What does the Bible say about being vain?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• 1 Peter 3:1-22

  [1] In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don't obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word; [2] seeing your pure behavior in fear. [3] Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; [4] but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. [5] For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God, also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: [6] as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror. [7] You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered. [8] Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, [9] not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing. [10] For, "He who would love life, And see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. [11] Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it. [12] For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears open to their prayer; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." [13] Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? [14] But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled." [15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: [16] having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Christ. [17] For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. [18] Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; [19] in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, [20] who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. [21] This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you-- not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, [22] who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

• Matthew 15:9

  And in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrine rules made by men.'"

• Matthew 7:15

  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

• Proverbs 31:29-31

  [29] "Many women do noble things, But you excel them all." [30] Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. [31] Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

• 1 Peter 2:1-25

  [1] Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, [2] as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, [3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: [4] coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. [5] You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed." [7] For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected, Has become the chief cornerstone," [8] and, "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: [10] who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation. [13] Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; [14] or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. [15] For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: [16] as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. [17] Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. [18] Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. [19] For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God. [20] For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God. [21] For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, [22] who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." [23] Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; [24] who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. [25] For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

• 2 Corinthians 6:14

  Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness?

• 1 Timothy 6:16

  who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

• 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

  [1] Now I declare to you, brothers, the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, [2] by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. [3] For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [8] and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. [9] For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. [11] Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. [12] Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. [14] If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. [15] Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead aren't raised, neither has Christ been raised. [17] If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. [18] Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. [20] But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. [21] For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming. [24] Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that will be abolished is death. [27] For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. [28] When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. [29] Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? [30] Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour? [31] I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. [32] If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." [33] Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals." [34] Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. [35] But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?" [36] You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. [37] That which you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. [38] But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. [39] All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. [40] There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. [41] There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. [42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. [43] It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. [44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body. [45] So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. [46] However that which is spiritual isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. [47] The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory." [55] "Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?" [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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