Acts 6:8-15

English Standard Version

Stephen Is Seized

⁸And Stephen, full of grace and ^(A)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰But ^(B)they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹Then ^(C)they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹²And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³and they ^(D)set up false ^(E)witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against ^(F)this holy place and the law, ¹⁴for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth ^(G)will destroy this place and will ^(H)change ^(I)the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face ^(J)was like the face of an angel.

Read full chapter

Proverbs 8:1-21

English Standard Version

The Blessings of Wisdom

8 Does not ^(A)wisdom call?
    Does not ^(B)understanding raise her voice?
²On ^(C)the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
³beside ^(D)the gates in front of ^(E)the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
⁴“To you, O ^(F)men, I call,
    and my cry is to ^(G)the children of man.
⁵O ^(H)simple ones, learn ^(I)prudence;
    O ^(J)fools, learn sense.
⁶Hear, for I will speak ^(K)noble things,
    and from my lips will come ^(L)what is right,
⁷for my ^(M)mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing ^(N)twisted or crooked in them.
⁹They are all ^(O)straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰^(P)Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹^(Q)for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and ^(R)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

¹²“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and ^(S)discretion.
¹³^(T)The fear of the Lord is ^(U)hatred of evil.
^(V)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and ^(W)perverted speech I hate.
¹⁴I have ^(X)counsel and ^(Y)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; ^(Z)I have strength.
¹⁵By me ^(AA)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
¹⁶by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.^[a]
¹⁷^(AB)I love those who love me,
    and ^(AC)those who seek me diligently find me.
¹⁸^(AD)Riches and honor are with me,
    ^(AE)enduring wealth and ^(AF)righteousness.
¹⁹My fruit is ^(AG)better than ^(AH)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than ^(AI)choice silver.
²⁰I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
²¹granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.