Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

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.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.

He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?

The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.

That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.