If any of you lacks
wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it
will be given him.
Look carefully then
how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time,
because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the
will of the Lord is.
But the wisdom from
above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and
good fruits, impartial and sincere.
Blessed is the one who
finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is
better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more
precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is
in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ...
Doing wrong is like a
joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
The way of a fool is
right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Buy truth, and do not
sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
An intelligent heart
acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God.
Whoever restrains his
words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is
deemed intelligent.
Who is like the wise?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face
shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
But let him who boasts
boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am
the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in
the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days. “With God are wisdom and might; he has
counsel and understanding.
I do not cease to give
thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation
in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you
may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of
his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness
of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
For I will give you a
mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or
contradict.
Listen to advice and
accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
A rebuke goes deeper
into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
Apply your heart to
instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.
By wisdom a house is
built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are
filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might, for by wise guidance you can wage
your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too high
for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
For this reason I bow
my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is
named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be
strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ
may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in
love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth
and length and height and depth, ...
See to it that no one
takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition,
according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
One who is wise is
cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
And you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Think over what I say,
for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Whoever isolates
himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.
The fear of
the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
Trust in
the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own
understanding.
Let no one deceive
himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become
a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.
For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The
Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
For Christ did not
send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent
wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the
cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is
the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is
wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made
foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did
not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach
to save those who believe. ...
Do not forsake her,
and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom
is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
For God gave us a
spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
As for these four
youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and
Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Thus says
the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty
man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
Whoever loves
discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
But now that you have
come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to
the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you
want to be once more?
Again Jesus spoke to
them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Precious treasure and
oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Yet among the mature
we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers
of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden
wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers
of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor
the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these
things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches
everything, even the depths of God. ...
And those who are wise
shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to
righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
The fear of
the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
O Timothy, guard the
deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of
what is falsely called “knowledge,”
Let those of us who
are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will
reveal that also to you.
Oh, the depth of the
riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and
how inscrutable his ways!
Call to me and I will
answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
He who loves wisdom
makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
Wisdom rests in the
heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of
fools.
Do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
But the anointing that
you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach
you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no
lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
How much better to get
wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
The lips of the
righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
The wise of heart will
receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
But grow in the grace
and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now
and to the day of eternity. Amen.
The words of a wise
man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Be not wise in your
own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
All Scripture is
breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.
And it is my prayer
that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God
has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us
through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in
him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from
God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart
this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting
spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. ...
For I desire steadfast
love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
James, a servant of
God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And
let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives
generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...
In whom are hidden all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
But if your eye is
bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is
darkness, how great is the darkness!
Whoever walks with the
wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
For the Holy Spirit
will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
Therefore, behold, I
will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and
the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their
discerning men shall be hidden.” Ah, you who hide deep from
the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who
sees us? Who knows us?” You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be
regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not
make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no
understanding”?
Woe to those who are
wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!
Folly is a joy to him
who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
Give instruction to a
wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will
increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will
be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are
wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Blessed is the man
whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give
him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For
the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his
heritage;
Who is wise and
understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the
meekness of wisdom.
Incline your ear, and
hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will
be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today,
even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and
knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true
answer to those who sent you?
Without counsel plans
fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Praying at all times
in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with
all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that
words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of
the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it
boldly, as I ought to speak.
But as you excel in
everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our
love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
Let no one deceive
himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become
a fool that he may become wise.
Daniel answered and
said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and
might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he
gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he
reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light
dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you
have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of
you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.”
Whoever belittles his
neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
The fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy
One is insight.
For
the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and
understanding;
We are from God.
Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us.
By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
May grace and peace be
multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine
power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through
the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he
has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them
you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the
corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with
knowledge,
Take no part in the
unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
I have heard of you
that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and
excellent wisdom are found in you.
The lips of the wise
spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
The wise will inherit
honor, but fools get disgrace.
He executes justice
for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and
clothing.
“Bezalel and Oholiab
and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence
to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in
accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.”
And we know that the
Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who
is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true
God and eternal life.
For I want you to know
how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who
have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit
together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding
and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
For our boast is this,
the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity
and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and
supremely so toward you.
If anyone imagines
that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
Yet wisdom is
justified by all her children.”
When I applied my
heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how
neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,
Be not overly
righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your
hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them. Wisdom gives
strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. Surely there is
not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. ...
A rich man is wise in
his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
Evil men do not
understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it
completely.
There is a way that
seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
In that night God
appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon
said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and
have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my
father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as
the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in
before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so
great?” God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not
asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have
not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that
you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, ...
Peter, an apostle of
Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God
the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ
and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great
mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's
power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time. ...
Continue steadfastly
in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also
for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of
Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is
how I ought to speak.
The mystery hidden for
ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make
known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone
and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in
Christ.
So as to walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
And so, from the day
we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
And he gave the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until
we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
When I was a child, I
spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I
became a man, I gave up childish ways.
For the law was given
through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Then he opened their
minds to understand the Scriptures,
“Everyone then who
hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his
house on the rock.
You felt secure in
your wickedness, you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led
you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.”
If the iron is blunt,
and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps
one to succeed.
Then I saw all the
work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.
However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a
wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
Wisdom is good with an
inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of
wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that
wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. Consider the work of God: who can
make straight what he has made crooked?
I said in my heart,
“Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this
also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is
it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still
guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was
good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their
life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I
made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.
...
When a scoffer is punished,
the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
The teaching of the
wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. In
everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
Toward the scorners he
is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
Blessed is the one who
finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is
better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more
precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is
in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ...
For God, who said,
“Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For to one is given
through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of
knowledge according to the same Spirit,
And because of him you
are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and
sanctification and redemption,
For your obedience is
known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what
is good and innocent as to what is evil.
I appeal to you
therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
“I can do nothing on
my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own
will but the will of him who sent me.
And when they bring
you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious
about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
“Everyone then who
hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the
rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be
like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and
great was the fall of it.”
“Judge not, that you
be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with
the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that
is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or
how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when
there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's
eye. ...
Many shall purify
themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act
wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall
understand.
But you, Daniel, shut
up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
They shall not hurt or
destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
The vision of Isaiah
the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give
ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and
brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the
donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not
understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of
evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they
have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you
still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick,
and the whole heart faint. ...
Whoever keeps a
command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time
and the just way.
Four things on earth
are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet
they provide their food in the summer; the rock badgers are a people not
mighty, yet they make their homes in the cliffs; the locusts have no king, yet
all of them march in rank; the lizard you can take in your hands, yet it is in
kings' palaces.
The simple inherit
folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
In everything the
prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
With his mouth the
godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are
delivered.
The wise lay up
knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
On the lips of him who
has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks
sense.
“Behold, in this you
are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Why do you
contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man's words’? For God
speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in
a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on
their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, ...
And have put on the
new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
But whatever gain I
had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as
loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his
sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order
that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my
own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power
of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death,
So that you may
approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
But if anyone loves
God, he is known by God.
And I, when I came to
you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty
speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ
and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the
wisdom of men but in the power of God. ...
For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
He will glorify me,
for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Jesus said, “For
judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those
who see may become blind.”
So Jesus said to the
Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my
disciples,
It is written in the
Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and
learned from the Father comes to me—
The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The master commended
the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more
shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
And the scribe said to
him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is
no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the
understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself,
is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw
that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of
God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
And he answered them,
“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to
them it has not been given.
At that time Jesus
declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden
these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little
children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been
handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and
no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to
reveal him.
To you, O God of my
fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and
have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us
the king's matter.”
The words of the wise
are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are
given by one Shepherd.
Like an archer who
wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
Plans are established
by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
The heart of the wise
makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
For his invisible
attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been
made. So they are without excuse.
But they could not
withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.
I made known to them
your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you
have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
I have come into the
world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.
I am the good
shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
If anyone's will is to
do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am
speaking on my own authority.
In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
They said to each
other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road,
while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
Your eye is the lamp
of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but
when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the
light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no
part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you
light.”
Even the stork in the
heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time
of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the Lord. “How can
you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But
behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. The wise men shall
be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected
the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?
Does he who plows for
sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground? When
he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in
wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border? For he
is rightly instructed; his God teaches him. Dill is not threshed with a
threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out
with a stick, and cumin with a rod. Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does
not thresh it forever; when he drives his cart wheel over it with his horses,
he does not crush it. ...
It is better for a man
to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For as the
crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is
vanity. Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts
the heart.
The one who keeps the
law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
There is gold and
abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
A servant who deals
wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance
as one of the brothers.
A man is commended
according to his good sense, but one of twisted mind is despised.
For God speaks in one
way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of
the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,
For if these qualities
are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So that we would not
be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
O righteous Father,
even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you
have sent me.
He shall seduce with
flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God
shall stand firm and take action.
The end of the matter;
all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole
duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether good or evil.
My son, eat honey, for
it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
The rich rules over
the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
No wisdom, no
understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
Whoever gets sense
loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.
Wisdom has built her
house; she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts; she has
mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to
call from the highest places in the town, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in
here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the
wine I have mixed. ...
For wisdom is better
than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
Keep my commandments
and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and
call insight your intimate friend,
I myself am satisfied
about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge and able to instruct one another.
And Moses was
instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words
and deeds.
And rescued him out of
all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt,
who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.
And this is eternal
life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.
If you had known me,
you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen
him.”
And Jesus answered
him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed
this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
He taught me and said
to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get
wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my
mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard
you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get
insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you
embrace her. ...
And the wise among the
people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by
sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.
Thus says
the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they
said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Learn to do good; seek
justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's
cause.
How much better to get
wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. The
highway of the upright turns aside from evil; whoever guards his way preserves
his life.
Do not forsake her,
and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.
My son, do not lose sight
of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck. Then you will walk on your way securely, and your
foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie
down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the
ruin of the wicked, when it comes
