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Proverbs from the Bible

Proverbs from the Bible

In the period that the bulk of English proverbs were coined, the Bible was the primary source of teaching, advice and instruction for the general populace. No surprise then that many proverbs, which are phrases and sayings that convey such wisdom, derive from the Bible. Here's a list of many of them, some with details of the derivation:

A house divided against itself cannot stand

A leopard cannot change its spots

A soft answer turns away wrath

KJV, Proverbs 15:1 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

All things must pass

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth

As you sow so shall you reap

Ashes to ashes dust to dust

Beat swords into ploughshares

Blessed are the peacemakers

Charity begins at home

Do unto others as you would have them do to you

Don't cast your pearls before swine

Eat drink and be merry

Faith will move mountains

Fight the good fight

For everything there is a season

Forgive them for they know not what they do

Get thee behind me Satan

Go the extra mile

KJV, Matthew 5:41 - And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword

KJV, Matthew 26:52 - Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

It's better to give than to receive

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone

Let not the sun go down on your wrath

Love of money is the root of all evil

Love thy neighbour as thyself

Man does not live by bread alone

Many are called but few are chosen

No rest for the wicked

Nothing new under the sun

KJV, Ecclesiastes 1:9 - The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Pride comes before a fall

Seek and you shall find

Spare the rod and spoil the child

The wages of sin is death

Thou shalt not kill

You reap what you sow

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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