Bad leadership

Top verses

Ranked by readers’ votes at OpenBible.info.

• Proverbs 29:2

  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

• Jeremiah 23:1–4

  Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. …

• Proverbs 29:12

  If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

• Proverbs 16:12

  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

• 1 Timothy 3:1–5

  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; …

• Hebrews 13:17

  Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

• Acts 20:28

  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

• 1 Timothy 4:12

  Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

• Colossians 3:23–25

  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

• Mark 10:42–45

  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. …

• Proverbs 16:18

  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

• Ezekiel 34:1–8

  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. …

• 2 Timothy 2:24

  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

• Matthew 23:1–39

  Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. …

• Psalms 101:5

  Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

• Luke 22:26

  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

• Philippians 2:3

  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

• 1 Timothy 3:1–2

  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

• Hebrews 13:7

  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

• Matthew 20:26

  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

• Proverbs 4:23

  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

• Galatians 6:9

  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

• Exodus 18:21

  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

• John 3:30

  He must increase, but I must decrease.

• Psalms 78:72

  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

• Ezekiel 3:16–4:17

  And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. …

• 2 Timothy 2:15

  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

• James 3:1

  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

• Proverbs 11:14

  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

• Titus 1:7

  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

• John 10:11

  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

• Revelation 1:1

  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

• Proverbs 29:4

  The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

• Romans 13:1

  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

• Isaiah 3:12

  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

• 1 Timothy 3:2

  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

• Isaiah 1:23

  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

• Philippians 2:4

  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

• 1 Peter 5:2

  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

• Proverbs 31:8–9

  Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.