Are you trying to find your path in life and feeling a bit lost? Taking advice from someone with experience can be helpful in finding your way.
Let the bible be your source of wisdom and comfort by checking out these empowering Bible verses about wise counsel.
From assistance in lament and healing to facing personal challenges, here are your go-to Bible scriptures for when you need some sensible advice.
Bible Verses About Wise Counsel
Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.”
The wisdom in this verse speaks to the value of constant learning and seeking guidance, regardless of one’s current knowledge. In other words, the process of acquiring wisdom never ends. A wise person understands the limits of their knowledge and remains open to counsel from others, which can enrich their understanding and perspective.
Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”
This proverb makes a clear distinction between a wise person and a fool. The fool believes their way is the only right one, while the wise person is open to advice. It suggests that wisdom involves humility, an openness to correction, and a willingness to see things from other perspectives.
Proverbs 19:20 (NIV)
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”
Accepting advice and discipline may not be enjoyable, but Proverbs 19:20 states that these are critical for attaining wisdom. This acceptance implies humility and understanding that growth often comes from correction and discipline.
James 1:5 (NIV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
James 1:5 affirms that wisdom is a gift from God, and it’s available to all who seek it genuinely. It reminds us that wisdom isn’t necessarily inherent but can be sought from a higher power through prayer and earnest seeking.
Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)
“For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.”
The verse highlights the importance of counsel in decision-making. It emphasizes that without guidance, even a nation can fall, showing the universal application of the need for advice. Multiple perspectives can help win victories and avoid failure.
Also Read: 29 Bible Verses About Never Go to Bed Angry (With Commentary)
Ecclesiastes 7:12 (NIV)
“Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.”
This verse presents wisdom as a shelter, similar to wealth. It posits that wisdom, unlike material wealth, preserves those who have it, suggesting the lasting value and protective power of wisdom in life’s storms.
Proverbs 13:10 (NIV)
“Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Proverbs 13:10 explores the root of strife – pride. It contrasts this with the wisdom of those who are humble enough to take advice. It suggests wisdom and humility are intrinsically linked.
Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Emphasizing the value of seeking multiple perspectives, this verse highlights that success in planning often requires wise counsel. It implies that wisdom doesn’t operate in isolation, but in the collective input of many.
Proverbs 24:6 (NIV)
“Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.”
This verse analogizes the process of decision-making to waging war, where guidance and advice are vital. It reinforces the need for multiple perspectives to navigate complexities and achieve victory.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NIV)
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
This psalm extols the virtues of choosing the right company and delighting in God’s law. It suggests that wisdom isn’t merely about personal insight, but also involves making wise decisions about our influences and aligning ourselves with divine wisdom.
Proverbs 14:8 (NIV)
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”
This verse emphasizes thoughtfulness and introspection as marks of wisdom. The “prudent” person considers their actions carefully, avoiding the deception characterizing the folly of fools.
Job 12:12 (NIV)
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?”
Job 12:12 acknowledges that wisdom often comes with age and experience. It highlights respect for the aged, who have accumulated life’s experiences, as a source of wisdom and understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 (NIV)
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
In this verse, wisdom is so important that its pursuit should be prioritized even at great cost. It emphasizes that understanding and wisdom are more valuable than material wealth.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV)
“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”
This verse compares wisdom and skill to a sharpened ax. It suggests that hard work alone, without wisdom or skill, might not lead to success. The ‘edge’ of wisdom can make efforts more effective and successful.
Proverbs 2:6 (NIV)
“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
This verse roots the source of wisdom in God. It emphasizes that true wisdom is not merely human, but divine, and that we gain wisdom through seeking divine knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 16:16 (NIV)
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!”
This proverb places wisdom and insight above material wealth. It suggests that these intangible qualities bring greater value to life than physical possessions.
Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
Here, the acquisition of knowledge is linked with discernment and wisdom. It implies that the wise are actively engaged in seeking out knowledge, reflecting the proactive nature of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:9 (NIV)
“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”
This proverb illustrates the open-mindedness of the wise. It suggests that the truly wise remain eager to learn and grow, reinforcing the concept of wisdom as an ongoing journey rather than a destination.
1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
In this verse, the Apostle Paul underscores the transcendence of divine wisdom over human wisdom. It speaks to the limitations of human understanding and the incomparability of God’s wisdom.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 offers a humbling perspective on the magnitude of God’s wisdom. It reminds us of the profound difference between human and divine understanding, urging us to seek wisdom that surpasses our own limited perspectives.
Proverbs 21:30 (NIV)
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.”
Proverbs 21:30 serves as a reminder that divine wisdom and plans supersede all human understanding. It suggests that we should align our plans and understanding with divine wisdom for true success.
Proverbs 24:14 (NIV)
“Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”
This proverb compares wisdom to honey, emphasizing its sweetness and desirability. It associates wisdom with hope and a promising future, indicating the long-term benefits of seeking wisdom.
James 3:17 (NIV)
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”
James 3:17 gives us a comprehensive depiction of divine wisdom. It describes it as pure, peace-loving, considerate, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and sincere, illustrating the multifaceted nature of wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:5 (NIV)
“so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”
Paul, in this verse, urges believers to base their faith not on human wisdom, but on God’s power. It serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human wisdom compared to the enduring power of God.
Also Read: 30 Bible Verses About Denying God (With Commentary)
Colossians 2:2-3 (NIV)
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
These verses offer the ultimate destination for seekers of wisdom: Christ, in whom all wisdom and knowledge reside. It speaks to the spiritual dimension of wisdom, asserting that ultimate wisdom is found in understanding the mystery of Christ.
Proverbs 3:13-14 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”
This proverb crowns those who find wisdom and understanding as blessed. It once again places wisdom above material wealth, highlighting its profitability and returns as superior to silver and gold.