Bible Verses About Foolishness

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

“The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

“For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.”

“A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.”

“A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.”

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

“He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.”

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.”

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

“A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.”

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

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

“A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and reckless.”

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.”

“The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.”

“As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”

“A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.”

“I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.”

“A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”

“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.”

“Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.”

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus. For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast in His presence. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

“Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.”

“Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.”

“Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.”

“A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.”

“You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.”

“As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left. Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.”

“For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath. A Maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their ways are vile. There is no one who does good.”

“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.”

“But they are altogether senseless and foolish, instructed by worthless idols made of wood!”

“A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.”

“He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”

“The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.”

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

“We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.”

“The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.”

“Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

“A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.”

“It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.”

“For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.”

“The simple man believes every word, but the prudent man watches his steps.”

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

“Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.”

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

“Fools mock the making of amends, but goodwill is found among the upright.”

“A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.”

“Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.”