Add parallel Print Page Options

Good comes to those who lend money generously
    and conduct their business fairly.

Read full chapter

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,(A)
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

Read full chapter

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
    but the godly are generous givers.

Read full chapter

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(A)

Read full chapter

Living by the Spirit’s Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.

Read full chapter

15 Be very careful, then, how you live(A)—not as unwise but as wise,

Read full chapter

20 So follow the steps of the good,
    and stay on the paths of the righteous.

Read full chapter

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Read full chapter

30 I walked by the field of a lazy person,
    the vineyard of one with no common sense.
31 I saw that it was overgrown with nettles.
    It was covered with weeds,
    and its walls were broken down.
32 Then, as I looked and thought about it,
    I learned this lesson:
33 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
    scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

Read full chapter

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(A)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest(B)
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.(C)

Read full chapter

11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.[a]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 12:11 Or but serve the Lord with a zealous spirit; or but let the Spirit excite you as you serve the Lord.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(A) serving the Lord.

Read full chapter

18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt
    or put up security for a friend.

Read full chapter

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.(A)

Read full chapter

The Lord approves of those who are good,
    but he condemns those who plan wickedness.

Read full chapter

Good people obtain favor from the Lord,(A)
    but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.(B)

Read full chapter

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
    or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
    and their children are a blessing.

Read full chapter

25 I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken(A)
    or their children begging(B) bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;(C)
    their children will be a blessing.[a](D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 37:26 Or freely; / the names of their children will be used in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or freely; / others will see that their children are blessed

“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Read full chapter

If anyone is poor(A) among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted(B) toward them. Rather, be openhanded(C) and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts,(D) is near,” so that you do not show ill will(E) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.(F) 10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart;(G) then because of this the Lord your God will bless(H) you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Read full chapter

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

Read full chapter

Be wise(A) in the way you act toward outsiders;(B) make the most of every opportunity.(C)

Read full chapter

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Read full chapter

And this is my prayer: that your love(A) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(B)

Read full chapter

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.

Read full chapter

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

Read full chapter