The Bible as part of our normal public discourse

 Do you sometimes quote the Bible without being aware of it? The English language is salted, as are other languages, with scores of biblical phrases and proverbs. Listed below are 120 of them from https://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/sayings.htm

To be sure, "Cleanliness is next to godliness" is not of biblical origin, nor is "God helps those who help themselves." That particular one is from Poor Richard's Almanac, produced by the early American political figure Benjamin Franklin.

Here are oft-used English phrases with the scripture reference from which they come. These sayings were originally written in the period from more than a thousand years BC to the First Century AD.

• "A fool and his money are soon parted" -- Proverbs 21:20
• "A law unto themselves" -- Romans 2:14
• "A little bird told me" -- Ecclesiastes 10:20
• "A house divided against itself cannot stand" -- Matthew 12:25, Luke 11:17 (quoted by Abraham link in an 1858 speech on the eve of the American Civil War)
• "A man after his own heart" -- 1 Samuel 13:14
• "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town" -- Matthew 13:57
• "A soft answer turns away wrath" -- Proverbs 15:1
• "A still, small voice" -- 1 Kings 19:1
• "A time to every purpose under heaven" -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
• "A voice crying in the wilderness" -- John 1:23
• "All things to all men" -- 1 Corinthians 9:22
• "All things work together for good" -- Romans 8:28
• "Am I my brother's keeper?" -- Genesis 4:9
• "An eye for an eye" -- Exodus 21:24
• "Apple of my eye" -- Deuteronomy 2:10, Zechariah 2:8, indicating something or someone cherished or loved dearly
• "As old as the hills" -- Job 15:7
• "At my wit's end" -- Psalm 107:27
• "At the eleventh hour" -- from older English translations of Matthew 20:6
• "Be fruitful and multiply" -- Genesis 1:28
• "Be sure your sin will find you out" -- Numbers 32:23
• "Beat swords into plowshares" -- Isaiah 2:4
• "Bite the dust" -- Psalm 72:9
• "Blind leading the blind" Matthew 15:14, Luke 6:39
• "By the skin of our teeth" Job 19:20, meaning to narrowly escape danger or trouble
• "Can a leopard change his spots?" Jeremiah 13:23
• "Do not be unequally yoked." -- 2 Corinthians 6:14
• "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The "golden rule" refers to the same verse. -- Matthew 7:12
• "Don't cast your pearls before swine" -- Matthew 7:6
• "Don't let the sun go down on your anger" -- Ephesians 4:26
• "Doubting Thomas" -- based 0John 20:24-29
• "Drop in the bucket" -- Isaiah 40:15m meaning a very small amount in comparison to a larger whole
• "Dust of the earth" -- Genesis 13:16
• "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" -- Ecclesiastes 8:15, often used to encourage enjoyment of life's pleasures
• "Everything is possible for one who believes" -- Mark 9:23
• "Eye for an eye" -- Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21 Matthew 5:38
• "Fall from grace" -- Galatians 5:4
• "False prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing" -- Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22
• "Feet of clay" -- Daniel 2:33
• "Fell on rocky ground" -- Matthew 13:5
• "Fight the good faith" -- 1 Timothy 6:12
• "For everything, there is a season" -- Ecclesiastes 3:1
• "Forbidden fruit" -- based on Genesis 2:16-17
• "From strength to strength" -- Psalm 84:7
• "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's" -- Matthew22:21
• "Go the second mile" -- Matthew 5:41
• "Golden calf" -- Exodus 32
• "Good Samaritan" -- Luke 10:25-37, referring to someone who helps others selflessly
• "Hammer swords into plowshares" -- Isaiah 2:4
• "He gave up the ghost" -- older transwlations of Luke 23:46
• "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone" -- John 8:7
• "Handwriting on the wall" -- Daniel 5:5
• "How are the mighty fallen" -- 1 Samuel 1:19-27
• "Labor of love" -- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
• "Lamb to the slaughter" -- Isaiah 53:7
• "Land of milk and honey" -- Exodus 3:8
• "Lay up treasures in Heaven" -- Matthew 6:20
• "Let my people go" -- Exodus 5:1
• "Let not your heart be troubled" -- John 14:1
• "Let the dead bury the dead" - Matthew 8:22
• "Let there be light" -- Genesis 1:3
• "Letter of the law" -- 2 Corinthians 3:6
• "Love covers a multitude of sins" -- 1 Peter 4:8
• "Love thy neighbor" -- Leviticus19:18
• "Many are called, but few are chosen" -- Matthew 22:14
• "Man shall not live by bread alone" -- Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4
• "More blessed to give than to receive" -- Acts 20:35
• "My brother's keeper" -- Genesis 4:9
• "My cup runneth over" -- Psalm 23:5
• "No man can serve two masters" -- Matthew 6:24
• "No peace for the wicked" -- Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 57:21
• "No rest for the wicked" -- Isaiah 48:22
• "Noting new under the sun" -- Ecclesiastes 1:9
• "One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench" -- Ecclesiastes 10:1
• "Out of the mouths of babes" -- Psalm 8:2
• "Peace offering -- Deuteronomy 2:26
• "Powers that be" -- Romans 13:1
• "Pride goes before a fall" -- Proverbs 16:19, cautioning against arrogance leading to failure
• "Put the words in her mouth" -- 2 Samuel 14:3
• "Put your house in order" -- 2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1
• "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning" -- based on Matthew 16:2
• "Rise up and shine" -- Isaiah 60:1
• "Salt of the earth" -- Matthew 5:13, referring to people who are considered good, dependable, and honest.
• "Scapegoat" -- Leviticus 16:8
• "See eye to eye" -- Isaiah 52:8
• "Signs of the times" -- Matthew 16:3
• "Soft answer turns away wrath" -- Proverbs 15:1
• "Sow the wind; reap the whirlwind" -- Hosea 8:7
• "Spare the rod, spoil the child" -- Proverbs 13:243
• "Stood by the stuff" (a reference to troops that guarded supplies) -- 1 Samuel 25:13, 30:24)
• "Suffer fools gladly" -- 2 Corinthians 11:19
• "Sweat of your brow" -- Genesis 3:19
• "The blind leading the blind" -- Matthew 15:14
• "The bread of life" -- John 6:35
• "The ends of the earth" -- Isaiah 45:2, Acts 1:8
• "The love of money is the root of all evil" (frequently misquoted as "money is the root of all evil") -- 1 Timothy 6:10
• "The meek shall inherit the earth" -- Matthew 5:5
• "The patience of Job" -- Jasmes 5:1
• "The root of the trouble" -- Job 19:28
• "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" -- Matthew 26:41
• "The straight and narrow" -- Mattrhew 7:14
• "The truth shall make you free" -- John 8:32 (engraved on the wall of the original CIA headquarters building in Washington, DC)
• "The writing is on the wall" -- Daniel 5, referring to a premonition or a sign of imminent danger or failure
• "Thorn in the flesh" -- 2 Corinthians 12:7
• "To everything, there is a season" Ecclesiastes 3:1
• "Turn the other cheek" -- Matthew 5:39, advising patience and non-retaliation when faced with insult or injury.
• "Twinkling of an eye" -- 1 Corinthians 15:52
• "Two are better than one" -- Ecclesiastes 4:9
• "Vanity of vanities" - Ecclesiastes 1:2
• "Wages of sin" -- Romans 6:23
• "Wars and rumors of wars" -- Matthew 24:26, Mark 13:7
• "Weighed in the balances and found wanting" -- Daniel 5:5
• "What God has joined together, let no one separate" -- Marak 10:9
• "What is truth?" -- John 18:38
• "Where there is a will, there is a way" -- Proverbs 16:9
• "Where there is no vision, the people perish" -- Proverbs 29:18
• "White as snow" -- Isaiah 1:18
• "Woe is me" -- Isahah 6:5
• "Wolf in sheep's clothing" -- Matthew 7:15
• "You reap what you sow" -- Galatians 6:7
• "You will know them by their fruits" -- Matthew 7:20

Most quoted Bible verses from https://americaspublicbible.supdigital.org/verse-viewer/most-quoted/

This list shows the most quoted verses in the Bible in descending order.

Luke 2:14 (7.3k quotations)

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Luke 18:16 (6.4k quotations)

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 7:16 (5.1k quotations)

“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”

Exodus 20:15 (4.3k quotations)

“Thou shalt not steal.”

Matthew 25:21 (4.2k quotations)

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Matthew 25:40 (4.1k quotations)

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Matthew 6:11 (3.9k quotations)

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Matthew 19:6 (3.6k quotations)

“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Matthew 16:26 (3.6k quotations)

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Exodus 20:8 (3.5k quotations)

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Matthew 6:9 (3.5k quotations)

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

Deuteronomy 5:17 (3.4k quotations)

“Thou shalt not kill.”

John 3:16 (3.3k quotations)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Proverbs 22:6 (3.0k quotations)

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Matthew 11:28 (3.0k quotations)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (2.9k quotations)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Matthew 28:19 (2.9k quotations)

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Matthew 7:12 (2.8k quotations)

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

John 15:13 (2.8k quotations)

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Romans 13:9 (2.7k quotations)

“For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Matthew 6:10 (2.6k quotations)

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Revelation 7:17 (2.6k quotations)

“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

Matthew 22:14 (2.6k quotations)

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 5:43 (2.6k quotations)

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

Galatians 6:7 (2.6k quotations)

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Mark 16:15 (2.5k quotations)

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Matthew 22:37 (2.4k quotations)

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

2 Timothy 4:7 (2.4k quotations)

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:”

John 8:32 (2.3k quotations)

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Matthew 6:33 (2.2k quotations)

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Romans 8:28 (2.2k quotations)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Luke 18:20 (2.2k quotations)

“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.”

Matthew 15:37 (2.1k quotations)

“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.”

Matthew 12:25 (2.0k quotations)

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”

Deuteronomy 6:5 (2.0k quotations)

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Matthew 19:24 (2.0k quotations)

“And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 6:23 (2.0k quotations)

“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Matthew 19:18 (2.0k quotations)

“He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,”

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (2.0k quotations)

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

Matthew 5:8 (2.0k quotations)

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Matthew 7:1 (1.9k quotations)

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

1 Corinthians 15:55 (1.9k quotations)

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Job 3:17 (1.9k quotations)

“There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”

Exodus 20:16 (1.8k quotations)

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Proverbs 23:31 (1.8k quotations)

“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”

Colossians 2:21 (1.8k quotations)

“(Touch not; taste not; handle not;”

John 14:1 (1.7k quotations)

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Luke 2:10 (1.7k quotations)

“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

Luke 23:34 (1.7k quotations)

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Proverbs 22:1 (1.6k quotations)

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

Proverbs 15:1 (1.5k quotations)

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

Revelation 14:13 (1.5k quotations)

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

Matthew 6:29 (1.5k quotations)

“And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

John 11:25 (1.5k quotations)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

Matthew 16:18 (1.5k quotations)

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Proverbs 31:28 (1.5k quotations)

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”

Genesis 3:19 (1.5k quotations)

“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Job 14:14 (1.5k quotations)

“If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”

Exodus 20:3 (1.4k quotations)

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Acts 17:28 (1.4k quotations)

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Luke 12:27 (1.4k quotations)

“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Psalm 23:1 (1.4k quotations)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Matthew 5:16 (1.4k quotations)

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Ruth 1:16 (1.4k quotations)

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”

Psalm 133:1 (1.4k quotations)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Matthew 5:5 (1.3k quotations)

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

John 12:32 (1.3k quotations)

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Genesis 1:1 (1.3k quotations)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Psalm 122:1 (1.3k quotations)

“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.”

Psalm 23:4 (1.3k quotations)

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Job 1:21 (1.3k quotations)

“And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Acts 17:26 (1.2k quotations)

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”

Psalm 116:11 (1.2k quotations)

“I said in my haste, All men are liars.”

Luke 2:11 (1.2k quotations)

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Genesis 1:3 (1.2k quotations)

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

1 Corinthians 2:9 (1.2k quotations)

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

2 Corinthians 5:1 (1.2k quotations)

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Isaiah 28:10 (1.2k quotations)

“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

John 14:15 (1.2k quotations)

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Proverbs 3:17 (1.2k quotations)

“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

Acts 16:31 (1.2k quotations)

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

Matthew 22:21 (1.1k quotations)

“They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 (1.1k quotations)

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Matthew 13:57 (1.1k quotations)

“And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 (1.1k quotations)

“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Mark 2:27 (1.1k quotations)

“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”

Romans 1:16 (1.1k quotations)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Isaiah 2:4 (1.1k quotations)

“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Romans 6:23 (1.1k quotations)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 Corinthians 13:7 (1.1k quotations)

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

Luke 19:10 (1.1k quotations)

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Deuteronomy 11:1 (1.1k quotations)

“Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.”

Micah 4:3 (1.1k quotations)

“And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

1 John 3:2 (1.1k quotations)

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Proverbs 14:34 (1.1k quotations)

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

Exodus 20:12 (1.1k quotations)

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

Deuteronomy 30:2 (1.1k quotations)

“And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;”

Isaiah 28:13 (1.1k quotations)

“But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.”

Matthew 13:9 (1.1k quotations)

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

2 Timothy 4:8 (1.1k quotations)

“Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”