4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,^(A) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

⁸ because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,^(A) whether they are slave or free.

⁹ And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours^(B) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism^(C) with him.

The Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord^(D) and in his mighty power.^{(E) 11} Put on the full armor of God,^(F) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(G) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(H) against the powers^(I) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(J) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(K) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(L) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(M) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(N) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(O) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(P) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(Q) and the sword of the Spirit,^(R) which is the word of God.^(S)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(T) on all occasions^(U) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(V) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(W) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(X) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(Y) make known the mystery^(Z) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(AA) in chains.^(AB) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

¹⁴ They will wage war^(A) against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over^(B) them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings^(C)—and with him will be his called, chosen^(D) and faithful followers.”

¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.^(A) Mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴ Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.^{(A) 15} Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor^(B) and are counting on it.^(C) Otherwise they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.^(D)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.^{(A) 2} So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

³ “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— ⁴ I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

⁵ “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

⁶ “‘Nine hundred gallons^[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

⁷ “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels^[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

⁸ “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world^(B) are more shrewd^(C) in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.^{(D) 9} I tell you, use worldly wealth^(E) to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.^(F)

¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,^(G) and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. ¹¹ So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,^(H) who will trust you with true riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

¹³ “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.”^(I)

⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards.^{(A) 50} The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.^(B)

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸ If you see the poor oppressed^(A) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

³⁹ “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves.^{(A) 40} They are to be treated as hired workers^(B) or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property^(C) of their ancestors.^{(D) 42} Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt,^(E) they must not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ Do not rule over them ruthlessly,^(F) but fear your God.^(G)