What does the Bible say about flattery?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

• Proverbs 29:5

  A man who flatters his neighbor, Spreads a net for his feet.

• Proverbs 26:24-28

  [24] A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, But he harbors evil in his heart. [25] When his speech is charming, don't believe him; For there are seven abominations in his heart: [26] His malice may be concealed by deception, But his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. [27] Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him. [28] A lying tongue hates those it hurts; And a flattering mouth works ruin.

• Proverbs 28:23

  One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than one who flatters with the tongue.

• Romans 16:18

  For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

• Job 32:21-22

  [21] Please don't let me respect any man's person, Neither will I give flattering titles to any man. [22] For I don't know how to give flattering titles; Or else my Maker would soon take me away.

• Psalms 5:9

  For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

  [1] For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn't in vain, [2] but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Gospel of God in much conflict. [3] For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. [4] But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. [5] For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), [6] nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. [7] But we were gentle among of you, as when a nurse cherishes her own children. [8] Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. [9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. [11] As you know how we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, [12] to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory. [13] For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. [14] For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews; [15] who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are contrary to all men; [16] forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost. [17] But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, [18] because we wanted to come to you--indeed, I, Paul, once and again-- but Satan hindered us. [19] For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? [20] For you are our glory and our joy.

• Psalms 12:3

  May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that boasts,

• Jude 1:16

  These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.

• Proverbs 27:6

  Faithful are the wounds of a friend; Although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

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