¹⁰ If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.

¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;

¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

¹⁷ Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

¹⁵ The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.

¹⁹ Listen now to my voice. I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You represent the people before God, and bring the causes to God.

²⁰ You shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and shall show them the way in which they must walk, and the work that they must do.

²¹ Moreover you shall provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God: men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

²² Let them judge the people at all times. It shall be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they shall judge themselves. So shall it be easier for you, and they shall share the load with you.

²³ If you will do this thing, and God commands you so, then you will be able to endure, and all of these people also will go to their place in peace."

⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

²⁰ Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

¹⁹ For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.

² Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul and Barnabas, and some others of them, to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.

³ They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.{The word for "brothers" here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}

⁴ When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all things that God had done with them.

⁵ But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses."

⁶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.

⁷ When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe.

⁸ God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.

⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

¹⁰ Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

¹¹ But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus,{TR adds "Christ"} just as they are."

¹² All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

¹³ After they were silent, James answered, "Brothers, listen to me.

¹⁴ Simeon has reported how God first visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

¹⁵ This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,

¹⁶ 'After these things I will return. I will again build the tent of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up,

¹⁷ That the rest of men may seek after the Lord; All the Gentiles who are called by my name, Says the Lord, who does all these things.

¹⁸ All his works are known to God from eternity.'

¹⁹ "Therefore my judgment is that we don't trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,

²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.

²¹ For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."

¹ Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily service.

² The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.

³ Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

⁴ But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word."

⁵ These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;

⁶ whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

⁷ The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

⁸ Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

⁹ But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen.

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

¹⁶ Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

¹⁷ The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

⁴ This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the thresholds;

⁵ and a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of Yahweh.

⁶ But let none come into the house of Yahweh, save the priests, and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Yahweh.

⁷ The Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.

⁸ So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath; with those who were to go out on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest didn't dismiss the shift.

⁹ Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.

¹⁰ He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.

¹¹ Then they brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him king: and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they said, [Long] live the king.

⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?

³³ Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

³⁴ Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt's produce in the seven plenteous years.

³⁵ Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.

³⁶ The food will be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; that the land not perish through the famine."

³⁷ The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

³⁸ Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"

³⁹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you.

¹⁶ "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

³² Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their commandment.