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What the Bible Says About Integrity

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

Job

Job 27:4

My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.

Job 27:5

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

Job 27:6

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

Job 31:1

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Job 31:2

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

Job 31:3

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Job 31:4

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Job 31:5

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

Job 31:6

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. Let: Heb. Let him weigh me in balances of justice

Job 31:7

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;

Job 31:8

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

Job 31:9

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

Job 31:10

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

Job 31:11

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

Job 31:12

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Job 31:13

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

Job 31:14

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

Job 31:15

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?

Job 31:16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Job 31:17

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

Job 31:18

(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

Job 31:19

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

Job 31:20

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Job 31:21

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

Job 31:22

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. bone: or, chanelbone

Job 31:23

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Job 31:24

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

Job 31:25

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; gotten: Heb. found much

Job 31:26

If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; sun: Heb. light in: Heb. bright

Job 31:27

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: my mouth: Heb. my hand hath kissed my mouth

Job 31:28

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

Job 31:29

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

Job 31:30

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. mouth: Heb. palate

Job 31:31

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

Job 31:32

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. traveller: or, way

Job 31:33

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: as Adam: or, after the manner of men

Job 31:34

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?

Job 31:35

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

Job 31:36

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

Job 31:37

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

Job 31:38

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; complain: Heb. weep

Job 31:39

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

Job 31:40

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. cockle: or, noisome weeds

Psalms

Psalms 7:3

O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

Psalms 7:4

If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

Psalms 7:5

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.

Psalms 15:1

A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? abide: Heb. sojourn

Psalms 15:2

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Psalms 15:3

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

Psalms 15:4

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.

Psalms 15:5

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalms 24:3

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Psalms 24:4

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

Psalms 24:5

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

Psalms 26:1

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.

Psalms 26:2

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Psalms 26:3

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

Psalms 73:2

But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Psalms 73:3

For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:4

For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. firm: Heb. fat

Psalms 73:5

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

Psalms 73:6

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.

Psalms 73:7

Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. have: Heb. pass the thoughts of the heart

Psalms 73:8

They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.

Psalms 73:9

They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.

Psalms 73:10

Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

Psalms 73:11

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?

Psalms 73:12

Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

Psalms 73:13

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

Psalms 73:14

For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. chastened: Heb. my chastisement was

Psalms 73:15

If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

Psalms 73:16

When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; too: Heb. labour in mine eyes

Psalms 73:17

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalms 73:18

Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

Psalms 73:19

How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Psalms 73:20

As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

Psalms 73:21

Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

Psalms 73:22

So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. ignorant: Heb. I knew not before Heb. with

New Testament

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.

Preach & teach

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