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Bible Verses About Success

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.”

— Joshua 1:8

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it" — the Bible's success verses share one structure: God builds, you work, and confusing the order is the failure mode. The fifteen verses below are the Bible's direct address to that situation, shown in full KJV text from Joshua 1:8 to Psalms 127:2.

Quick answer: The best-known verse about success here is Joshua 1:8: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for…" Psalms 1:3 follows close behind: "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Both are public-domain translations, shown in full on the cards below with a modern-English toggle.

The 15 verses, in full text

01 · King James Version

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

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02 · King James Version

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalms 1:3

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03 · King James Version

Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

Psalms 20:4

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04 · King James Version

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psalms 75:7

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05 · King James Version

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:12

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06 · King James Version

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20

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07 · King James Version

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Proverbs 21:31

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08 · King James Version

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

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09 · King James Version

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:24

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10 · King James Version

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

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11 · King James Version

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Zechariah 4:6

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12 · King James Version

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

Matthew 6:33

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13 · King James Version

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7

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14 · King James Version

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:13

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15 · King James Version

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Psalms 127:2

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When to read these verses

These verses suit the practical chapters of life — money, work, words, plans — where Scripture is unexpectedly specific. They also read well in pairs: one verse states the principle, the next states its exception.

How to use this list

Use the copy buttons to take the relevant verses into the actual conversation — a budget meeting, a hiring call, a family discussion. The random verse tool above can draw a wisdom verse whenever the list is more than you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Bible verse about success?
Joshua 1:8 is the one most readers land on: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Psalms 1:3 is the usual second: "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." The full list of fifteen is on this page — there is no single required verse, and different seasons call for different texts.
Are verses like these promises or principles?
Mostly principles — a distinction Proverbs itself teaches. Wisdom literature states how life generally works under God ("train up a child..."), not iron outcomes for every case; Job and Ecclesiastes exist partly to complicate lazy proverb-reading. The verses on this page are best held as the Bible's own counsel: true, tested, and meant to be weighed with the whole of Scripture.
Where in the Bible does it talk about success?
The verses on this page come from 9 books of the Bible — most notably Joshua, Psalms, Proverbs and 6 more — spanning both Old and New Testaments. The distribution itself is worth noticing: Scripture addresses success in more than one voice, which is why the page shows whole verses rather than a single proof text.
How do I use a list of verses about success?
Read the list once slowly, then keep the one verse that fits your situation close — the copy button places it wherever you will actually see it. Every card can be switched to the World English Bible for modern wording, and the random verse tool at the top of the page can draw one verse from this theme at a time if the whole list is more than today needs.

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