The Wisdom of Solomon 6
To Kings and Rulers
1 Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; Learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.†
2 Give ear, you that rule over multitudes, And take pride in yourself over a multitude of nations.
3 For power was given to you from the Lord, And your lordship from the Most High, Who will make a careful search of your works And examine closely your plans.
4 Because as servants of His kingdom, You did not judge rightly; Neither did you keep His law, Nor did you walk according to the plan of God;
5 He shall come upon you terribly and quickly, Because severe judgment falls on those who govern.
6 For the least is pardoned in mercy, But the powerful shall be strongly examined.
7 For the Master of all will not shrink back From anyone’s presence, Nor respect greatness; Because He Himself made both small and great, And cares for all alike.
8 But a strict inquiry is imminent for the mighty.
9 Therefore to you, O tyrants, my words are directed, That you may learn wisdom and not fall away.
10 For they will be made holy who keep holy things piously, And those who are taught holy things will find a defense.†
11 Therefore long for my words; Yearn for them, and you will be instructed.
Wisdom’s Radiance
12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading And is easily perceived by those who love her; For she is found by those who seek her.†
13 She comes upon those who long to know her beforehand.
14 He who rises early in the morning to seek her Will not grow weary, For he will find her sitting at his gates.
15 For to think deeply about her Is the perfection of discernment, And he who keeps watch for her Will soon be free from worry;†
16 Because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, And she appears to them favorably in their paths And meets them in every thought.†
17 For the beginning of wisdom Is a very genuine desire for instruction, And careful attention to instruction is the love of her.†
18 Now this love is the keeping of her laws, And giving heed to her laws is the assurance of incorruption;
19 And incorruption brings one near to God.
20 So desire for wisdom leads to a kingdom.
21 Therefore if you take pleasure in thrones and scepters, O tyrants, Honor wisdom, that you may reign forever.
22 I will tell you what wisdom is and how she came to be, And I will hide no mysteries from you; But I will search her out from the beginning of creation And make her knowledge clear. I will not pass by the truth,
23 Nor indeed travel with envy, which causes one to waste away, Because envy will have no share in wisdom.
24 But a multitude of wise men is the salvation of the world, And a prudent king is the stability of his people.†
25 Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.
Psalms 142
1 A psalm by David, when his son persecuted him. †O Lord, hear my prayer; Give ear to my supplication in Your truth; Answer me in Your righteousness;
2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For no one living shall become righteous in Your sight.
3 For the enemy persecuted my soul; He humbled my life to the ground; He caused me to dwell in dark places as one long dead,
4 And my spirit was in anguish within me; My heart was troubled within me.
5 I remembered the days of old, And I meditated on all Your works; I meditated on the works of Your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to You; My soul thirsts for You like a waterless land. (Pause)
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord; My spirit faints within me; Turn not Your face from me, Lest I become like those who go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear Your mercy in the morning, For I hope in You; Make me know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, For to You I flee for refuge.
10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your good Spirit shall guide me in the land of uprightness.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, give me life; In Your righteousness You shall bring my soul out of affliction.
12 In Your mercy You shall destroy my enemies; You shall utterly destroy all who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant.
Proverbs of Solomon 30
22 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, Who, when she commits adultery, washes herself and says she did nothing wrong.
23 The earth is shaken by three things, And is unable to bear a fourth:
24 If a servant reigns, Or a man without discernment is satiated with food,
25 Or if a maidservant casts out her own mistress, Or a hateful woman marries a good man.
Acts 6
Deacons Ordained
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.†
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,†
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.†
Evangelism by the Deacons
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.†
10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”†
12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law;
14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.Ӡ
15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.†