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Ecclesiastes 10:10
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 10:10
English Standard Version
10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,
he must use more strength,
but wisdom helps one to succeed.[a]
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 10:10 Or wisdom is an advantage for success
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
English Standard Version
James 1:5
English Standard Version
5 (A)If any of you lacks wisdom, (B)let him ask God, (C)who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
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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
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 10:15
English Standard Version
15 The toil of a fool wearies him,
for he does not know (A)the way to the city.
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.
Ephesians 5:15-17
English Standard Version
Ephesians 5:15-17
English Standard Version
15 (A)Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 (B)making the best use of the time, because (C)the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what (D)the will of the Lord is.
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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)
Colossians 4:5
English Standard Version
Colossians 4:5
English Standard Version
5 (A)Walk in wisdom toward (B)outsiders, making the best use of the time.
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Colossians 4:5
New International Version
Colossians 4:5
New International Version
1 Corinthians 14:20
English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 14:20
English Standard Version
20 Brothers, (A)do not be children in your thinking. (B)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be (C)mature.
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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.
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
English Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 9:15-17
English Standard Version
15 But there was found in it (A)a poor, wise man, and he by his (B)wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16 But I say that (C)wisdom is better than might, though (D)the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.
17 The words of the wise heard in (E)quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
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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
English Standard Version
2 Chronicles 23:4-11
English Standard Version
4 This is the thing that you shall do: (A)of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, 5 and 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 Let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests (B)and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. 7 The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss (C)the divisions. 9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him (D)the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, (E)“Long live the king.”
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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
Acts 6:1-9
English Standard Version
Acts 6:1-9
English Standard Version
Seven Chosen to Serve
6 Now in these days (A)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists[a] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in (B)the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 (C)Therefore, brothers,[b] pick out from among you seven men (D)of good repute, (E)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But (F)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, (G)a man full of faith and (H)of the Holy Spirit, and (I)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, (J)a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and (K)they prayed and (L)laid their hands on them.
7 And (M)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests (N)became obedient to (O)the faith.
Stephen Is Seized
8 And Stephen, full of grace and (P)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then 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.
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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
English Standard Version
Matthew 10:16
English Standard Version
Persecution Will Come
16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be (B)wise as serpents and (C)innocent as doves.
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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)
1 Kings 3:9
English Standard Version
1 Kings 3:9
English Standard Version
9 (A)Give your servant therefore an understanding mind (B)to govern your people, that I may (C)discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
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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?”
Exodus 18:19-23
English Standard Version
Exodus 18:19-23
English Standard Version
19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall (A)represent the people before God and (B)bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know (C)the way in which they must walk and (D)what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for (E)able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And (F)let them judge the people at all times. (G)Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will (H)bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be (I)able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
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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.”
Genesis 41:33-39
English Standard Version
Genesis 41:33-39
English Standard Version
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land[a] of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And (A)let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Joseph Rises to Power
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, (B)in whom is the Spirit of God?”[b] 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 41:34 Or over the land and organize the land
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
Genesis 41:33-39
New International Version
Genesis 41:33-39
New International Version
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man(A) and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.(B) 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners(C) over the land to take a fifth(D) of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.(E) 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.(F) 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt,(G) so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.(H) 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God[a]?”(I)
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you,(J) there is no one so discerning and wise as you.(K)
Footnotes
- Genesis 41:38 Or of the gods
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.