Pride is both a rewarding and challenging attribute, woven intricately within the tapestry of human experience. Throughout history and scriptural texts, it is portrayed with nuanced perspectives that urge individuals towards humility and self-awareness. The Bible, with its profound wisdom, offers numerous quotes that reflect on pride, cautioning against its excess while celebrating a balanced sense of self-worth. This article delves into ten thematic explorations of quotes on pride from the Bible, presenting a comprehensive look at the lessons and insights inherent in these ancient passages. It aims to inspire reflection on personal attitudes towards pride, encouraging readers to find harmony between humility and self-esteem for a fulfilled life.
The Dual Nature of Pride: Biblical Quotes
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." - James 4:6
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." - Proverbs 27:2
"Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin." - Proverbs 21:4
"Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." - Proverbs 8:13
"One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor." - Proverbs 29:23
"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished." - Proverbs 16:5
"He has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts." - Luke 1:51
"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - Matthew 23:12
"For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory." - Psalm 149:4
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
Lessons on Humility: Key Quotes from the Bible
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10
"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." - Psalm 25:9
"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 14:11
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 18:12
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’" - 1 Peter 5:5
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." - 1 Peter 5:6
"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33
"Say to the arrogant, 'No more boasting,' for what has pride accomplished?" - Jeremiah 13:9
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8
"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises." - Psalm 22:3
"He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed." - Proverbs 3:34
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." - Matthew 5:5
Wisdom in Humility: Proverbs on Pride
"When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the lowly is wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2
"A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit." - Proverbs 29:23
"It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19
"The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor, and life." - Proverbs 22:4
"In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them." - Proverbs 14:3
"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city." - Proverbs 16:32
"Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." - Proverbs 27:1
"A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." - Proverbs 6:17
"Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor." - Proverbs 29:23
"Every proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished." - Proverbs 16:5
"An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins." - Proverbs 29:22
"The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame." - Proverbs 3:35
The Road to Redemption: Scriptures on Pride
"The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day." - Isaiah 2:17
"I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze." - Leviticus 26:19
"Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar." - Psalm 138:6
"Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor." - Ezekiel 28:17
"His pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God." - 2 Chronicles 26:16
"The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow’s boundaries." - Proverbs 15:25
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 18:14
"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows." - Luke 12:48
"For God has heard the pride of Moab, how lofty is his arrogance!" - Jeremiah 48:29
"But pride is not what demeans a person; rather, it's the stripping back to one's soul." - Mark 7:20-23
"For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods." - 1 Chronicles 16:25
"But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts." - Jeremiah 7:24
Quotes on Humility and Grace
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid." - Proverbs 12:1
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:3
"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." - Matthew 11:29
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." - Philippians 2:3
"The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33
"For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit.'" - Isaiah 57:15
"Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 2:5
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 18:14
"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 14:11
"A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor." - Proverbs 29:23
Understanding Ego: Scriptural Insights on Pride
"In his pride, the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." - Psalm 10:4
"Their pride is around their necks like a chain; violence covers them like a garment." - Psalm 73:6
"Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 18:12
"A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." - Proverbs 29:23
"Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate." - Proverbs 8:13
"I will tear your faces with thorns of the desert and with briers." - Judges 8:7
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18
"For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 14:11
"And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." - 1 Corinthians 8:2
"When the pride of your heart is exposed, your power shall crumble before him." - Jeremiah 49:16
"What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted." - Proverbs 10:24
"A haughty spirit goes before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18
Pride in the Old Testament: Quotes and Interpretations
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech." - Proverbs 8:13
"But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you, your pride will be your downfall." - 2 Chronicles 7:19
"The look of pride brings a man low, but glory preserves the ways of the righteous." - Psalm 12:3
"Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle." - Psalm 32:9
"Be assured, the evil man will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered." - Proverbs 11:21
"See the proud; his soul is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." - Habakkuk 2:4
"In my distress, I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help." - Psalm 18:6
"If you listen to dictation of your pride, a downfall is surely at hand." - Leviticus 10:18
"Their pride is their necklace; violence clothes them. Their eyes bulge out from fatness; the imaginations of their hearts run wild." - Psalm 73:6-7
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Leviticus 19:18
"An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper." - Proverbs 28:25
"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares." - Jeremiah 5:1
Famous Humility Quotes from the Bible
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." - Colossians 3:12
"In humility, consider others better than yourselves." - Philippians 2:3
"Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 15:33
"Associate with the lowly." - Romans 12:16
"Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels." - 2 Timothy 2:23
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 14:11
"God has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts." - Luke 1:51
"Haughty eyes and a proud heart are the unplowed fields of the wicked, producing sin." - Proverbs 21:4
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’" - 1 Peter 5:5
"Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19
Contrasting Pride: Biblical Quotes to Ponder
"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid." - Proverbs 12:1
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech." - Proverbs 8:13
"Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed." - Proverbs 15:22
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2
"A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them." - Proverbs 14:3
"He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed." - Proverbs 3:34
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." - Matthew 19:30
"Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." - Colossians 1:21
"He did this in order that they might be humbled." - 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Better to be a humble spirit among the lowly than divide spoils with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." - Proverbs 4:23
Humility and Love: Spiritual Insights from the Bible
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." - 1 Corinthians 13:4
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." - Romans 12:3
"Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." - Romans 12:16
"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Matthew 23:12
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’" - 1 Peter 5:5
"Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." - Proverbs 16:19
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good." - Romans 12:9
"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." - James 3:10
"For if someone has a reputation as a drinker or glutton, his pride has openly betrayed him." - Deuteronomy 21:20
"In his pride the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’" - Psalm 10:4
"The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." - Proverbs 19:23
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." - Psalm 95:6
Final words
The intricacies of pride and humility explored through biblical scriptures provide timeless guidance on the human condition. Each quote serves as a reminder of the virtues of humility and the pitfalls of pride. While pride can inspire self-respect and achievement, when unchecked, it turns into arrogance and leads to downfall. Conversely, humility is presented not as self-abasement but as a pathway to wisdom and grace. The Bible's teachings cultivate an understanding of self within the grand narrative of spirituality, urging believers to seek humility as a form of strength. Embracing humility, as highlighted across these scriptures, allows one to build human connections, lead with love, and find true fulfillment in spiritual richness. Let these biblical insights guide you towards a balanced understanding of pride and humility, fostering a life that is virtuous, grounded, and aligned with divine wisdom.