25 Bible Verses About Foolishness (ESV)

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

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    there is none who does good.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

18 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.

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

14:1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

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

20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

3   When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
    his heart rages against the LORD.

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

19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

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

4   Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
5   Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be wise in his own eyes.

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

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

15   Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

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

23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,