86 Bible Verses about Wisdom, Human Importance

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.

Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;

For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.

but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster."

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.read more.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;

I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.

Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way.

"For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are 'wise'--in doing evil! But how to do good they know not."

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.read more.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,read more.
but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.

Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.'

As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people."

Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.

The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.

"'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?"

Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging is not good.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?

I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,

My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,

Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.

So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes.

And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.

In order to change the course of things your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth."

With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.

Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. And we were alone. There was no one else with us in the house; only we two were in the house.read more.
And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. And she arose at midnight and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I looked at him closely in the morning, behold, he was not the child that I had borne." But the other woman said, "No, the living child is mine, and the dead child is yours." The first said, "No, the dead child is yours, and the living child is mine." Thus they spoke before the king. Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; and the other says, 'No; but your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'" And the king said, "Bring me a sword." So a sword was brought before the king. And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other." Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him." Then the king answered and said, "Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother." And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.