'Wisdom' in the Bible

“For wisdom is better than rubies;And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

“I, [godly] wisdom, reside with prudence [good judgment, moral courage and astute common sense],And I find knowledge and discretion.

“I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness,In the midst of the paths of justice,

“The Lord created and possessed me at the beginning of His way,Before His works of old [were accomplished].

“From everlasting I was established and ordained,From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].

“When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there;When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep,

Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman;And I was daily His delight;Rejoicing before Him always,

“For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds lifeAnd obtains favor and grace from the Lord.

Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house;She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence],And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.

For by me (wisdom from God) your days will be multiplied,And years of life shall be increased.

On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.

Engaging in evil is like sport to the fool [who refuses wisdom and chases sin],But to a man of understanding [skillful and godly] wisdom brings joy.

The mouth of the righteous flows with [skillful and godly] wisdom,But the perverted tongue will be cut out.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

Through pride and presumption come nothing but strife,But [skillful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel.

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom],But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,But the foolishness of [shortsighted] fools is deceit.

The crown of the wise is their wealth [of wisdom],But the foolishness of [closed-minded] fools is [nothing but] folly.

Wisdom rests [silently] in the heart of one who has understanding,But what is in the heart of [shortsighted] fools is made known.

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence];And before honor comes humility.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?

[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

He who gains wisdom and good sense loves (preserves) his own soul;He who keeps understanding will find good and prosper.

The glory of young men is their [physical] strength,And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].

When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.

There is no [human] wisdom or understandingOr counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.

Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth;Cease from your own understanding of it.

Do not speak in the ears of a fool,For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words.

Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built,And by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant] fool;He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].

Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your life and soul;If you find wisdom, then there will be a future and a reward,And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool,But he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued.

A man who loves [skillful and godly] wisdom makes his father joyful,But he who associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

The rod and reproof (godly instruction) give wisdom,But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom,Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].

She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom,And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].

And I set my mind to seek and explore by [man’s] wisdom all [human activity] that has been done under heaven. It is a miserable business and a burdensome task which God has given the sons of men with which to be busy and distressed.

I spoke with my heart, saying, “Behold, I have acquired great [human] wisdom and experience, more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of [moral] wisdom and [scientific] knowledge.”

And I set my mind to know [practical] wisdom and to discern [the character of] madness and folly [in which men seem to find satisfaction]; I realized that this too is a futile grasping and chasing after the wind.

For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.

I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

So I turned to consider [secular] wisdom, madness, and folly; for what will the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing except what has already been done.

Then I saw that [even secular] wisdom [that brings sorrow] is better than [the pleasures of] folly and self-indulgence as light excels darkness.

For there is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, yet gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it. This too is vanity and a great evil.

For to the person who pleases Him God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who pleases God. This too is vanity and chasing after the wind.

For who [limited by human wisdom] knows what is good for man during his lifetime, during the few days of his futile life? He spends them like a shadow [staying busy, but achieving nothing of lasting value]. For who can tell a man what will happen after him [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun [after his life is over]?

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

Wisdom along with an inheritance is goodAnd an [excellent] advantage for those who see the sun.

For wisdom is a protection even as money is a protection,But the [excellent] advantage of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the lives of its possessors.

Wisdom strengthens the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

I have tested all this with wisdom. I said, “I will be wise [independently of God],” but true wisdom was far from me.

Whatever has been is far off, deeply remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it [for it is beyond the grasp of man]?

I turned around and directed my heart to know, to investigate and to seek [skillful and godly] wisdom and the reason for things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness [leading to stupidity and recklessness].

Who is like the wise man?And who knows the interpretation of a matter?A man’s wisdom illumines his face,And causes his stern face to beam.

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night—

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.

This [illustration of] wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and great it was to me:

But there was found in it a poor wise man, and by his wisdom he rescued the city. Yet no man [seriously] remembered that poor man.

But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Dead flies make the oil of the perfumer give off a foul odor; so a little foolishness [in one who is esteemed] outweighs wisdom and honor.

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort].

For the Assyrian king has said,“I have done this by the power of my [own] hand and by my wisdom,For I have understanding and skill.I have removed the boundaries of the peoplesAnd have plundered their treasures;Like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.

And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,The Spirit of counsel and strength,The Spirit of knowledge and of the [reverential and obedient] fear of the Lord—

This also comes from the Lord of hosts,Who has made His counsel wonderful and His wisdom great.

Therefore, listen carefully, I will again do marvelous and amazing things with this people, wonderful and astonishing things;And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,And the understanding of their discerning men will be hidden.”

And He will be the security and stability of your times,A treasure of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;The fear of the Lord is your treasure.

“For you [Babylon] have trusted and felt confident in your wickedness; you have said,‘No one sees me.’Your wisdom and your knowledge have led you astray,And you have said in your heart (mind),‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’

“The wise men are shamed,They are dismayed and caught.Behold, they have [manipulated and] rejected the [truth in the] word of the Lord,And what kind of wisdom and insight do they have?

Thus says the Lord, “Let not the one who is wise and skillful boast in his insight; let not the one who is mighty and powerful boast in his strength; let not the one who is rich boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] abundance;

God made the earth by His power;He established the world by His wisdomAnd by His understanding and skill He has stretched out the heavens.

Concerning Edom.Thus says the Lord of hosts,“Is there no longer any wisdom in Teman?Has good counsel vanished from the intelligent and prudent?Has their wisdom decayed?

He made the earth by His power;He established the world by His wisdomAnd stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

With your [own] wisdom and with your [own] understandingYou have acquired your riches and powerAnd have brought gold and silver into your treasuries;

By your great wisdom and by your tradeYou have increased your riches and power,And your heart is proud and arrogant because of your wealth;

Therefore, behold, I will bring strangers (Babylonians) upon you,The most ruthless and violent of the nations.And they will draw their swordsAgainst the beauty of your wisdom [O Tyre]And defile your splendor.

“Son of man, take up a dirge (funeral poem to be sung) for the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God,“You had the full measure of perfection and the finishing touch [of completeness],Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

“Your heart was proud and arrogant because of your beauty;You destroyed your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.I cast you to the ground;I lay you before kings,That they might look at you.

young men without blemish and handsome in appearance, skillful in all wisdom, endowed with intelligence and discernment, and quick to understand, competent to stand [in the presence of the king] and able to serve in the king’s palace. He also ordered Ashpenaz to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all kinds of literature and wisdom; Daniel also understood all kinds of visions and dreams.

In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the [learned] magicians and enchanters (Magi) in his whole realm.

Then Daniel replied with discretion and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;

Daniel answered,“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and power belong to Him.

“It is He who changes the times and the seasons;He removes kings and establishes kings.He gives wisdom to the wiseAnd [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!

“I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers,For You have given me wisdom and power;Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You,For You have made known to us [the solution to] the king’s matter.”

But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because my wisdom is greater than that of any other living man, but in order to make the interpretation known to the king, and so that you may understand [fully] the thoughts of your mind.

There is a man in your kingdom in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, illumination, understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners.

I have heard of you, that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight, and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you.

He instructed me and he talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and wisdom and understanding.

The voice of the Lord shall call to the city [of Jerusalem]—And it is sound wisdom to heed [solemnly] and fear Your name [with awe-filled reverence];“Hear, O tribe [the rod of punishment]. Who has appointed its time?

The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds [in the lives of those who respond to Me].”

The Queen of the South (Sheba) will stand up [as a witness] at the judgment against this generation, and will condemn it because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and now, something greater than Solomon is here.

And after coming to [Nazareth] His hometown, He began teaching them in their synagogue, and they were astonished, and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers [what is the source of His authority]?

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many who listened to Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things [this knowledge and spiritual insight]? What is this wisdom [this confident understanding of the Scripture] that has been given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?