtle, so that they are not able to perform the things that they take in hand; which compasseth the wise in their own craftiness, and overthroweth the counsel of the wicked.

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of men, that they are but vain.

An ungodly person, a wicked man goeth with a froward mouth, he winketh with his eyes, he tokeneth with his feet, he pointeth with his fingers, he is ever imagining mischief and frowardness in his heart, and causeth discord.read more.
Therefore shall his destruction come hastily upon him: suddenly shall he be all broken, and not healed.

A good man is acceptable unto the LORD; but the wicked will he condemn.

Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.

For thus sayeth the LORD thy redeemer, even he that fashioned thee from thy mother's womb: I am the LORD, which do all things myself alone. I only have spread out the heavens, and I only have laid the foundation of the earth. I destroy the tokens of witches, and make the Soothsayers go wrong. As for the wise, I turn them backward, and make their cunning foolishness.

For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will cast away the understanding of the prudent."

therefore will I also show unto this people a marvelous, terrible, and great thing - Namely this: I will destroy the wisdom of their wise, and the understanding of their learned men shall perish."

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."

An impatient man handleth foolishly; but he that is well advised, doth other ways.

The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a backbiter's tongue.

But I fear, lest as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, even so your wits should be corrupt from the singleness that is in Christ.

But the serpent was subtler than all the beasts of the field which the LORD God had made; and said unto the woman, "Ah sir, that God hath said, ye shall not eat of all manner trees in the garden."

lest Satan should prevent us. For his thoughts are not unknown unto us.

For these false apostles are deceitful workers, and fashion themselves like unto the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is changed into the fashion of an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel, how they might tangle him in his words. And they sent unto him their disciples with Herod's servants, saying, "Master, we know that thou art true, and that thou teachest the way of God truly, neither carest for any man, for thou considerest not men's estate. Tell us, therefore, how thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

And they sent unto him certain of the Pharisees with Herod's servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come, they said unto him, "Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: For thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not? Ought we to give, or ought we not to give?" He understood their dissimulation, and said unto them, "Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it."

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves perfect, to take him in his words, and to deliver him unto the power, and authority of the deputy. And they asked him saying, "Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither considerest thou any man's degree, but teachest the way of God truly. Is it lawful for us to give Caesar tribute, or no?"

Then assembled together the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people into the palace of the high priest, called Caiaphas: and held a counsel, how they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.

After two days followed Easter, and the days of sweet bread. And the high priests and the scribes sought means, how they might take him by craft and put him to death. But they said, "Not in the feast day, lest any business arise among the people."

The feast of sweet bread drew nigh, which is called Easter, and the high priests, and scribes sought how to kill him, but they feared the people.

And Jacob said, "Sell me this day thy birthright." And Esau answered, "Lo, I am at the point to die, and what profit shall this birthright do me?" And Jacob said, "Swear to me then this day." And he swore to him and sold his birthright unto Jacob.

And she went and fetched goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau which she had in the house with her, and put them upon Jacob her youngest son, and she put the skins upon his hands and upon the smooth of his neck.

Come on, let us play wisely with them: lest they multiply, and then - if there chance any war - they join themselves unto our enemies and fight against us, and so get them out of the land."

But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again, and old clouted shoes upon their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of bread was dried up and hoared.read more.
And they came unto Joshua, unto the host to Gilgal, and said unto him and unto the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us."

But Amnon had a companion called Jonadab, the son of Shimeah the brother of David: which Jonadab was a very wise man.

Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, "Come and let us meet together in the villages upon the plain of the city Ono." Nevertheless, they thought to do me evil. Notwithstanding, I sent messengers unto them, saying, "I have a great business to do, I cannot come down. The work should stand still, if I were negligent, and came down to you." Howbeit they sent unto me as good as four times after the same manner. And I gave the same answer.read more.
Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand, wherein was written, "It is told the Heathen, and Geshem hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for the which cause thou buildest the wall, and wilt be their king in these matters; and hast ordained the Prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, and to say, 'He is king of Judah.' Now shall this come to the king's ears: come now therefore, and let us take our counsel together." Nevertheless, I sent unto him, saying, "There is no such thing done as thou sayest: thou hast feigned it out of thine own heart." For they were all minded to make us afraid and thought, "They shall withdraw their hands from the work, that they shall not labour." Howbeit I strengthened my hand the more. And I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, and he had shut himself within, and said, "Let us come together in to the house of God, even unto the midst of the temple, and shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee, yea even in the night will they come to put thee to death." But I said, "Should any such man as I flee? Who is that, being as I am, that will go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in." For I perceived that God had not sent him; Yet spake he prophecy upon me. Nevertheless, Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him for money. Therefore took he the money, that through fear I should do so, and sin: that they might have an evil report of me, to blaspheme me.

But be it that I grieved you not: nevertheless I was crafty and took you with guile.