If an iron axhead ¹  is blunt and a workman ²  does not sharpen ³  its edge, ⁴  he must exert a great deal of effort; ⁵  so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

Let them disappear ¹  like water that flows away! ²  Let them wither like grass! ³ 

I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, ¹  because I am perplexed about you.

But Asahel ¹  refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his ²  spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel ³  collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. ⁴  Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect. ⁵ 

They charged ¹  two-thirds of a shekel ²  to sharpen plowshares and cutting instruments, and a third of a shekel ³  to sharpen picks and axes, and to set ox goads.

Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. ¹  But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.”

So when Rehoboam ¹  humbled himself, the Lord relented from his anger and did not annihilate him; ²  Judah experienced some good things. ³ 

Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; ¹  they are not concerned about silver, nor are they interested in gold. ² 

Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, ¹  but not for God; all things are possible for God.”

But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God

I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians? ¹ 

But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach ¹  a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, ²  let him be condemned to hell! ³ 

And the commandment we have from him is this: that ¹  the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian ²  too.

Therefore, because you make the poor pay taxes on their crops ¹  and exact a grain tax from them, you will not live in the houses you built with chiseled stone, nor will you drink the wine from the fine ²  vineyards you planted. ³