What Does The Bible Say About Folly?

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100 Bible Verses about Folly

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 46 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 19:3 ESV / 45 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.

Proverbs 15:21 ESV / 45 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Proverbs 13:16 ESV / 36 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 26:11 ESV / 32 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.

Proverbs 28:26 ESV / 30 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Proverbs 15:14 ESV / 26 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 14:8 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Proverbs 17:12 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 14:16 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

Psalm 14:1 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

James 1:5 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Proverbs 26:4 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Proverbs 9:13-18 ESV / 18 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” ...

Proverbs 26:5 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

John 14:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 3:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Proverbs 10:23 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

Psalm 85:8 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

Job 4:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;

1 Samuel 25:25 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

Ecclesiastes 2:12 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.

Proverbs 16:22 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

1 John 4:8 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Job 42:8 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Joshua 7:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”

Genesis 34:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.

James 1:15 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Romans 1:21 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Proverbs 20:3 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Job 24:12 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong.

James 4:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Romans 13:3 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

John 16:33 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Luke 11:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 1:37 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 6:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Ecclesiastes 7:25 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

Proverbs 24:9 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 14:24 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly.

Deuteronomy 22:21 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done an outrageous thing in Israel by whoring in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

James 1:13-14 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Isaiah 32:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the Lord, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

Proverbs 5:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Psalm 69:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Judges 20:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel.”

Judges 19:23 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

Leviticus 20:13 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

James 1:2-4 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 14:18 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 10:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Psalm 49:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah

Judges 20:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

James 5:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

Romans 1:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Mark 7:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Proverbs 29:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 12:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Colossians 3:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Philippians 3:18-19 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ...

John 8:1-59 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” ...

Luke 15:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jeremiah 23:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

Jeremiah 4:22 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“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.”

Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

Ecclesiastes 2:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.

Ecclesiastes 1:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Proverbs 1:22 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Psalm 119:59 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies;

Revelation 20:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

Revelation 9:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

1 John 2:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

James 1:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1 Corinthians 6:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

John 3:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 1:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.