Font Size
Ecclesiastes 10:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ecclesiastes 10:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 If the iron is blunt and one does not whet the edge,
then more strength must be exerted,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.
Ecclesiastes 10:10
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:10
New International Version
10 If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.
James 1:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
James 1:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.(A)
Read full chapter
James 1:5
New International Version
James 1:5
New International Version
5 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)
Ecclesiastes 10:15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ecclesiastes 10:15
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 The toil of fools wears them out,
for they do not even know the way to town.
Ecclesiastes 10:15
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:15
New International Version
15 The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.
Colossians 4:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Colossians 4:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.[a](A)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 4.5 Or opportunity
Colossians 4:5
New International Version
Colossians 4:5
New International Version
1 Corinthians 14:20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Corinthians 14:20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.(A)
Read full chapter
1 Corinthians 14:20
New International Version
1 Corinthians 14:20
New International Version
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(A) In regard to evil be infants,(B) but in your thinking be adults.
Ephesians 5:15-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ephesians 5:15-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Be careful, then, how you live,[a] not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.(A) 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.(B)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5.15 Gk walk
Ephesians 5:15-17
New International Version
Ephesians 5:15-17
New International Version
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)
1 Kings 3:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
1 Kings 3:9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
9 Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?”(A)
Read full chapter
1 Kings 3:9
New International Version
1 Kings 3:9
New International Version
9 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?”
Romans 16:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Romans 16:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 For your obedience is known to all; therefore, I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.(A)
Read full chapter
Romans 16:19
New International Version
Romans 16:19
New International Version
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)
Acts 6:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Acts 6:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.(A) 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.[a] 3 Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task,(B) 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.(C) 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.(D)
7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.(E)
The Arrest of Stephen
8 Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 6.2 Or keep accounts
Acts 6:1-9
New International Version
Acts 6:1-9
New International Version
The Choosing of the Seven
6 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) 2 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. 3 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) 4 and will give our attention to prayer(J) and the ministry of the word.”
5 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. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed(N) and laid their hands on them.(O)
7 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
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs(R) among the people. 9 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.
Footnotes
- Acts 6:1 That is, Jews who had adopted the Greek language and culture
Matthew 10:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Matthew 10:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Coming Persecutions
16 “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.(A)
Read full chapter
Matthew 10:16
New International Version
Matthew 10:16
New International Version
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.(B)
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.(A) 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.”(B)
17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouting of a ruler among fools.(C)
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
New International Version
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.
2 Chronicles 23:4-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 Chronicles 23:4-11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
4 This is what you are to do: one-third of you, priests and Levites, who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be gatekeepers,(A) 5 one-third shall be at the king’s house, and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation, and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Do not let anyone enter the house of the Lord except the priests and ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy, but all the other[a] people shall observe the instructions of the Lord. 7 The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand, and whoever enters the house shall be killed. Stay with the king in his comings and goings.”(B)
Joash Crowned King
8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded; each brought his men who were to come on duty on the Sabbath with those who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, for the priest Jehoiada did not dismiss the divisions.(C) 9 The priest Jehoiada delivered to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of God,(D) 10 and he set all the people as a guard for the king, everyone with weapon in hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they shouted, “Long live the king!”(E)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 23.6 Heb lacks other
2 Chronicles 23:4-11
New International Version
2 Chronicles 23:4-11
New International Version
4 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, 5 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. 6 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] 7 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.”
8 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) 9 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!”
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 23:6 Or are to stand guard where the Lord has assigned them
Exodus 18:19-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Exodus 18:19-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to God.(A) 20 Teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.(B) 21 You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.(C) 22 Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.(D) 23 If you do this and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their homes in peace.”
Read full chapter
Exodus 18:19-23
New International Version
Exodus 18:19-23
New International Version
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.”
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.