Treasury of Scripture Knowledge If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom. wisdom Ecclesiastes 10:15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not how to go to the city. Ecclesiastes 9:15-17 Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man. . . . Genesis 41:33-39 Now therefore let the king provide a wise and industrious man, and make him ruler over the land of Egypt: . . . Exodus 18:19-23 But hear my words and counsels, and God shall be with thee. Be thou to the people in those things that pertain to God, to bring their words to him: . . . 1 Kings 8:9 Now in the ark there was nothing else but the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 1 Chronicles 12:32 Also of the sons of Issachar men of understanding, that knew all times to order what Israel should do, two hundred principal men: and all the rest of the tribe followed their counsel. 2 Chronicles 23:4-11 And this is the thing that you shall do: . . . Matthew 10:16 Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. Acts 6:1-9 And in those days, the number of the disciples increasing, there arose a murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews, for that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. . . . Acts 15:2 And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of the other side should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem, about this question. Romans 16:19 For your obedience is published in every place. I rejoice therefore in you. But I would have you to be wise in good and simple in evil. 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, do not become children in sense. But in malice be children: and in sense be perfect. Ephesians 5:15-17 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise, . . . Colossians 4:5 Walk with wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time. James 1:5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him. Context Wisdom and Folly…9He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them. 10If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.11If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.… Cross References Deuteronomy 32:41 If I shall whet my sword as the lightning, and my hand take hold on judgment: I will render vengeance to my enemies, and repay them that hate me. Ecclesiastes 2:13 And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness. Ecclesiastes 10:9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them. Ecclesiastes 10:11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly. Lexicon Ifאִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's Hebrew 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not the ax הַבַּרְזֶ֗ל (hab·bar·zel) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 1270: Iron, an iron implement is dull קֵהָ֣ה (qê·hāh) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 6949: To be blunt or dull and וְהוּא֙ (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are the blade פָנִ֣ים (p̄ā·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 6440: The face unsharpened, קִלְקַ֔ל (qil·qal) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling more strength וַחֲיָלִ֖ים (wa·ḥă·yā·lîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's Hebrew 2428: A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength must be exerted, יְגַבֵּ֑ר (yə·ḡab·bêr) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 1396: To be strong, to prevail, act insolently but skill חָכְמָֽה׃ (ḥāḵ·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's Hebrew 2451: Wisdom will produce וְיִתְר֥וֹן (wə·yiṯ·rō·wn) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's Hebrew 3504: Preeminence, gain success. הַכְשֵׁ֖רהכשירהַכְשֵׁ֖ר (haḵ·šêr) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's Hebrew 3787: To be advantageous, proper, or suitable, to succeed Additional Translations If the ax is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill will produce success.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. 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 axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man. If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give 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 iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success. If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom is advantageous to make right. Jump to Previous Advantage Advantageous Apply Ax Axe Blunt Direct Dull Edge Exert Face Forth Helps Increase Iron Makes Needed Profitable Right Sharp Sharpen Sharpened Skill Strength Succeed Success Use Whet WisdomJump to Next Advantage Advantageous Apply Ax Axe Blunt Direct Dull Edge Exert Face Forth Helps Increase Iron Makes Needed Profitable Right Sharp Sharpen Sharpened Skill Strength Succeed Success Use Whet WisdomExternal Links Ecclesiastes 10:10 NIVEcclesiastes 10:10 NLT Ecclesiastes 10:10 ESV Ecclesiastes 10:10 NASB Ecclesiastes 10:10 ASV Ecclesiastes 10:10 Bible Apps Ecclesiastes 10:10 Biblia Paralela Ecclesiastes 10:10 Chinese Bible Ecclesiastes 10:10 French Bible Ecclesiastes 10:10 German Bible Alphabetical: advantage and ax axe bring but does dull edge exert giving has he If is its more must needed not of sharpen skill strength success the then unsharpened will Wisdom OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the axe is blunt and one (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.) 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