35 Bible Verses about Worldly Wisdom

For the wisdom of this world is nonsense in God's sight. For it is written, "He catches the wise with their own trickery,"

That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic.

When the woman saw that the tree produced good food, was attractive in appearance, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. Then she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate some, too. As a result, they both understood what they had done, and they became aware that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

"Indeed, since he doesn't trust his servants, since he charges his angels with error, how much less confidence does he have in those who dwell in houses of clay; who were formed from a foundation in dust and can perish like a moth? They are defeated between morning and evening; they perish forever and no one notices!read more.
Their wealth perishes with them, doesn't it? They die, and do so without having wisdom, don't they?"

He captures the wise in their own craftiness, bringing a quick end to their cunning advice.

"Shouldn't a multitude of words be answered, or a person who talks too much be vindicated?

An empty-headed person will gain understanding when a wild donkey is born a human being!"

Therefore humanity fears him, which none of the wise can quite comprehend."

Do not be wise in your own opinion. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Stupidity is the delight of the senseless, but an understanding man walks uprightly. Plans fail without advice, but with many counselors they are confirmed.

There is a road that seems right for a man to travel, but in the end it's the road to death.

The rich man may be wise in his own opinion; but a discerning, poor man sees through him.

For with much wisdom there is much sorrow; the more someone adds to knowledge, the more someone adds to grief.

A wise man's heart tends toward his right, but a fool's heart tends toward his left. Furthermore, the way a fool lives shows he has no sense; he proclaims to everyone that he's a fool.

"How terrible it will be for those who are wise in their own opinion, and clever in their own reckoning!

Therefore, watch out! "As for me, I will once again do amazing things with this people, wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the insights of their discerning men will stay hidden." "How terrible it will be for you who go to great depths to hide your plans from the LORD, you whose deeds have been done in the dark, and who say, "Who can see us? Who has recognized us?' He has turned the tables on you as if the potter were thought to be like heat. Can what is made say of the one who made it, "He did not make me?' Or can what is formed say of the ones who formed it, "He has no skill?'

"You trusted in your own knowledge. You said, "No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge have misled you. You said in your heart, "I am the one, and there will be none besides me.' "But disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will not be able to ward off; and devastation will come upon you suddenly, and you won't anticipate it.

Even the stork in the sky knows its seasons, and the dove, the swallow, and the crane observe the time for migration. But my people don't know the requirements of the LORD. How can you say, "We're wise, and the Law of the LORD is with us,' when, in fact, the deceitful pen of the scribe has made it into something that deceives. The wise men will be put to shame. They'll be dismayed and taken captive. Look, they have rejected the message from the LORD! So what kind of wisdom do they have?

This is what the LORD says: "The wise man is not to boast in his wisdom; the strong man is not to boast in his strength; and the rich man is not to boast in his riches. Rather, let the one who boasts, boast in this: that he understands and knows me, for I am the LORD who acts with gracious love, justice, and righteousness in the land. I delight in these things," declares the LORD.

To Edom: This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: "Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished among the prudent? Is their wisdom gone?

But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness!"

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him. Instead, their thoughts turned to worthless things, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Though claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come and tell you about God's secret with rhetorical language or wisdom. For while I was with you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus the Messiah, and him crucified. It was in weakness, fear, and great trembling that I came to you. read more.
My message and my preaching were not accompanied by clever, wise words, but by a display of the Spirit's power, so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on God's power. However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene. Instead, we speak about God's wisdom in a hidden secret, which God destined before the world began for our glory. None of the rulers of this world understood it, because if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." But God has revealed those things to us by his Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. Is there anyone who can understand his own thoughts except his own inner spirit? In the same way, no one can know the thoughts of God except God's Spirit. Now, we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we can understand the things that were freely given to us by God. We don't speak about these things with words taught us by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual things to spiritual people. A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.

See to it that no one enslaves you through philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to the Messiah,

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the pointless discussions and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. Although some claim to have it, they have abandoned the faith. May grace be with all of you!

Therefore, watch out! "As for me, I will once again do amazing things with this people, wonder upon wonder. The wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the insights of their discerning men will stay hidden."

"You trusted in your own knowledge. You said, "No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge have misled you. You said in your heart, "I am the one, and there will be none besides me.'

"For my people are foolish, they don't know me. They're stupid children, they have no understanding. They're skilled at doing evil, but how to do good, they don't know."

Your wisdom and understanding brought you phenomenal wealth. You've brought gold and silver into your treasuries.

Though claiming to be wise, they became fools

For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will reject."

However, when we are among mature people, we do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world, who are passing off the scene.

For all God's promises are "Yes" in him. And so through him we can say "Amen," to the glory of God.

These things have the appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion, humility, and harsh treatment of the body, but they have no value against self-indulgence.