Pride comes before a fall is not an exact Bible quote. The actual quote, found in Proverbs 16:18, is “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Technically speaking the misquote is accurate in spirit. Pride is dangerous. It was included in the Seven Deadly Sins. Pride was the primary sin of Sodom. It is often an imperceptible transgression that wrecks many Christians.
I am going to share 30 Bible verses about pride. Check your heart against scripture to see if there is anything that is knocking you off course. God resists the proud.
Pride comes before a fall. The words pride and proud are used 107 times in the Bible (NIV). Pride is sinister and we need to use the Word to keep us free from its clutches. God resists the proud.
Bible Verses About Pride In The Proverbs
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate.
Here is a great article about the Fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor; but with the humble there is wisdom.
Humility is an attractive quality but pride is repulsive.
Proverbs 15:25 The Lord will tear down the house of the proud, but He will set the boundary of the widow.
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Pride is an abomination to God. An abomination is something that causes disgust or hatred.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
This is the verse about pride that most people know.
Proverbs 21:24 “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “Scoffer,” are his names, one who acts with insolent pride.
It’s interesting that the author of Proverbs 21 included “Scoffer” with the proud and arrogant.
Proverbs 29:23 A person’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Pride does the opposite of what is expected.
Pride Comes Before A Fall — The Psalms
Psalm 31:18 Let the lying lips be speechless, which speak arrogantly against the righteous with pride and contempt.
Lying, arrogance, pride, and contempt all in one tiny verse.
Psalm 36:11 May the foot of pride not come upon me, And may the hand of the wicked not drive me away.
Psalm 40:4 How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood.
Steer clear from the proud!
Psalm 94:2 Rise up, Judge of the earth, pay back retribution to the proud.
Retribution is punishment inflicted on someone for a criminal act.
Bible Verses About Pride In The Law
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Leviticus 26:19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze.
Pride Comes Before A Fall — The Prophets
Isaiah 14:10-12 They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have become weak as we, You have become like us. Your pride and the music of your harps Have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering.’ How you have fallen from heaven, You star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who defeated the nations!
Here is a fantastic explanation of Isaiah 14:10-12 from Got Questions.
Jeremiah 48:29 We have heard of the pride of Moab—he is very proud— Of his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and his self-exaltation.
Ezekiel 16:55-57 Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state. As the name of your sister Sodom was not heard from your lips in your day of pride, before your wickedness was uncovered, so now you have become the disgrace of the daughters of Edom and of all who are around her, of the daughters of the Philistines—those surrounding you who despise you.
Pride was a stumbling block for Sodom.
Hosea 5:5 Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him, And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their wrongdoing; Judah also has stumbled with them.
Zephaniah 3:11 On that day you will feel no shame Because of all your deeds By which you have rebelled against Me; for then I will remove from your midst Your proud, arrogant ones, And you will never again be haughty on My holy mountain.
Bible Verses About Pride — New Testament
Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the person.”
Jesus lumped pride in with sexual immorality, murder, and greed.
James 4:6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
I Peter 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.
I John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
Revelation 3:17 For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.