True Riches (1 Timothy 6:17–19; James 5:1–6)
Saying 7 1 Brenton If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee: BSB BSB: When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 Brenton and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such meats : but if thou art very insatiable, BSB BSB: and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Brenton desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life. BSB BSB: Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Saying 8 4 Brenton If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom. BSB BSB: Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Brenton If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master. BSB BSB: When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Saying 9 6 Brenton Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats: BSB BSB: Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 Brenton so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him: BSB BSB: for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Brenton for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words. BSB BSB: You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Saying 10 9 Brenton Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words. BSB BSB: Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Saying 11 10 Brenton Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless: BSB BSB: Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 Brenton for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee. BSB BSB: for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
Saying 12 12 Brenton Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion. BSB BSB: Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Saying 13 13 Brenton Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die. BSB BSB: Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 Brenton For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. BSB BSB: Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.
Saying 14 15 Brenton Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart; BSB BSB: My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 Brenton and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right. BSB BSB: My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Saying 15 17 Brenton Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day. BSB BSB: Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Brenton For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed. BSB BSB: For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Saying 16 19 Brenton Hear, my son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart. BSB BSB: Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 Brenton Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh: BSB BSB: Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 Brenton for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments. BSB BSB: For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
Saying 17 22 Brenton Hearken, my son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not thy mother because she is grown old. BSB BSB: Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
24 Brenton A righteous father brings up his children well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son. BSB BSB: The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Brenton Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad. BSB BSB: May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Saying 18 26 Brenton My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.BSB BSB: My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 Brenton For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow. BSB BSB: For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Brenton For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off. BSB BSB: Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Saying 19 29 Brenton Who has woe? who trouble? who has quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who has bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid? BSB BSB: Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Brenton Are not those of them that stay long at wine? are not those of them that haunt the places where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse with them openly. BSB BSB: Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Brenton For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle. BSB BSB: Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Brenton But at last such a one stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent. BSB BSB: In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Brenton Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things. BSB BSB: Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Brenton And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm. BSB BSB: You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Brenton And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company? BSB BSB: “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.