35 Bible Verses about Prudence

A fool's wrath is presently known, but he who covers the injury is sane.

The wisdom of the sane is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

The heart of the man of understanding acquires wisdom, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Every sane man works according to wisdom: but the fool shall manifest his folly.

A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and receive hurt.

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a word, which if ye tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, where was it from? from heaven or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men, we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. read more.
And they answered Jesus and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Behold, my slave shall be prospered; he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

Then the Pharisees left and took counsel how they might entangle him in his word. And they sent out unto him their disciples with those of Herod, saying, Master, we know that thou art a lover of truth and teachest the way of God with truth and that thou takest care for no man, for thou art no respecter of persons of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not? read more.
But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Show me the coin of the tribute. And they presented unto him a denarius. And he said unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then said he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.

And as they came down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen until the Son of man was risen from the dead.

And he charged them that they should tell no one; but the more he commanded them, so much more and more they published it

Then he charged his disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no one knows it.

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore prudent as serpents and innocent as doves.

Walk in wisdom towards outsiders, winning the occasion.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither did I tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the fountain of the dragon and to the dung port and considered the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. read more.
Then went I up in the night by the brook and considered the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley and so returned. And the rulers did not know where I had gone or what I had done; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest that did the work.

Therefore, I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I set the people by families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. Then I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And it came to pass when our enemies heard that we had understood it, God brought their counsel to nought, and we returned all of us to the wall, each one unto his work. read more.
And it came to pass from that time forth that half of the young men wrought in the work, and the other half of them held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the princes were behind all the house of Judah. Those that built on the wall and those that bore burdens and those that laded wrought with one hand in the work and with the other held a weapon. For the builders, each one had his sword girded by his side, and so they built. And he that sounded the shofar was by me.

Then the high priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, What shall we do? for this man does many signs. If we let him thus alone, everyone will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and the nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all read more.
nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation be lost. And this he spoke not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; and not for that nation only, but that he should also gather together in one the sons of God that were scattered abroad. So that from that day forth they took counsel together to kill him. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there unto a country near to the wilderness into a city called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples.

Then the Pharisees went out and took council against him that they might destroy him. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; and strictly charged them that they should not make him known;

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea

Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvellous work among this people with a fearful miracle: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the prudence of their prudent men shall fade away.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

A fool's wrath is presently known, but he who covers the injury is sane.

Zain She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.

Pe She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the law of mercy is upon her tongue.

The sane man conceals his wisdom: but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

Every sane man works according to wisdom: but the fool shall manifest his folly.

The fool despises his father's chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become prudent.

The heart of the man of understanding acquires wisdom, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Then they all wept sore and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the word which he spoke, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. read more.
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, Let the will of the Lord be done.

And now, behold, I go bound of the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there, except that the Holy Spirit witnesses in every city, saying that prisons and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me, neither do I count my life dear unto myself, only that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. read more.
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them;

But the prudent answered, saying, Lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves.

Woe unto those that hide themselves from the LORD, covering the counsel; and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?

Woe unto those that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!

The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.

The fool despises his father's chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become prudent.

And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither did I tell any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the fountain of the dragon and to the dung port and considered the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king's pool, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. read more.
Then went I up in the night by the brook and considered the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley and so returned. And the rulers did not know where I had gone or what I had done; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest that did the work.

Therefore, I set in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I set the people by families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. Then I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. And it came to pass when our enemies heard that we had understood it, God brought their counsel to nought, and we returned all of us to the wall, each one unto his work. read more.
And it came to pass from that time forth that half of the young men wrought in the work, and the other half of them held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the princes were behind all the house of Judah. Those that built on the wall and those that bore burdens and those that laded wrought with one hand in the work and with the other held a weapon. For the builders, each one had his sword girded by his side, and so they built. And he that sounded the shofar was by me. And I said unto the principals and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In whatever place that you hear the voice of the shofar, join us there; our God shall fight for us. So we laboured in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let each one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that by night they may be a guard to us, and labour by day. So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, each one put them off only for washing.

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.

Hiram said, moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made the heavens and the earth, who has given to King David a wise son with knowledge, good sense and understanding, that he might build a house for the LORD and a house for his kingdom.

Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there unto a country near to the wilderness into a city called Ephraim and there continued with his disciples.

While ye have the Light, believe in the Light that ye may be the sons of light. Jesus spoke these things and departed and hid himself from them.

Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people before God that thou may submit the causes unto God. And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt show them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt consider out of all the people men of virtue, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place princes over them, of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. read more.
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.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau: Thy slave Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban and stayed there until now; and I have oxen and asses, flocks, and menslaves, and womenslaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. read more.
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he comes to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were with him, and the sheep and the cows and the camels, into two bands and said, If Esau comes to the one company and smites it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said unto me, Return unto thy country and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy slave; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him lest he come and smite me and the mother with the children. And thou hast said, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he lodged there that same night and took of that which came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred she goats and twenty he goats, two hundred sheep and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his slaves, every drove by themselves and said unto his slaves, Pass before me and put a space between drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau, my brother, meets thee and asks thee, saying, Whose art thou? And where goest thou? And for whom are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They are thy slave Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau; and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second and the third and all that followed those droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau when ye find him. And ye shall also say, Behold, thy slave Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will reconcile his wrath with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me. So the present went over before him, and he lodged that night in the company. And he rose up that night and took his two wives and his two womenservants and his eleven sons and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them and sent them over the brook and sent over all that he had.

The sane man conceals his wisdom: but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

The simple believes every word, but the prudent man understands his steps.

The simple shall inherit folly, but the prudent shall be crowned with wisdom.

Every sane man works according to wisdom: but the fool shall manifest his folly.

The heart of the man of understanding acquires wisdom, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Then one of the servants answered and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem, that is cunning in playing and a mighty valiant man and a man of war and prudent in speech and handsome, and the LORD is with him.

The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.

The simple believes every word, but the prudent man understands his steps.

At that time Jesus answered and said, I praise thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and understanding and hast revealed them unto children.

Concerning Edom, thus hath the LORD of the hosts said: Is there no more wisdom in Teman? Has the counsel of the wise perished? Is their wisdom corrupted?

The wisdom of the sane is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and receive hurt.

discretion shall preserve thee, intelligence shall keep thee

The fool despises his father's chastening, but he that regards reproof shall become prudent.

Then the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth, that God is one, and there is none other outside of him; and to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the soul and with all the strength and to love his neighbour as himself is more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. Then Jesus, seeing that he responded wisely, said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that dared ask him any question.

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God has showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art.

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I invent the knowledge of giving counsel.

which has over abounded in us in all wisdom and prudence;

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I invent the knowledge of giving counsel.

My son, do not let them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion,

A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and receive hurt.

And when they came unto the borders of the Jordan, which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar there next to the Jordan, a great altar to look upon. And the sons of Israel heard it said, Behold, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of the Jordan, at the passage of the sons of Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. read more.
And the sons of Israel sent unto the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half tribe of Manasseh into the land of Gilead, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was the head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. And they came unto the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half tribe of Manasseh unto the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD in that ye have built an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD? Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, for which there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD? And ye turn away this day from following the LORD; and it will be, seeing ye rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. If the land of your possession seems unto you to be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, in which the LORD's tabernacle dwells and take possession among us; but do not rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building yourselves an altar in addition to the altar of the LORD our God. Peradventure did Achan, the son of Zerah, not commit a trespass in the anathema, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity. Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows and let Israel also know; if it is in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD (save us not this day) that we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD or if to offer thereon burnt offering or present or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; likewise, if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, Peradventure tomorrow your children shall speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? The LORD has put the Jordan for a border between us and you, O sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD, so shall your sons make our sons cease from fearing the LORD. Therefore we said, Let us now work to build us an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a witness between us and you and our generations after us, to do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. Therefore we said, that it shall be, if they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may reply, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices, but it is a witness between us and you. Let it never happen that we should rebel against the LORD or that we should turn today from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for presents, or for sacrifices, in addition to the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle. And when Phinehas the priest and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, said unto the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us because ye have not intended to trespass against the LORD. Now ye have delivered the sons of Israel from the wrath of the LORD. And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel and brought them word again. And the thing pleased the sons of Israel; and the sons of Israel blessed God and did not speak again of going up against them in battle to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and Gad dwelt. And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Ed; for it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.

Unto whom David said, If thou pass on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me; but if thou return to the city and say unto Absalom, I will be thy slave, O king as I have been thy father's slave until now, so will I now also be thy slave; then thou may defeat the counsel of Ahithophel for me. Are not Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, there with thee? Therefore, it shall be that whatever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. read more.
Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them you shall send unto me everything that you hear. So Hushai, David's special companion came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two bottles of wine and five sheep ready dressed and five measures of parched flour and one hundred bunches of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told nothing to her husband Nabal. And it was so as she rode on the ass that she came down a secret part of the mountain, and, behold, David and his men came down against her, and she met them. read more.
Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow has in the wilderness so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him, and he has returned unto me evil for good. Let God do so and more also unto the enemies of David if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that piss against the wall. And when Abigail saw David, she hastened and lighted off the ass and fell before David on her face and bowed herself to the ground and fell at his feet and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be, and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thy audience; and hear the words of thy handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, take to heart this man of Belial, even Nabal, for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, thy handmaid, did not see the servants of my lord whom thou didst send. Now, therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as thy soul lives, seeing the LORD has withheld thee from coming to shed blood and from avenging thyself with thy own hand, now let thy enemies and those that seek evil to my lord be as Nabal. And now this blessing which thy handmaid has brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the servants that follow my lord. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thy handmaid, for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil has not been found in thee all thy days. Yet a man is risen to pursue thee and to seek thy soul, but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God, and he shall hurl forth the souls of thine enemies as out of the middle of a sling. And it shall come to pass when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning thee and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel, that this shall be no stumblingblock unto thee nor grief of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless or that my lord has avenged himself; but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.

And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a slave unto this people this day and wilt serve them and answer them by speaking good words unto them, then they will be thy slaves for ever.

Then certain of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the congregation of the people, saying, Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the temple mount as the high places of a forest. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? Did he not fear the LORD and besought the LORD, and the LORD himself repented of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Shall we commit such great evil against our souls? read more.
There was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: And Jehoiakim the king heard his words and all his mighty men and all the princes, and the king sought to put him to death, but when Urijah understood it, he was afraid and fled and went into Egypt. And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt; and they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

Then a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, who had a reputation among all the people, stood up in the council and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space and said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as concerning these men. For before these days, rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered and brought to nought. read more.
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing and drew away many people after him; he also perished, and all those that consented with him were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men and let them alone; for if this counsellor or this work is of men, it will come to nought, but if it is of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest ye be found fighting against God.

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus that thou didst not call us when thou didst go to fight against Midian? And they chided with him sharply. And he replied unto them, What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him when he spoke that word.

And the whole city was filled with confusion, and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief persons of Asia, who were his friends, sent unto him, asking him that he not present himself in the theatre. read more.
Some therefore cried one thing, and some another, for the assembly was confused; and most of them did not know why they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand and would have made his defense unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Then the town scribe, appeasing the people, said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that does not know how the city of the Ephesians is honored of the great goddess Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought here these men, who are neither guilty of sacrilege, nor blasphemers of your goddess. Therefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are proconsuls; let them accuse one another. But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger of being accused of sedition for this day's uproar, there being no cause by which we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

And the king arose in the night and said unto his slaves, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore, they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive and get into the city. Then one of his slaves answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (for they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; they are also as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed) and let us send and see.

And David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself prudently, and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's slaves. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women sang as they played and said, Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. read more.
And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands; and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. And it came to pass on the next day that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house, and David played with his hand as at other times, and there was a spear in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the spear, saying, I will smite David to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. But Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul. Therefore, Saul removed him from him and made him captain over a thousand, and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself prudently in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself very prudently, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them. And Saul said to David, Behold I will give thee my elder daughter Merab to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said to himself, My hand shall not be against him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be against him. And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel that I should be son-in-law to the king? And it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David that she was given unto Adriel, the Meholathite, to wife. But Michal, Saul's other daughter, loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give her to him that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore, Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law with the other one. And Saul commanded his slaves, saying, Speak with David secretly and say, Behold, the king has delight in thee, and all his slaves love thee; now, therefore, be the king's son-in-law. And Saul's slaves spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and lightly esteemed? And the slaves of Saul told him, saying, David spoke these words. And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The desire of the king is not in any dowry, but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. For Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his slaves told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law, and the days were not expired. Therefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them all to the king that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal, his daughter, to wife. But Saul, seeing and knowing that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went forth, and it came to pass after they went forth that David behaved himself more prudently than all the slaves of Saul so that his name was much set by.

Now therefore let Pharaoh find a discreet and wise man 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 wheat under the hand of Pharaoh to feed the cities, and let them store it up. read more.
And let that food be stored for the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; and the land shall not perish through the famine. And the word was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his slaves. And Pharaoh said unto his slaves, 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 has showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in his second chariot; and they cried before him, Abrech Tender Father-honour this one as a precious father; and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee no one shall lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah, and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the cities, placing in each city the food of the field, which was round about. And Joseph gathered wheat as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left off numbering; for it was without number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, prince of On, bore unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh; For God, said he, has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house. And the name of the second he called Ephraim, For God, said he, has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. And the seven years of the abundance that was in the land of Egypt were ended. And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. And Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth. Then Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians; for the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all the earth came into Egypt to buy from Joseph because the famine was so sore in all lands.

Then Moses' father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people that is with thee; for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people before God that thou may submit the causes unto God. read more.
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt show them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do. Moreover thou shalt consider out of all the people men of virtue, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place princes over them, of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and 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.

And the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night unto Berea, who when they got there went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all diligence and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed, also of honourable women who were Greeks and of men, not a few. read more.
But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent Paul to go away towards the sea, but Silas and Timothy abode there still. And those that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens; and receiving an order from him unto Silas and Timothy to come unto him as soon as possible, they departed.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous of the law; and they are informed of thee that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? The multitude must needs come together, for they will hear that thou art come. read more.
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men among us who have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and pay their expenses, that they may shave their heads, and all may know that those things, of which they were informed concerning thee, are nothing, but that thou thyself dost also walk orderly and keep the law. As touching the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, except only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols and from blood and from that which has been strangled and from fornication. Then Paul took the men and the next day, purifying himself with them, entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification until an offering should be offered for each one of them.

Woe unto those that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight!

Teth A good man has mercy and lends; Jod He will govern his affairs with good judgment.

Who is wise that he might understand this? and prudent that he might know this? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the rebellious shall fall therein.

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah, his daughter; now his sons were with his cattle in the field, and Jacob remained silent until they were come.

And when he saw that, he arose and departed to save his life and came to Beersheba, which is in Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and desiring to die, he said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers.

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau: Thy slave Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban and stayed there until now; and I have oxen and asses, flocks, and menslaves, and womenslaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. read more.
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he comes to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed, and he divided the people that were with him, and the sheep and the cows and the camels, into two bands and said, If Esau comes to the one company and smites it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said unto me, Return unto thy country and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy slave; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him lest he come and smite me and the mother with the children. And thou hast said, I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he lodged there that same night and took of that which came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred she goats and twenty he goats, two hundred sheep and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his slaves, every drove by themselves and said unto his slaves, Pass before me and put a space between drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau, my brother, meets thee and asks thee, saying, Whose art thou? And where goest thou? And for whom are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They are thy slave Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau; and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second and the third and all that followed those droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau when ye find him. And ye shall also say, Behold, thy slave Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will reconcile his wrath with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me. So the present went over before him, and he lodged that night in the company.

Who is wise that he might understand this? and prudent that he might know this? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the rebellious shall fall therein.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.

And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day, for today the LORD has wrought salvation in Israel.

who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, who called for Barnabas and Saul and desired to hear the word of God.

And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (And God brought Daniel into grace and mercy with the prince of the eunuchs.) And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for when he shall see your faces more downcast than the other young men who are like unto you, then ye shall condemn my head before the king. read more.
Then Daniel said to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove, now, with thy slaves ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenances of the young men that eat of the portion of the king's food; and as thou seest, deal with thy slaves. So he consented to them in this matter and proved them ten days.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time, for it is an evil time.

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to be silent, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go make these things known unto James and to the brethren. And he departed and went to another place.

And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a slave unto this people this day and wilt serve them and answer them by speaking good words unto them, then they will be thy slaves for ever.

But when his brethren were gone up, then he also went up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

avoiding that anyone should blame us regarding this abundance which is ministered by us,

Then Joseph her husband, being just and not willing to expose her publicly, desired to leave her secretly.

they were aware of it and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lies round about.

Paul desired to have him go forth with him and took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those quarters, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee, and of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.