1087 verses about Humility

Then the king stretched out to Esther the golden sceptre: and Esther arose to stand near the king.

For the man of low estate may be pardoned in mercy, But mighty men will be searched out mightily.

For the Sovereign Lord of all will not refrain himself for any man’s person, Neither will he reverence greatness; Because it is he that made both small and great, And alike he takes thought for all;

I myself also am mortal, like to all, And am sprung from one born of the earth, the man first formed,

For no king had any other first beginning;

Neither did I liken to her any priceless gem, Because all the gold of the earth in her presence is a little sand, And silver will be accounted as clay before her.

Because of her I will have glory among multitudes, And honor in the sight of elders, though I be young.

But perceiving that I could not otherwise possess wisdom except God gave her me (Yes and to know by whom the grace is given, this too came of understanding), I pleaded with the Lord and implored him, and with my whole heart I said,

Give me wisdom, her that sits by you on your throne; And reject me not from among your servants:

Because I am your bondman and the son of your handmaid, A man weak and short-lived, And of small power to understand judgement and laws.

For even if a man be perfect among the sons of men, Yet if the wisdom that comes from you be not with him, he will be held in no account.

Because the whole world before you is as a grain in a balance, And as a drop of dew that at morning comes down upon the earth.

For when men believe not that you are perfect in power, you show your strength, And in dealing with those who know it you put their boldness to confusion.

For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction; And in faith and meekness is his good pleasure.

Exalt not yourself, lest you fall, And bring dishonor upon your soul; And so the Lord will reveal your secrets, And will cast you down in the midst of the congregation; Because you came not to the fear of the Lord, And your heart was full of deceit.

Accept whatever is brought upon you, And be longsuffering when you passest into humiliation.

For gold is tried in the fire, And acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, And will humble their souls in his sight,

Glorify not yourself in the dishonor of your father; For your father’s dishonor is no glory to you.

And if he fails in understanding, have patience with him; And dishonor him not while you are in your full strength.

My son, go on with your business in meekness; So will you be beloved of an acceptable man.

The greater you are, humble yourself the more, And you will find favor before the Lord.

For great is the potency of the Lord, And he is glorified of those who are lowly.

Seek not things that are too hard for you, And search not out things that are above your strength.

Be not over busy in your superfluous works: For more things are showed to you than men can understand.

Get yourself the love of the congregation; And to a great man bow your head.

Incline your ear to a poor man, And answer him with peaceful words in meekness.

Accept not the person of any against your soul; And reverence no man to your falling.

Speak not against the truth; And be abashed for your ignorance.

Be not ashamed to make confession of your sins; And force not the current of the river.

Lay not yourself down for a fool to tread upon; And accept not the person of one that is mighty.

Exalt not yourself in the counsel of your soul; That your soul be not torn in pieces as a bull:

If you shall be brought low, he will be against you, And will hide himself from your face.

If you see a man of understanding, get you betimes to him, And let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.

Seek not of the Lord preeminence, Neither of the king the seat of honor.

Justify not yourself in the presence of the Lord; And display not your wisdom before the king.

Laugh not a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul; For there is one who humbles and exalts.

Prate not in the multitude of elders; And repeat not your words in your prayer.

Humble your soul greatly; For the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.

Reproach not a man when he turns from sin: Remember that we are all worthy of punishment.

Neglect not the discourse of the wise, And be conversant with their proverbs; For of them you will learn instruction, And how to minister to great men.

For the beginning of pride is sin; And he that keeps it will pour forth abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, And overthrew them utterly.

The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers, And set the meek in their stead.

The Lord plucked up the roots of nations, And planted the lowly in their stead.

Pride has not been created for men, Nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.

The rich man, and the honorable, and the poor, Their glorying is the fear of the Lord.

It is not right to dishonor a poor man that has understanding; And it is not fitting to glorify a man that is a sinner.

The great man, and the judge, and the mighty man, will be glorified; And there is not one of them greater than he that fears the Lord.

Free men will minister to a wise servant; And a man that has knowledge will not murmur thereat.

Be not over wise in doing your work; And glorify not yourself in the time of your distress.

Better is he that labores, and abounds in all things, Than he that glorifieth himself, and lacketh bread.

My son, glorify your soul in meekness, And give it honor according to the worthiness thereof.

But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in riches? And he that is inglorious in riches, how much more in poverty?

The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, And make him to sit in the midst of great men.

Commend not a man for his beauty; And abhor not a man for his outward appearance.

The bee is little among such as fly; And her fruit is the chief of sweetmeats.

Glory not in the putting on of raiment, And exalt not yourself in the day of honor; For the works of the Lord are wonderful, And his works are hidden among men.

Many kings have sat down upon the ground; And one that was never thought of has worn a diadem.

Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; And men of renown have been delivered into other men’s hands.

There is one that is sluggish, and has need of help, Lacking in strength, and that abounds in poverty; And the eyes of the Lord looked upon him for good, And he set him up from his low estate,

Say not, What use is there of me? And what from henceforth will my good things be?

Though he humble himself, and go crouching, Yet take good heed, and beware of him, And you will be to him as one that has wiped a mirror, And you will know that he has not utterly rusted it.

He that touches pitch will be defiled; And he that has fellowship with a proud man will become like to him.

Take not up a burden above your strength; And have no fellowship with one that is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? This will strike, and that will be dashed in pieces.

If a mighty man invite you, be retiring, And so much the more will he invite you.

Press not upon him, lest you be thrust back; And stand not far off, lest you be forgotten.

Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; So a poor man is an abomination to the rich.

A rich man speaks, and all keep silence; And what he says they extol to the clouds: A poor man speaks, and they say, Who is this? And if he stumble, they will help to overthrow him.

She is far from pride; And liars will not remember her.

Don’t say, I shall be hidden from the Lord; And who will remember me from on high? I will not be known among so many people; For what is my soul in a boundless creation?

He looks upon the power of the height of heaven: And all men are earth and ashes.

To none has he given power to declare his works: And who will trace out his mighty deeds?

Humble yourself before you be sick; And in the time of sins show repentance.

There is an abasement because of glory; And there is that has lifted up his head from a low estate.

He that is wise in words will advance himself; And one that is prudent will please great men.

Better is a man that hides his folly Than a man that hides his wisdom.

Who will set scourges over my thought, And a discipline of wisdom over my heart? That they spare me not for my ignorances, And my heart pass not by their sins:

That my ignorances be not multiplied, And my sins abound not; And I will fall before my adversaries, And my enemy rejoice over me.

O Lord, Father and God of my life, Give me not a proud look,

The sinner will be overtaken in his lips; And the reviler and the proud man will stumble therein.

And if you sit among many, Reach not out your hand before them.

Have they made you ruler of a feast? Be not lifted up, Be you among them as one of them; Take thought for them, and so sit down.

And when you have done all your office, take your place, That you may be gladdened on their account, And receive a crown for your well ordering.

Speak, young man, if there be need of you; Yet scarcely if you be twice asked.

If you be among great men, behave not as their equal; And when another is speaking, make not much babbling.

Before thunder speedeth lightning; And before a shamefast man favor shall go forth.

A man of counsel will not neglect a thought; A strange and proud man will not crouch in fear, Even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel.

Be not confident in a smooth way.

Even so a man fasting for his sins, And going again, and doing the same; Who will listen to his prayer? And what profit has he in his humiliation?

The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds; And till it come near, he will not be comforted; And he will not depart, till the Most High shall visit; And he shall judge righteously, and execute judgement.

From him that sits on a throne of glory, Even to him that is humbled in earth and ashes;

Better is a man that hides his foolishness Than a man that hides his wisdom.

So shall you be truly shamefast, And find favor in the sight of every man.

Be not ashamed to instruct the unwise and foolish, And one of extreme old age that contends with those that are young; And so shall you be well instructed indeed, And approved in the sight of every man living.

The Lord has not given power to the saints to declare all his marvelous works; Which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, That whatever is might be established in his glory.

We may say many things, yet shall we not attain; And the sum of our words is, He is all.

He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness; He chose him out of all flesh.

Then all the people together hurried, And fell down upon the earth on their faces To worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High.

When I was yet young, Or ever I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.

My soul has wrestled in her, And in my doing I was exact: I spread forth my hands to the heaven above, And bewailed my ignorances of her.