If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom[ is] profitable to direct.

铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费气力；但得智慧指教，便有益处。

铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费力气；但智慧的益处在于使人成功。

铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费力气；但智慧的益处在于使人成功。

斧头钝了若不磨利，用起来必多费力气，但智慧能助人成功。

斧头若钝了，还不把斧刃磨快，就必多费力气；智慧的好处在于助人成功。

铁器钝了，如果不把刃磨利，用起来就多费力气；而智慧无往不利，带来成功。

鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費氣力；但得智慧指教，便有益處。

鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費力氣；但智慧的益處在於使人成功。

鐵器鈍了，若不將刃磨快，就必多費力氣；但智慧的益處在於使人成功。

斧頭鈍了若不磨利，用起來必多費力氣，但智慧能助人成功。

斧頭若鈍了，還不把斧刃磨快，就必多費力氣；智慧的好處在於助人成功。

鐵器若鈍了，人又不將刀刃磨快，那麼他就得多費力氣；但智慧的長處是能給人成功。

鐵器鈍了，如果不把刃磨利，用起來就多費力氣；而智慧無往不利，帶來成功。

斧鈍不礪其鋒、則費力尤多、惟智慧使人獲益、

斧斤己鈍、不加磨礪、則斬伐必費其力、智者知所當為。

斧刃已鈍、若不磨礪、斬伐必致費力、有智慧者知當務之為急、有智慧者知當務之為急或作有智慧者知如何治之

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.

Suppose the blade of an ax is dull. And its edge hasn’t been sharpened. Then more effort is needed to use it. But skill will bring success.

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of bringing success.

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

If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

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

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all[ men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord[ is].

Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.Then said I, Wisdom[ is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom[ is] despised, and his words are not heard.The words of wise[ men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place[ such] over them,[ to be] rulers of thousands,[ and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be,[ that] every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear[ the burden] with thee.If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee[ so], then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

This[ is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites,[ shall be] porters of the doors;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 the LORD.But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they[ are] holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever[ else] cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go[ out] on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that[ had been] king David’s, which[ were] in the house of God.And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and[ gave him] the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and[ of] the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command[ them] to keep the law of Moses.And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men[ and] brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as[ he did] unto us;And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men[ and] brethren, hearken unto me:Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and[ from] fornication, and[ from] things strangled, and[ from] blood.For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

For your obedience is come abroad unto all[ men]. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples[ unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid[ their] hands on them.And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called[ the synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.Let Pharaoh do[ this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find[ such a one] as this[ is], a man in whom the Spirit of God[ is]?And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this,[ there is] none so discreet and wise as thou[ art]:

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

And of the children of Issachar,[ which were men] that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them[ were] two hundred; and all their brethren[ were] at their commandment.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.