14 Bible Verses about Worldly Ambition

Let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.

Cursed are those who are joining house to house, and putting field to field, till there is no more living-space for any but themselves in all the land!

([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty. I do not involve myself in great matters. I do not get involved in things too difficult for me. Surely I am composed and quiet. I am like a weaned child who rests against his mother. Inside of me I am like a weaned child.

The success of the wicked is brief and the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say: Where is he?read more.
He flies away like a dream banished like a vision of the night. He cannot be found! The eye that saw him will not see him again. His place (home) will look on him no more.

They are exalted a little while, and then are gone. They wither and fade like everything gathered up. They are cut off like the heads of grain.

Inwardly they think their houses are forever, their dwelling place to all generations. So they named their lands after themselves. But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die. This is the final outcome for fools and their followers who are delighted by what they say:read more.
Like sheep, they are laid in the grave. Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule them in the morning. Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes. But God will redeem me (buy me back) from the power of the grave because he will receive me. Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases. He will not take anything with him when he dies. Even his greatness cannot follow him. Even though he blesses himself while he is alive. (People will praise you when you do well for yourself.) He must join the generation of his ancestors who will never see light again. Mortals, with what they treasure, still do not have understanding. They are like animals that die.

What causes wars and fighting among you? Is the cause of fighting your sensual lusts for pleasure that battle within you? You lust, and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain! You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.

He who loves transgression loves discord. He who opens his door seeks destruction.

O how you have fallen from heaven, you morning star (shining one), and son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who conquered nations! You thought: 'I will go up to heaven (Mount Zion) and set up my throne above God's stars (messengers). I will sit on the mountain of meeting far away in the north where the gods assemble. I will go above the top of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.'read more.
But you have been brought down to the grave, to the deepest part of the pit.

The Lord Jehovah says: 'Because it is high in stature and has set its top among the clouds, and its heart is haughty in its loftiness, I will give it into the hand of a despot of the nations. He will thoroughly deal with it. According to its wickedness I have driven it away.

Wine is treacherous and never allows an arrogant man to rest. He never stays home. He has a large appetite like the grave. Like death he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations and collects all the people.

The people who remain will plunder you because you have plundered many nations. It is because of the blood you shed and the violence you brought on the land, the city and all who dwell there. He who receives a dishonest profit for his house will have trouble. He may set his nest on high in order to be delivered from the hand of evil!

Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed and establishes a city with iniquity!