What Does the Bible Say About Wise Counsel?
Here are 18 Bible verses about wise counsel, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
BSBThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.
- #2Proverbs 11:14
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
BSBFor lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance.
- #3Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
BSBPlans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
- #4Proverbs 24:6
For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
BSBOnly with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
- #5Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
BSBListen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
- #6Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
BSBArrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- #7Proverbs 19:20-21
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
BSBListen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days. Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- #8Proverbs 20:18
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
BSBSet plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
- #9Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
BSBThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- #10Psalms 119:105
נ NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
BSBYour word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
- #11Proverbs 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.
- #121 Corinthians 15:33
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
BSBDo not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- #13Psalms 1:1-6
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
BSBBlessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
- #142 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
BSBAll Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
- #15Proverbs 4:13
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
BSBHold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
- #161 Kings 12:6-19
And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. …
BSBThen King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice of the elders; instead, he consulted the young men who had grown up with him and served him. He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to these people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?” The young men who had grown up with him replied, “This is how you should answer these people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you should make it lighter.’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! Whereas my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.’” …
- #17Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
BSBFor the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- #18Proverbs 1:5
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
BSBlet the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).