For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. | The love of money is the root of all evils, and in their desire for it some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many serious wounds. |
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. | One who is covetous will never be satisfied with money, nor will the lover of wealth be content with gain. This too is vanity. |
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Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. | Do not succumb to the love of money, but be content with what you have, for God has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” |
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. | Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away, but when amassed little by little, it will increase. |
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. | However, those who want riches fall into temptations and are trapped into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. |
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. | The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth, and our toil adds nothing to it. |
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. | Do not wear yourself out in the pursuit of wealth, and cease even to think about it. |
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. |
Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith. | It is better to have a little and fear the Lord than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish. |
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. | After this, he said to the crowd, “Take care to be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not depend upon an abundance of one’s possessions.” |
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. | For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be. |
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. | Instruct those who are rich in this world’s goods that they should not be proud, nor should they trust in the uncertainty of riches but rather in God who richly provides us with everything we need for our enjoyment. |
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. | Pay to each person what is rightfully his—taxes to the one to whom taxes are due, tolls to the one to whom tolls are due, respect to the one to whom respect is due, honor to the one to whom honor is due. |
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver! | It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold, and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver. |
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. | But who am I, and what are your people, that we should be able to do this? All things belong to you, and everything that we have given you is from your hand. |
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. | No one can serve two masters. For you will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. |
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. | His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you much greater responsibilities. Come and share your master’s joy.’ |
For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. | The Lord, your God, will bless you as he promised you. You will lend to many nations, but borrow from none. You shall rule over many nations, but none shall rule over you. |
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me. | Keep falsehood and lying far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but simply provide me with the food that I need. |
The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. | A man’s attraction is his kindness; it is far better to be poor than to be a liar. |
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? | Which one of you, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has sufficient funds for its completion? |
A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. | Preferable is the little that the righteous possess than the great wealth of the wicked. For the power of the wicked will be overcome, but the Lord protects the righteous. |
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. | An honorable name is more to be desired than great riches, and high esteem is preferable to silver and gold. |
Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. | When you fix your gaze upon it, it is gone before you realize it. For it suddenly sprouts wings and flies up to the sky like an eagle. |
For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. | That is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, and they devote themselves to this service. |