What the Bible Says About Meekness

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. grieved: Heb. bitter

Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.

And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?

And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.

It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. affliction: or, tears: Heb. eye

The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. ride: Heb. prosper thou, ride thou

Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. hasty: Heb. short of spirit

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. sacrifices: or, good cheer

The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. discretion: or, prudence

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. bring: or, set a city on fire

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. reprove: or, argue

The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. increase: Heb. add

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.

He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. to peace: Gr. in peace

Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Gentiles: Gr. Greeks

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, vaunteth: or, is not rash

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: in presence: or, in outward appearance

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. if: or, although

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, of the Lord: or, in the Lord

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; harmless: or, sincere ye shine: or, shine ye

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. quarrel: or, complaint

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. exhort: or, beseech unruly: or, disorderly

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. patient: or, patience of Christ

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; of good: or, modest

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; given: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, patient: or, forbearing

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. sober: or, vigilant

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; answering: or, gainsaying

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. partiality: or, wrangling

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. thankworthy: or, thank

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. acceptable: or, thank

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: for us: some read, for you

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: himself: or, his cause

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: fear: or, reverence

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.