16 Bible Verses About Wisdom When You Don’t Know What to Do

Bible verses about knowledge and wisdom

1. Proverbs 24:3-4 NKJV

“Through wisdom, a house is built; by understanding, it is established. By knowledge, the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

The house we are talking about here can be interpreted literally or symbolically to represent a spiritual house spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:1 “we have a building from God a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (see these Bible verses about heaven as our eternal home). Knowledge is gained by reading the scriptures and knowing what is written; however, wisdom is the correct application of that knowledge. Solomon here outlines the outcome of the perfect combination of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

The illustration demonstrates that having just one element can seemingly bring blessings but is still incomplete. We are encouraged to seek all three and apply them to every area of our lives. One example in which the combination can be fruitfully applied to our lives is on the matter of salvation.

Many Christians, for example, know that salvation is by grace and not by the works of the law. But very few people rely completely on grace for their salvation. They think that by doing something good, God will love them more, and if they do something displeasing, He will love them less. But what does the wisdom of God say?

Galatians 2:16, one of the Bible verses about salvation by faith, tells us that “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Knowledge makes you know that you are a sinner, but wisdom makes you repent and accept Christ.

2. Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise.”

Walking wisely includes the way we spend our days (see these Bible verses about using time wisely). We live in very perilous times with many false doctrines and false prophets emerging to trick, confuse and carry away those who do not have the wisdom of God in their hearts. False teachers are very charming, they appear to be godly, but their intentions are often selfish, heavily focused on whatever earthly treasures they stand to gain. The instructions of the Bible are clear and sufficient to save our souls. We do not need to add to it, and we should never subtract from it.

We walk in wisdom when we understand that God’s plan of redemption was completed in Christ and that by beholding Him, we become changed. Fools walk according to their limited understanding and are not steadfast in prayer. They trust in themselves instead of God and choose to listen to the knowledge of men instead of Godly wisdom.

3. 1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

There are a lot of things that mankind calls wisdom that God calls foolishness. Paul wrote to the church at Colossae and warned them against subjecting themselves to regulations of men. For example, “do not touch, do not handle, do not taste.” He says these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but God despises them.

The contrast in the text is an extreme depiction of how fallible we are as human beings. Our wisdom is less than the foolishness of God. This is not saying that God is foolish; it is saying that no matter how wise we think we are, our wisdom is nothing compared to the omniscience and wisdom of God. We should seek to place our hope and future in the hands of God instead of leaning on our own understanding.

4. Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy one is understanding.”

The fundamental principle of knowledge is the fear of the Lord. To fear God is to reverence Him, follow any instruction we are given, find pleasure in His blessings, and trust His judgment as being sound, wise, and fair.

It means acknowledging Him, with meekness in our hearts, as the only true God and submitting His will. It means to regard Him as the creator of the whole universe, to worship Him, and live according to His statutes.

True wisdom is not found in us just knowing or believing that there is a God; the Bible says that even demons believe so, and they tremble (James 2:19 NKJV). Knowledge of God leads to Earthly fear (being afraid of Him), but wisdom leads to Godly fear (being in awe and reverence of HIm).

Bible verses about wisdom and discernment

Discernment is defined as the ability to distinguish and decide between good and evil; the ability to find fault with the logic of the world and rebuke the spirit behind it. Discernment requires a direct connection with and an infilling of the Holy Spirit.

5. 1 Kings 3:9 NKJV

“Therefore, give to your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern good and evil. For who is able to judge these great people of yours?”

When Solomon ascended to the throne, he asked God for discernment, and God granted him his request (more Bible verses about wise decision making). He was able to judge a very critical case between two mothers that were fighting over a baby after one of them accidentally killed hers in her sleep.

By exercising wisdom, Solomon was able to discern who the real mother of the child was. He administered moral and emotional testing to uncover the true nature of their hearts.

When he instructed his servant to cut the baby in two pieces and give each woman a half, he had already discerned that the real mother of the child would never stand to see this happen, even if it meant that she lost custody of her child. This form of testing was clear evidence of discernment and wisdom at work.

6. 1 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

“To another the working of miracles, to another, prophesy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

It’s very easy to know a false prophet by discernment. 1 John 4:1 says, “beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are from God; because false prophets have gone into the world.” The word of God declares that any spirit that does not confess that Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. Now you can see that the word of God has opened your eyes to the basic application of discernment. However, discernment is also a gift of the Holy Spirit.

This kind is a higher level of discernment. Paul had this gift. He once looked at a man who was crippled from his mother’s womb and perceived that he had faith to be healed, he commanded him to stand up, and he was healed. He discerned that the lame had faith to be healed, and using the wisdom of God, he commanded him to stand up. (Acts 14:8-10)

7. Philippians 1:9 NKJV

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment”

Once a Christian is full of knowledge, discernment, and wisdom, it is increasingly difficult for him to stumble. The word clearly states that wisdom is a defense. We will differentiate between right from wrong and apply it in our daily lives, and will not give in to the tricks of Satan.

We will forsake the old ways of thinking and trade them in for the written word of God, which starts with learning how to study the Bible like a pastor. We will no longer seek the guidance and advice of those who have no regard for God but will instead prioritize counsel from those with pure intentions, godly ambition, and demonstrated a reverence for God.

Bible verses about wisdom and foolishness

Foolishness will always be apparent in the face of wisdom. Having knowledge, especially earthly knowledge, does not exclude us from being fools. As we will see, the knowledge and intelligence of man are not the standards for wisdom.

8. Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

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

According to the Bible, a foolish person is the one who doesn’t regard the commandments of God; this is a person who doesn’t regard God in his ways and is ignorant of His oracles. For instance, the word states that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. You probably might have heard a person asking, “ how can God send His son to die on a cross for sinners?’

They ignore the word which says that the wages of sin is death, and Christ had to taste death for everyone so that anyone who believes in Him should be saved. The wisdom of God says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9).

In another sense, the requirements of God seem foolish to those who choose not to follow Him. It is difficult to process or accept the principles of forgiveness, humility, chastity, abstinence, and godly living in a culture that celebrates and magnifies immorality, selfishness, and pride.

9. Psalm 14:1 NKJV

“The fool has said in his heart, “there is no God” They are corrupt; they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”

Anyone who says in his heart that there is no God, the Bible calls him a fool. And God, through His inspired word, commands us to go from the presence of a fool when you don’t perceive in him the lips of knowledge (Proverbs 14:7). If you ever come across such kinds of people, pray for them and remove yourself from their sphere of influence.

The whole creation testifies not just of the existence of God but the genius and magnificence of God. There cannot be a design without a designer; to believe otherwise is to walk in the way of fools.

10. 1 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV

“For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who will believe.”

Salvation is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8-9); we only need to believe in Christ and be saved. This has, however, become a stumbling block to so many people. They wonder, how can we just believe and get forgiveness of our sins? But God has made it simple on purpose, so that no one can boast. His words are clear, and they are true. Believe in Him and be saved.

Man’s wisdom says to him that he must do something extra to earn God’s favor and contribute to his salvation in some way, but we forget that if doing so could have saved us, Christ would not have died on the cross. That is what man calls foolishness; God calls it wisdom. The natural man does not receive the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Bible verses about wisdom and understanding

Understanding is that ability a person has to acknowledge his intelligence and knowledge; it is discovering or realizing your decision after assessing the information at hand. It is the execution of wisdom while using knowledge as the driving power. In short, understanding is putting wisdom and knowledge into action.

11. Proverbs 14:29 NKJV

“he who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.”

Anger sometimes can be very devastating (see these Bible verses on staying calm when angry); it can make a person do things that they later regret and feel shame for acting impulsively. Everyone gets angry in one way or the other, but the speed at which we become angry and the degree to which we get angry is different. The word encourages us not to be swift to anger because anger rests on the bosom of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9). Ask the holy spirit to give you self-control to avoid troubles that comes from anger.

12. Daniel 1:17 NKJV

“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”

Understanding things of the spirit or spiritual language comes as a gift from God. When Daniel interpreted the king’s dream of the great image, he knew exactly that the gold head represented the Babylonian kingdom. Whatever he said concerning all those kingdoms represented in the image came to pass because they were not guesses of his but revelations from God.

If we wish to develop a discerning spirit, we need only to ask for it. “Ask, and it will be given unto you”; God can give the gift of understanding to you if you ask him. You are his heir in Christ.

13. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”

You can trust God because his plans for you are great (see these Bible verses about God’s plan for you). His word says that He has plans to prosper us and give us peace, not to harm you. The Lord requires you to trust in Him the way a baby does its mother. Do not worry about anything.

Jesus says that the Father who feeds the birds of the air (which do not toil) and clothes the lilies of the field (which do not spin) will clothe and feed you. You are of more value than many sparrows. He has given you His Spirit. Go to Him in prayer, and He is more than willing to answer you.

Bible Verses about Wisdom in Proverbs

14. Proverbs 8:11 NKJV

“For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”

If you find wisdom, you will find life, riches, counsel, and strength. By wisdom, kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By wisdom, the Lord has founded the earth, and by understanding, He has established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19). Wisdom will help you in your day-to-day walk with Christ; it will help you live with neighbors peacefully and help you make the right judgments between brethren.

Wisdom here is compared to precious stones with a high value, yet it comes out as more precious and valuable than they are. It is better to be wise than to be rich, and it is better to be wise than to be popular. True wisdom leads us closer to God, not away from Him.

15. Proverbs 21:30 NKJV

“There is no wisdom or understanding, or counsel against the Lord.”

Every human theory, however impressive, is weighed against God’s Word. Ideas that leave the Creator out, whether a purely naturalistic account of human origins or the claim that every path leads to God, cannot stand against the Lord. The Bible says man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and that the heavens and the earth were made in six days (Exodus 20:11).

Scientists and scholars can know a great deal, and science at its best studies the handiwork of God (Psalm 19:1). But knowledge without the fear of the Lord is not wisdom, so we should not treat anyone as an authority on life and God simply because of their accolades and degrees.

16. Proverbs 23:9 NKJV

“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.”

When we find ourselves surrounded by people who are clearly not filled with wisdom and, in some cases, lack knowledge, Solomon’s advice to us is that we hold our peace. Not every situation calls for us to give a response. Also, there are some conversations that we will have to limit to mere platitudes and surface exchanges.

Wisdom can only be appreciated by those who acknowledge that they don’t know everything and keep an open mind to receiving new information. When we try to educate a stubborn fool, we may wind up feeling exhausted, humiliated, and discouraged. We are not called to educate everybody; we are simply called to love them as Christ would.

What the Hebrew and Greek words for wisdom mean

The main Hebrew word for wisdom, chokmah, is also used for practical skill, like Bezalel’s skill as a craftsman in building the tabernacle (Exodus 31:3). Biblical wisdom is skill for living: knowing how to apply God’s truth to real choices.

The New Testament word, sophia, carries the same idea. James contrasts earthly wisdom with “the wisdom that comes from heaven,” which “is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit” (James 3:17; see what "first pure, then peaceable" means).

What Solomon’s life teaches about wisdom

Solomon asked God for wisdom and received more than any king (1 Kings 3:9-12; 4:29-31). Yet later in life “his wives turned his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). Knowing what is wise is not the same as living it, which is why Jesus called the wise man the one who “hears these words of mine and puts them into practice” (Matthew 7:24; see the house built on sand).

Christ, the wisdom of God

The Bible, in its entirety, testifies of Christ. Every chapter of the Bible talks about Jesus; He is the wisdom of God. He is the word of God that became flesh and walked among us. He took our place on the cross that we may live.

Since He has now perfected us, you can now come boldly into the throne of grace. James 1:5 “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

God wants us to have wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment. These gifts are free and available to every child of God. Ask, and it shall be given; seek, and you will find.

Our Lord Jesus was full of wisdom such that the crowds were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?” (John 7:15). We should be encouraged by this because the same Spirit that lived in Christ now lives in us. If you believe in Him, you are not limited to the access to wisdom. God has good plans for you to prosper and to give you peace, and if you trust Him, He will reveal them to you.