We are called to live in a way that honors God, and part of that is staying away from harmful influences. These Bible verses offer guidance on how to surround ourselves with positive influences that encourage us to walk in faith and avoid paths that lead us astray.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Memorizing Scripture
Bible Verses About Staying Away From Bad Influences
1 Corinthians 15:33 – Bad company corrupts good character
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
Proverbs 13:20 – The company we keep shapes our path
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20
Psalm 1:1 – Blessed is the person who avoids destructive influences
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” – Psalm 1:1
Proverbs 22:24-25 – Don’t associate with hot-tempered individuals
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered.” – Proverbs 22:24-25
Galatians 5:7 – Stay true to your path and avoid distractions
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” – Galatians 5:7
James 4:4 – Friendship with the world is enmity with God
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4
Ephesians 5:11 – Expose and avoid the unfruitful works of darkness
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” – Ephesians 5:11
Proverbs 4:14-15 – Avoid the path of wickedness
“Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and go on your way.” – Proverbs 4:14-15
2 Corinthians 6:14 – Unequally yoked relationships lead to trouble
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Proverbs 19:27 – Listen to wisdom to avoid harmful influences
“Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” – Proverbs 19:27
1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from every form of evil
“Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Proverbs 12:26 – The righteous should choose their friends wisely
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” – Proverbs 12:26
Colossians 3:2 – Set your mind on things above
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” – Colossians 3:2
1 Peter 2:11 – Abstain from sinful desires
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” – 1 Peter 2:11
Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart diligently
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to worldly patterns
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” – Romans 12:2
1 John 2:15 – Love for the world leads to spiritual danger
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.” – 1 John 2:15
Proverbs 23:20-21 – Avoid drunkards and gluttons
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” – Proverbs 23:20-21
1 Corinthians 10:21 – You cannot serve two masters
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” – 1 Corinthians 10:21
Proverbs 16:28 – Avoid gossip and harm
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
Isaiah 5:20 – Woe to those who call evil good
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” – Isaiah 5:20
Hebrews 12:15 – Watch out for root of bitterness
“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” – Hebrews 12:15
Philippians 3:18-19 – Beware of those who live as enemies of the cross
“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.” – Philippians 3:18-19
Matthew 7:15 – Watch out for false prophets
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” – Matthew 7:15
Proverbs 28:7 – Keep the law to be wise
“A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” – Proverbs 28:7
2 Timothy 2:22 – Flee youthful passions
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” – 2 Timothy 2:22
Matthew 12:34 – Our words reflect our influences
“For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Matthew 12:34
Proverbs 15:12 – Scorners don’t seek wisdom
“A scoffer does not like to be reproved; he will not go to the wise.” – Proverbs 15:12
Psalm 26:4 – Do not associate with those who are deceitful
“I do not sit with the deceitful, nor do I associate with hypocrites.” – Psalm 26:4
1 Timothy 6:11 – Pursue righteousness and godliness
“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 6:11
Matthew 5:13 – Be the salt and light, not a bad influence
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” – Matthew 5:13
Romans 16:17 – Watch out for those causing divisions
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.” – Romans 16:17
Philippians 4:8 – Think about what is good
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8