| Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. | I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. |
| Now godliness with contentment is great gain. | But godliness with contentment is great gain. |
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| For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. | For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. |
| Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” | Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” |
| A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. | The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. |
| Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. |
| He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. | Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. |
| When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their 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? |
| I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer 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. |
| By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. | Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. |
| Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. | The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. |
| As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—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. |
