Where the psalms say wisdom starts, what they say about God's word and truth, and lines from the wisdom psalms themselves.
The psalms do not treat wisdom as cleverness. Psalm 111:10 says it begins with the fear of the LORD, and Psalm 19:7 says the LORD's covenant makes wise the simple. Wisdom in these verses is learned, often from God's word, and it shows in how a person speaks and lives. Some psalms pray for it. Others teach it, speaking to the reader rather than to God, and those are the ones this site labels wisdom psalms.
The verses are grouped by the question people ask: wisdom and understanding, the word of God, truth, the wisdom psalms themselves, and Psalm 119 for studying the Bible. Tick any you want and print them as one sheet.
Where wisdom starts, and how the psalmists ask for it.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.All those who do his work have a good understanding.His praise endures forever!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The same verse says good understanding belongs to those who do his work, so wisdom is tied to practice as well as thought.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Truth is wanted in the inward parts, and wisdom is taught in the inmost place. The verse sits inside a confession, so wisdom here starts with honesty about oneself.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,for I believe in your commandments.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Teach me good judgment and knowledge. A direct request for both, made because the psalmist believes in God's commandments.
Whoever is wise will pay attention to these things.They will consider the loving kindnesses of the LORD.
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
The last verse of a long psalm: whoever is wise will pay attention to these things. Wisdom here means noticing the loving kindness of the LORD in what has happened.
Come, you children, listen to me.I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Come, you children, listen to me. The psalmist turns teacher and offers to teach the fear of the LORD, the thing Psalm 111 calls the beginning of wisdom.
Verses that praise God's law, words and promises, and say what they do for the one who reads them.
The LORD’s law is perfect, restoring the soul.The LORD’s covenant is sure, making wise the simple.
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The LORD's law restores the soul, and his covenant makes wise the simple. Wisdom is offered to the simple, not only to the learned.
They are more to be desired than gold, yes, than much fine gold,sweeter also than honey and the extract of the honeycomb.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
God's ordinances are more to be desired than fine gold and sweeter than honey. The psalm measures the word against gold and honey and finds it worth more.
The entrance of your words gives light.It gives understanding to the simple.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The entrance of your words gives light and gives understanding to the simple. Understanding comes as the words are let in.
The LORD’s words are flawless words,as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
The LORD's words are flawless, like silver refined seven times. Earlier the psalm complains of lying and flattering lips, so the point is that his words can be trusted.
I have hidden your word in my heart,that I might not sin against you.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. The word is kept inside for a practical reason: to shape what the person does.
For readers searching for truth: what the psalms say is true, and who they say speaks it.
All of your words are truth.Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
All of your words are truth, and every righteous ordinance endures forever. The verse makes two claims: the words are true, and they last.
He who walks blamelessly and does what is right,and speaks truth in his heart;
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
The one who may dwell on God's holy hill speaks truth in his heart. Truth here is held inside, not only said aloud.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me,for you are the God of my salvation.I wait for you all day long.
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me. The psalmist asks to be led by truth and taught while waiting all day long.
The LORD is near to all those who call on him,to all who call on him in truth.
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
The LORD is near to all who call on him. The verse then narrows it to those who call on him in truth.
On this site, a wisdom psalm is one that mainly teaches rather than prays. These lines come from four of them.
but his delight is in the LORD’s law.On his law he meditates day and night.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1, the first in the book, describes a person who delights in the LORD's law and meditates on it day and night. The delight is not occasional: it fills the day and the night.
The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom.His tongue speaks justice.
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. The next verse gives the source: the law of his God is in his heart.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom.My heart will utter understanding.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. The psalm has just called on all peoples, low and high, rich and poor, to listen, so the lesson is for everyone.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”They are corrupt.They have done abominable deeds.There is no one who does good.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Folly is placed in the heart and in conduct, and Psalm 53:1 repeats the line almost word for word.
For reading and studying scripture. These lines from Psalm 119 ask to understand, and speak of meditating on what is read.
Open my eyes,that I may see wondrous things out of your law.
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. The writer asks to be shown what is in the law, expecting there is more there than he yet sees.
How I love your law!It is my meditation all day.
O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
How I love your law. It is my meditation all day. Study here is daily, and it starts with love for the law.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,for your testimonies are my meditation.
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, because your testimonies are my meditation. The verse credits the understanding to meditating on the text itself.
Your word is a lamp to my feet,and a light for my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The word is pictured as light for walking, so what is studied is put to use on the path.
On this site a wisdom psalm is one that mainly teaches rather than prays. It speaks about God to the reader, sets the way of the righteous beside the way of the wicked, and uses words like wise, fool, law and understanding. We label Psalms 1, 14, 15, 19, 32, 34, 36, 37, 49, 50, 53, 73, 78, 90, 111, 112, 119, 127 and 128 this way. The label is ours, taken from reading the text. No psalm heading in the World English Bible uses the word wisdom.
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, 176 verses, and most of its verses speak of God's word under names such as law, precepts, statutes, ordinances and promises. Psalm 19 moves from the heavens in verses 1 to 6 to the LORD's law in verses 7 to 11. Psalm 12:6 compares the LORD's words to silver refined seven times.
Psalm 111:10 says the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 asks God to teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 119:66 asks for good judgment and knowledge, and Psalm 119:34 asks, give me understanding. Psalm 111:10 says where wisdom begins.
This site labels Psalms 1, 14, 15, 19, 32, 34, 36, 37, 49, 50, 53, 73, 78, 90, 111, 112, 119, 127 and 128 as wisdom psalms, because they mainly teach. No psalm heading uses the word wisdom.
Psalm 119:160 says all of your words are truth. Psalm 15:2 describes the person who speaks truth in his heart, and Psalm 25:5 asks, guide me in your truth.
Psalm 111:10 is the clearest: the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 19:7 and Psalm 37:30 are two more.
Psalms for Guidance and DirectionPsalms for Studying and ExamsPsalms about LightPsalms About Faith and TrustPsalms About God's FaithfulnessPsalms about Humility and Pride