Wise Men

Joyce C. Lock
© 2006
Reproduced with Permission

Great men are not always wise:
neither do the aged understand judgment.

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Who so is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame. The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety. These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath. If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.


Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

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

Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:
but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

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