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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

(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.

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 5:15 carefully

(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?”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 3:9 Lit. hearing

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 16:19 innocent

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 10:16 innocent

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.

Read full chapter

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!”

Read full chapter

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.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 18:19 advice

Bible Gateway Recommends