Scripture Refuge

Bible Verses About Toxic Relationships

Wisdom for difficult or harmful relationships.

Select Translation
22 verses found

Navigating difficult or harmful relationships requires a combination of radical love and healthy, wise boundaries. While we are called to be peacemakers, we are also exhorted to guard our hearts from the influence of those who foster strife. By seeking the Father’s wisdom, you can discern when to lean in with grace and when to step back for the sake of your spiritual health. Trust that He is your ultimate protector and the source of your truest identity.

Key Passages

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:"

"¶ Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."

"A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;"

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners."

"¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

"¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

"I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked."

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful."

"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him."

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."

"He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."

"¶ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

"O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart."

"The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom."

"The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit."

"Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known."

"Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom."

"Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance."

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools."

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."

Go Deeper

Explore related scripture themes