Isaiah 44:18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 They do not know, nor do they comprehend, for their eyes are shut, so that they cannot see, and their minds as well, so that they cannot understand.(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 6:9-10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 And he said, “Go and say to this people:
‘Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.’(A)
10 Make the mind of this people dull,
and stop their ears,
and shut their eyes,
so that they may not look with their eyes
and listen with their ears
and comprehend with their minds
and turn and be healed.”(B)
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.(A) 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing clearly the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.(B)
Read full chapter
John 12:39-40
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
39 And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,
40 “He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.”(A)
Jeremiah 5:21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear.(A)
Psalm 81:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.(A)
John 5:44
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
44 How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?[a](A)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5.44 Other manuscripts read the Only One
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,(A) 10 and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.(B) 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,(C) 12 so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.(D)
Read full chapter
Proverbs 2:5-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.(A)
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;(B)
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,(C)
8 guarding the paths of justice
and preserving the way of his faithful ones.(D)
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path,(E)
Romans 11:8-10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 as it is written,
“God gave them a sluggish spirit,
eyes that would not see
and ears that would not hear,
down to this very day.”(A)
9 And David says,
“Let their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them;(B)
10 let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see,
and keep their backs forever bent.”
Romans 1:21-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
21 for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless hearts were darkened.(A) 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.(B)
Read full chapter
John 8:43
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.
Read full chapter
Matthew 13:14-15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
‘You will indeed listen but never understand,
and you will indeed look but never perceive.(A)
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.’(B)
Daniel 12:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.(A)
Read full chapter
Romans 1:28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to an unfit mind and to do things that should not be done.(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 44:20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?”(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 29:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 For the Lord has poured out upon you
a spirit of deep sleep;
he has closed your eyes (the prophets)
and covered your heads (the seers).(A)
Isaiah 1:3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 The ox knows its owner
and the donkey its master’s crib,
but Israel does not know;
my people do not understand.(A)
Proverbs 28:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 The evil do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.(A)
Acts 14:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 In past generations he allowed all peoples to follow their own ways,(A)
Read full chapter
Isaiah 45:20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Idols Cannot Save Babylon
20 Assemble yourselves and come together;
draw near, you survivors of the nations!
They have no knowledge—
those who carry about their wooden idols
and keep on praying to a god
that cannot save.(A)
Psalm 92:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 The dullard cannot know;
the stupid cannot understand this:
Jeremiah 10:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Everyone is stupid and without knowledge;
goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols,
for their images are false,
and there is no breath in them.(A)
Jeremiah 10:8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Peter 2:14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 They have eyes full of adultery,[a] insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2.14 Gk adulteress; or longing for an adulteress
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.