What does the Bible say about pride?

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

Pride is described as the step right before a fall. It quietly removes the caution and dependence that keep us steady.

"But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”"

God actively resists pride but pours out grace on humility. Humility is where grace has room to land.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Paul's alternative to pride is practical: count others more significant and look to their interests. Humility shows up in how we treat people.

"Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you."

Humility is something to put on like clothing, and God is the one who lifts the humble up in His time.

"But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”"

In Jesus' parable, the tax collector who simply asked for mercy went home justified, not the religious man who listed his good deeds.