Overview
The Bible addresses integrity across 96 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Job, Psalms and Proverbs. Closely related themes include Temptation, Rich, The, Wicked and Worldliness. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Adam and Job.
Key Bible verses about integrity
Old Testament
Deuteronomy
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. words: or, matters
That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. That which: Heb. Justice, justice
Job
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. so long: Heb. from my days
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;
Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. Let: Heb. Let him weigh me in balances of justice
If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;
Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;
Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.
For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? did not one: or, did he not fashion us in one womb?
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) her: that is, the widow
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:
Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. bone: or, chanelbone
For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; gotten: Heb. found much
If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; sun: Heb. light in: Heb. bright
And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: my mouth: Heb. my hand hath kissed my mouth
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:
Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. mouth: Heb. palate
If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.
The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. traveller: or, way
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: as Adam: or, after the manner of men
Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?
Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. my: or, my sign is that the Almighty will
Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.
If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; complain: Heb. weep
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: fruits: Heb. strength the owners: Heb. the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or, breathe out
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. cockle: or, noisome weeds
Psalms
O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? abide: Heb. sojourn
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. taketh: or, receiveth, or, endureth
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He: Heb. The clean of hands
He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. firm: Heb. fat
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. in: Heb. in the trouble of other men like: Heb. with
Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. have: Heb. pass the thoughts of the heart
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. chastened: Heb. my chastisement was
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; too: Heb. labour in mine eyes
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. ignorant: Heb. I knew not before Heb. with
Proverbs
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. good: or, good success
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. let: or, all thy ways shall be ordered aright
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Isaiah
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; righteously: Heb. in righteousnesses uprightly: Heb. uprightnesses oppressions: or, deceits blood: Heb. bloods
He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. high: Heb. heights, or, high places
Ezekiel
And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
New Testament
Luke
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Do violence: or, Put no man in fear wages: or, allowance
Colossians
People in the Bible and integrity
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying integrity for yourself
- Begin with Deuteronomy 16:19, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Job, Psalms and Proverbs each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David, Adam and Job and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Temptation, Rich, The, Wicked and Worldliness.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about integrity?
The Bible addresses integrity across 96 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Job, Psalms and Proverbs. Closely related themes include Temptation, Rich, The, Wicked and Worldliness. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Adam and Job.
How many Bible verses are about integrity?
The Bible references integrity in 96 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention integrity?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Deuteronomy 16:19: “Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. words: or, matters”
Which people in the Bible are associated with integrity?
David, Adam and Job.
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