¹⁷ For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.

² And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

⁹ For this reason, we, from the day when we had word of it, keep on in prayer for you, that you may be full of the knowledge of his purpose, with all wisdom and experience of the Spirit,

¹ And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

² Because you have in mind the orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For the purpose of God for you is this: that you may be holy, and may keep yourselves from the desires of the flesh;

¹⁸ In everything give praise: for this is the purpose of God in Christ Jesus for you.

²² For my people are foolish, they have no knowledge of me; they are evil-minded children, without sense, all of them: they are wise in evil-doing, but have no knowledge of doing good.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the best part of wisdom: all those who keep his laws are wise: his praise is eternal.

² So that you may give the rest of your lives in the flesh, not to the desires of men, but to the purpose of God.

⁵ Be wise in your behaviour to those who are outside, making good use of the time.

¹⁷ If any man is ready to do God's pleasure he will have knowledge of the teaching and of where it comes from--from God or from myself.

¹⁵ Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;

²³ Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it go for money; get wisdom and teaching and good sense.

⁸ The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.

²⁸ And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.

⁵ Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and knowledge of God will be yours.

⁹ Give your servant, then, a wise heart for judging your people, able to see what is good and what evil; for who is able to be the judge of this great people?

¹⁰ Now these words and Solomon's request were pleasing to the Lord.

¹¹ And God said to him, Because your request is for this thing, and not for long life for yourself or for wealth or for the destruction of your haters, but for wisdom to be a judge of causes;

¹² I have done as you said: I have given you a wise and far-seeing heart, so that there has never been your equal in the past, and never will there be any like you in the future.

⁶ So keep these laws and do them; for so will your wisdom and good sense be clear in the eyes of the peoples, who hearing all these laws will say, Truly, this great nation is a wise and far-seeing people.

²⁷ Make the way of your orders clear to me; then my thoughts will be ever on your wonders.