35 Bible Verses about Worldly Wisdom

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He compasseth the wise in their craftiness."

This wisdom descendeth not from above: but is earthy, and natural, and devilish.

And the woman saw that it was a good tree to eat of, and lusty unto the eyes, and a pleasant tree for to make wise. And took of the fruit of it and ate, and gave unto her husband also with her, and he ate. And the eyes of both them were opened, that they understood how that they were naked. Then they sewed fig leaves together and made them aprons.

Behold, he hath found unfaithfulness among his own servants, and proud disobedience among his angels. How much more then shall they that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is but earth: which shall be consumed by the moth? They shall be destroyed from morning unto the evening: yea, they shall perish everlastingly, and no man think thereon.read more.
Is not their dignity taken away with them? They shall die - and not in wisdom.'

which compasseth the wise in their own craftiness, and overthroweth the counsel of the wicked.

"Should not he that maketh many words, be answered? Should he that babbleth much, be commended therein?

A vain body exalteth himself, and man, newborn, is like a wild ass's colt.

Seeing then that everybody feareth him, why should not all wise men also stand in fear of him?"

Be not wise in thine own conceit, but fear the LORD, and depart from evil:

A fool rejoiceth in foolish things; but a wise man looketh well to his own goings. Unadvised thoughts shall come to naught; but whereas are men that can give counsel, there is steadfastness.

There is a way that men think to be right; but the end thereof leadeth unto death.

The rich man thinketh himself to be wise; but the poor that hath understanding, can perceive him well enough.

For where much wisdom is, there is also great travail and disquietness; and the more knowledge a man hath, the more is his care.

A wise man's heart is upon the righthand, but a fool's heart is upon the left. A doting fool thinketh, that every man doth as foolishly as himself.

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

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." Woe be unto them that seek so deep, to hide their imagination before the LORD, which rehearse their counsels in the darkness, and say, "Who seeth us, or who knoweth us?" Doubtless, your destruction is, in reputation, as the potter's clay. And doth the work say of him that made it, "He made me not?" And doth an earthen vessel say of the potter, "He understandeth not?"

For thou hast comforted thyself in thy deceitfulness, and hast said, "No man seeth me." Thine own wisdom and cunning hath deceived thee, in that thou hast said, "I am alone, and without me there is none." Therefore shall trouble come upon thee, and thou shalt not know, from whence it shall arise. Mischief shalt fall upon thee, which thou shalt not be able to put off. A sudden misery shall come upon thee, before thou be aware.

The Stork knoweth her appointed time; the Turtledove, the Swallow and the Crane consider the time of their travail: but my people will not know the time of the punishment of the LORD. "How dare ye say then, 'We are wise, we have the law of the LORD among us'? Behold, the deceitful pen of the scribes, setteth forth lies: therefore shall the wise be confounded. They shall be afraid and taken, for lo, they have cast out the word of the LORD: what wisdom can then be among them?

Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD, "Let not the wise man rejoice in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength; neither the rich man in his riches. But who so will rejoice, let him rejoice in this: that he understandeth, and knoweth me. For I am the LORD, which do mercy, equity and righteousness upon the earth. Therefore have I pleasure in such things, sayeth the LORD."

"Upon the Edomites hath the LORD of Hosts spoken on this manner: Is there no wisdom in Tema? Is there no more good counsel among his people? Is their wisdom then turned clean to naught?

But and if thine eye be wicked, then all thy body shall be full of darkness. Wherefore if the light that is in thee, be darkness: how great is that darkness?

At that time, Jesus answered and said, "I praise thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast opened them unto babes,

inasmuch as when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but waxed full of vanities in their imaginations. And their foolish hearts were blinded. When they counted themselves wise, they became fools and turned the glory of the immortal God, unto the similitude of the image: of mortal man, and of birds, and four footed beasts and of serpents.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in gloriousness of words or of wisdom, showing unto you the testimony of God. Neither showed I myself that I knew anything among you save Jesus Christ, even the same that was crucified. And I was among you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.read more.
And my words, and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom: but in showing of the spirit and of power, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men: but in the power of God. That we speak of is wisdom among them that are perfect - not the wisdom of this world, neither of the rulers of this world, which goeth to nought - but we speak the wisdom of God, which is in secret and lieth hid, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: which wisdom none of the rulers of the world knew. For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, "The eye hath not seen, and the ear hath not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." But God hath opened them unto us by his spirit. For the spirit searcheth all things, yea the bottom of God's secrets. For what man knoweth the things of a man: save the spirit of a man which is within him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the spirit of God. And we have not received the spirit of the world: but the spirit which cometh of God, for to know the things that are given to us of God, which things also we speak - not in the cunning words of man's wisdom, but with the cunning words of the holy ghost, making spiritual comparisons of spiritual things. For the natural man perceiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are but foolishness unto him: Neither can he perceive them, because he is spiritually examined.

Beware lest any man come and spoil you through philosophy and deceitful vanity, through the traditions of men, and ordinances after the world, and not after Christ.

O Timothy, save that which is given thee to keep, and avoid unghostly vanities of voices, and oppositions of science falsely so called, which science, while some professed, they have erred as concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. {The end of the First Epistle unto Timothy, Sent from Laodicea, which is the Chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.}

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 thou hast comforted thyself in thy deceitfulness, and hast said, "No man seeth me." Thine own wisdom and cunning hath deceived thee, in that thou hast said, "I am alone, and without me there is none."

"Nevertheless this shall come upon them because my people is become foolish, and hath utterly no understanding. They are the children of foolishness, and without any discretion. To do evil, they have wit enough: but to do well, they have no wisdom."

With thy wisdom and thy understanding, thou hast gotten thee great wealthiness, and gathered treasure of silver and gold.

When they counted themselves wise, they became fools

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

That we speak of is wisdom among them that are perfect - not the wisdom of this world, neither of the rulers of this world, which goeth to nought -

For all the promises of God, in him are "Yea": and are in him "Amen," unto the laud of God through us.

which things have the similitude of wisdom in chosen holiness, and humbleness, and in that they spare not the body - and do the flesh no worship unto his need.