10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom [a]brings success.

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Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 10:10 Lit. is a successful advantage

10 If the ax is dull
    and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
    but skill will bring success.

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(A)If any of you lacks wisdom, (B)let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and (C)it will be given to him.

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If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,(A) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(B)

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15 The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!

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15 The toil of fools wearies them;
    they do not know the way to town.

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(A)Walk in (B)wisdom toward those who are outside, (C)redeeming the time.

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Be wise(A) in the way you act toward outsiders;(B) make the most of every opportunity.(C)

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Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

20 Brethren, (A)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice (B)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

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20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(A) In regard to evil be infants,(B) but in your thinking be adults.

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Walk in Wisdom

15 (A)See then that you walk [a]circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 (B)redeeming the time, (C)because the days are evil.

17 (D)Therefore do not be unwise, but (E)understand (F)what the will of the Lord is.

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Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:15 carefully

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(A)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(B) because the days are evil.(C) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.(D)

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(A)Therefore give to Your servant an [a]understanding heart (B)to judge Your people, that I may (C)discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 3:9 Lit. hearing

So give your servant a discerning(A) heart to govern your people and to distinguish(B) between right and wrong. For who is able(C) to govern this great people of yours?”

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19 For (A)your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be (B)wise in what is good, and [a]simple concerning evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 16:19 innocent

19 Everyone has heard(A) about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.(B)

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Seven Chosen to Serve

Now in those days, (A)when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the (B)Hellenists,[a] because their widows were neglected (C)in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, (D)“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, (E)seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this (F)business; but we (G)will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, (H)a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and (I)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and (J)Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and (K)when they had prayed, (L)they laid hands on them.

Then (M)the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many (N)of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Stephen Accused of Blasphemy

And Stephen, full of [b]faith and power, did great (O)wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 Greek-speaking Jews
  2. Acts 6:8 NU grace

The Choosing of the Seven

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing,(A) the Hellenistic Jews[a](B) among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows(C) were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.(D) So the Twelve gathered all the disciples(E) together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God(F) in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters,(G) choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit(H) and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them(I) and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen,(K) a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit;(L) also Philip,(M) Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)

So the word of God spread.(P) The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly,(Q) and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Stephen Seized

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs(R) among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene(S) and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia(T) and Asia(U)—who began to argue with Stephen.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture

Persecutions Are Coming(A)

16 (B)“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. (C)Therefore be wise as serpents and (D)harmless[a] as doves.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:16 innocent

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(B)

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15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

16 Then I said:

“Wisdom is better than (A)strength.
Nevertheless (B)the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard
Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.

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15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.(A) 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.(B)

17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
    than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

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This is what you shall do: One-third of you (A)entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and (B)those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed (C)the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small (D)shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God. 10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king. 11 And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, (E)gave him the [a]Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “Long live the king!”

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Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord. No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe(A) the Lord’s command not to enter.[a] The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered.(B) Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.(C) Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. 10 He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy(D) of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 23:6 Or are to stand guard where the Lord has assigned them

19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you [a]counsel, and God will be with you: Stand (A)before God for the people, so that you may (B)bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall (C)teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and (D)the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people (E)able men, such as (F)fear God, (G)men of truth, (H)hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. (I)Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for (J)they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their (K)place in peace.”

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:19 advice

19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.(A) You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes(B) to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions,(C) and show them the way they are to live(D) and how they are to behave.(E) 21 But select capable men(F) from all the people—men who fear(G) God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain(H)—and appoint them as officials(I) over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case(J) to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share(K) it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

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