Bible Verses About Fools

What does the Bible say about fools?

A fool is someone who is unwise, lacks sense, and lacks judgement. Fools don’t want to learn the truth. They laugh at the truth and turn their eyes away from the truth. Fools are wise in their own eyes failing to take in wisdom and advice, which will be their downfall. They suppress the truth by their unrighteousness.

They have wickedness in their hearts, they are lazy, proud, they slander others, and live in repeat foolishness. Living in sin is fun for a fool.

It’s not wise to desire their company because they will lead you down a dark path. Fools rush into danger without wise preparation and thinking about the consequences.

Scripture keeps people from being foolish, but sadly fools despise the Word of God. These verses on fools include KJV, ESV, NIV, and more translations of the Bible.

Christian quotes about fools 

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” Charles Spurgeon

“A wise man may look ridiculous in the company of fools.”  Thomas Fuller

“Many have been the wise speeches of fools, though not so many as the foolish speeches of wise men.”  Thomas Fuller

“There is a difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man is really so; but he that thinks himself the wisest is generally the greatest fool.” Francis Bacon

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” Plato

“What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth could come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster!” – Jeremy Taylor

“Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it.” Benjamin Franklin

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” Charles Spurgeon

“The wise man considers what he wants and the fool what he abounds in.”

“A fool knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

“There is nothing more foolish than an act of wickedness; there is no wisdom equal to that of obeying God.” Albert Barnes

“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.”

“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

“Only a fool thinks he can fool God.” Woodrow Kroll

“Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to the end, to judge of the act. Let me look to the act, and leave the end with God.” Joseph Hall

“The Christian Right stands now at a crossroads. Our choices are these: Either we can play the game and enjoy the honor that comes from being players in the political arena, or we can become fools for Christ. Either we will ignore the silent screams of the unborn so that we might be heard, or we will identify with the suffering and speak for those who are silenced. In short, either we will speak for the least of these, or we will continue to sell our souls for a mess of political pottage.” R.C. Sproul Jr.

Proverbs: Fools despise wisdom

Teaching fools!

1. Proverbs 18:2-3 Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions. Doing wrong leads to disgrace, and scandalous behavior brings contempt.

2. Proverbs 1:5-7 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

3. Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

4. Psalm 92:5-6 “How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this.”

5. Psalm 107:17 “Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.”

6. Proverbs 1:22 “Fools, how long will you love being ignorant? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?”

7. Proverbs 1:32 “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them.”

8. Proverbs 14:7 “Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.”

9. Proverbs 23:9 “Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.”

The mouth of a fool.

10. Proverbs 10:18-19 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

11. Proverbs 12:22-23 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

12. Proverbs 18:13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.

13. Proverbs 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

14. Isaiah 32:6 For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.

15. Proverbs 18:6-7 Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating. The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips.

16. Proverbs 26:7 “Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.”

17. Proverbs 24:7 “Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.”

18. Isaiah 32:6 “For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the Lord; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water.”

Fools continue in their foolishness.

19. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.

Bible verses about arguing with fools

20. Proverbs 29:8-9 Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger. If a wise person takes a fool to court, there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

21. Proverbs 26:4-5 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

22. Proverbs 20:3 “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.”

Trusting a fool

23. Proverbs 26:6-7 Trusting a fool to convey a message is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison! A proverb in the mouth of a fool is as useless as a paralyzed leg.

24. Luke 6:39 Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch?

The difference between an intelligent man and a fool. 

25. Proverbs 10:23-25 Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.  Doing wrong is fun for a fool, but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26. Proverbs 15:21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

27. Proverbs 14:8-10 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

28. Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor. A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one. You can identify fools just by the way they walk down the street!

29. Ecclesiastes 7:4 “The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.”

30. Proverbs 29:11 “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

31. Proverbs 3:35 “The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”

32. Proverbs 10:13 “Intelligent people speak words of wisdom, but fools must be punished before they learn their lesson.”

33. Proverbs 14:9 “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.”

34. Proverbs 14:15 “Fools believe every word they hear, but wise people think carefully about everything.”

35. Proverbs 14:16 “The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.”

36. Proverbs 21:20 “There is precious treasure and oil in the home of the wise, But a foolish person swallows it up.”

Fools say there is no God

37. Psalm 14:1 For the choir director: A psalm of David. Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

38. Psalm 53:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.“

39. Psalm 74:18 Remember this, O LORD, that the enemy has reviled, And a foolish people has spurned Your name.

Can a Christian call someone a fool?

This verse is speaking of unrighteous anger, which is a sin, but righteous anger is not a sin.

40. Matthew 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Reminders

41. Proverbs 28:26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

42. Proverbs 29:11 Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

43. Ecclesiastes 10:3 “Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.”

44. Ecclesiastes 2:16 “For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!”

45. Proverbs 17:21 “To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.”

46. 2 Corinthians 11:16-17 “Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.

47. Ecclesiastes 2:15 “Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.” 16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!”

48. Ecclesiastes 6:8 “What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?”

49. Proverbs 16:22 “Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.”

50. Proverbs 29:20 “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

51. Proverbs 27:22 “Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.”

52. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.”

53. Job 12:16-17 “God is strong and always wins. He controls those who fool others and those who are fooled. 17 He strips advisors of their wisdom and makes leaders act like fools.”

54. Psalm 5:5 “Fools cannot come near you. You hate those who do evil.”

55. Proverbs 19:29 “People who show no respect for anything must be brought to justice. You must punish such fools.”

56. Ecclesiastes 5:4 “If you make a promise to God, keep your promise. Don’t be slow to do what you promised. God is not happy with fools. Give God what you promised to give him.”

Examples of fools in the Bible

57. Matthew 23:16-19 “Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple. Blind fools! Which is more important–the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding. How blind! For which is more important–the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

58. Jeremiah 10:8 “People who worship idols are stupid and foolish. The things they worship are made of wood!”

59. Exodus 32:25 “Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get out of control. They were being wild, and all their enemies could see them acting like fools.”

60. Job 2:10 “Job answered, “You sound like one of those fools on the street corner! How can we accept all the good things that God gives us and not accept the problems?” So even after all that happened to Job, he did not sin. He did not accuse God of doing anything wrong.”

61. Psalm 74:21-22 “Don’t let the oppressed be put to shame; let those poor and needy people praise you. 22 Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause! Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.”