Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. | Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. |
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. | I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. |
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For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? | Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? |
Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. | Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. |
In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. | I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. |
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. | No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. |
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. | Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. |
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? | If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? |
House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. | Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. |
The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. | The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. |
Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. | Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. |
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. | Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. |
And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. | After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. |
When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? | As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? |
The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives. | The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously. |
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. | The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. |
Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. | Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. |
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. | The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. |
The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. | A person’s riches may ransom their life, but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes. |
You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. | Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold. |
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” | Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” |