What Does the Bible Say About Common Sense?
Here are 16 Bible verses about common sense, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 3:21
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
BSBMy son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment.
- #2Proverbs 2:6
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
BSBFor the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- #31 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
BSBDo not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- #4James 1:22-25
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
BSBBe doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.
- #5Proverbs 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
BSBHe who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
- #6Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
BSBThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
- #7Proverbs 9:12
If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
BSBIf you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.
- #8Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
BSBUnderstanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- #9Proverbs 10:13
In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
BSBWisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
- #10Proverbs 27:12
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
BSBThe prudent see danger and take cover; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
- #111 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
BSBAnd we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
- #121 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
BSBDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
- #13Romans 2:15
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
BSBSo they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
- #14Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
BSBTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- #151 Corinthians 6:18
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
BSBFlee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
- #16Proverbs 13:14-16
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
BSBThe teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death. Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the faithless is difficult. Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).