Flattery: General Scriptures Concerning

If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.

I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.

For I do not know how to flatter, or my Maker would remove me in an instant.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make straight Your way before me.

For not a word they speak can be trusted; destruction lies within them. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

For his eyes are too full of conceit to detect or hate his own sin.

This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah

Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues.

Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,

…to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

…that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.

The poor man is hated even by his neighbor, but many are those who love the rich.

Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the rich will surely lead to poverty.

Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.

Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. …

These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.