25 Bible Verses About Temptation (NIV & KJV)

Temptation is a reality every believer faces. From the garden of Eden to the wilderness where Jesus Himself was tested, the Bible portrays temptation as a constant pressure that seeks to draw us away from God and toward sin. Yet Scripture does not leave us defenseless. It shows us where temptation comes from, how to resist it, and the faithful God who always provides a way of escape.

These Bible verses about temptation gather the warnings, the wisdom, and the promises that equip us to stand firm. They are for anyone wrestling with a recurring struggle, facing a moment of decision, or seeking the strength to say no to what would harm their soul.

Each passage below comes in both the NIV and KJV. Read them as armor for the heart, and take courage that the One who overcame is able to keep you from falling.

🛡️ God's Faithfulness in Temptation

The Lord always provides a way to stand firm.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”— 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”— 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

“if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”— 2 Peter 2:9 (NIV)“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”— 2 Peter 2:9 (KJV)

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—”— Jude 1:24 (NIV)“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”— Jude 1:24 (KJV)

“For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”— Hebrews 2:17 (NIV)“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”— Hebrews 2:17 (KJV)

⚔️ Resisting Temptation

We overcome by submitting to God and standing against the enemy.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”— James 4:7 (NIV)“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”— James 4:7 (KJV)

““Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.””— Matthew 26:41 (NIV)“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”— Matthew 26:41 (KJV)

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”— Psalm 119:11 (NIV)“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”— Psalm 119:11 (KJV)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”— 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”— 1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV)

“reject every kind of evil.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NIV)“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

🔥 The Source of Temptation

Temptation springs from desire, never from God.

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”— James 1:13-14 (NIV)“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”— James 1:13-14 (KJV)

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”— James 1:15 (NIV)“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”— James 1:15 (KJV)

“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”— 1 John 2:16 (NIV)“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”— 1 John 2:16 (KJV)

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”— Romans 13:14 (NIV)“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”— Romans 13:14 (KJV)

🏃 Fleeing from Sin

Sometimes the wisest course is to run from temptation.

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”— 1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”— 1 Corinthians 6:18 (KJV)

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”— 2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV)“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”— 2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV)

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.”— 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NIV)“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”— 1 Corinthians 10:14 (KJV)

“Do not set 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 (NIV)“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”— Proverbs 4:14-15 (KJV)

👑 Christ Our Example and Victory

Jesus faced temptation and overcame, and He helps us do the same.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.”— Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”— Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”— Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”— Hebrews 2:18 (KJV)

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””— Matthew 4:4 (NIV)“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”— Matthew 4:4 (KJV)

“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’””— Matthew 4:10 (NIV)“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”— Matthew 4:10 (KJV)

🌿 Blessing for Those Who Endure

God rewards the one who stands firm under trial.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”— James 1:12 (NIV)“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”— James 1:12 (KJV)

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”— Matthew 6:13 (NIV)“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”— Matthew 6:13 (KJV)

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”— James 1:2-3 (NIV)“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”— James 1:2-3 (KJV)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”— Romans 8:1 (NIV)“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”— Romans 8:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Temptation?

The Bible teaches that temptation is a universal experience and that God Himself never tempts anyone with evil. James writes that "every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed," locating the source of temptation in our own desires rather than in God. Scripture is honest about the danger, warning that unchecked lust gives birth to sin and that the enemy prowls like a roaring lion seeking to devour.

At the same time, the Bible is overwhelmingly hopeful. It promises that God is faithful and "will with the temptation also make a way to escape," that we can resist the devil and watch him flee, and that hiding God's Word in our hearts guards us against sin. Above all, Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," so He is able to help those who are tempted. For the believer who endures, Scripture promises the crown of life.

You are never tempted beyond what God's grace can carry you through. Continue with Bible verses about self-control, Bible verses about strength, and Bible verses about addiction.