Bible Verses About Wisdom and Decisions

When you do not know what to do, God invites you to ask. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

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What the Bible says

True wisdom starts with God, not with our own cleverness. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10), and “the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). So Scripture says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

God guides through His word. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). As He renews the mind, we are able to “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). He also gives counsel through His people, for “in the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). Pray as David prayed, “Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths” (Psalm 25:4).

We make our plans humbly. “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9). James reminds us that life “is even a vapour”, so we ought to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:14–15). God’s wisdom has a clear character: it “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits” (James 3:17).

Above all, wisdom is found in a Person. Christ Jesus “of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and in Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Those who know Christ have a faithful Guide, and the Lord still promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Psalm 32:8).

14 verses, King James Version

  1. Proverbs 3:5–6

    Trust the LORD and He shall direct thy paths

    5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

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  2. Proverbs 9:10

    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

    10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

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  3. Colossians 2:3

    All treasures of wisdom are hid in Christ

    3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

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  4. Proverbs 11:14

    In many counsellors there is safety

    14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

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  5. James 1:5–6

    Ask God for wisdom

    5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

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  6. Psalms 32:8

    God will teach and guide

    8I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

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  7. Proverbs 16:9

    You plan; God directs

    9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

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  8. Psalms 119:105

    Light for your path

    105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

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  9. Proverbs 2:6

    Wisdom comes from God

    6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

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  10. Proverbs 15:22

    Seek good counsel

    22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

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  11. Romans 12:2

    A renewed mind discerns God’s will

    2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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  12. Psalms 25:4–5

    A prayer for guidance

    4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

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  13. James 3:17

    What godly wisdom looks like

    17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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  14. James 4:13–15

    Plan humbly, as the Lord wills

    13Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

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Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.