A Warning to the Rich (Proverbs 23:1–5; 1 Timothy 6:17–19)
1 UDB Now I have something to say to you rich people who say you believe in Christ. Listen to me! You should weep and wail loudly because you will experience terrible troubles! BSB BSB: Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you.
2 UDB Your wealth is worthless, as though it were rotted. Your fine clothes are worthless, as though moths had ruined them. BSB BSB: Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 UDB Your gold and silver are worthless, as though they were corroded. When God judges you, this worthless wealth of yours will be evidence that you are guilty of being greedy, and, as rust and fire destroy things, God will severely punish you. You have in vain stored up wealth in a time when God is about to judge you. BSB BSB: Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.
4 UDB Think about what you have done. You did not pay the wages you promised to the workmen who harvested your fields for you. The pay you kept for yourself shows me your guilt and how unfair you were to them. The workers cry out to God because of the way you treat them. And the Lord commander of the angel armies listens to their loud cries. BSB BSB: Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
5 UDB You have bought anything you wanted so you could live like kings. Just like cattle fatten themselves, not realizing that they will be slaughtered, you have lived just to enjoy things, not realizing that God will severely punish you. BSB BSB: You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.
6 UDB You gave testimony that convicted innocent people and put them to death. You killed innocent people who did not fight back. My brothers and sisters, that is what I say to the rich people who oppress you. BSB BSB: You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.
Patience in Suffering (Job 1:1–5)
7 UDB So, my brothers and sisters, although rich people cause you to suffer, be patient until the Lord Jesus Christ comes back. Remember that when farmers plant a field, they wait for their valuable crops to grow. They must wait patiently for the rain that comes at the planting season and for more rain that comes just before the harvest season. They wait for the crops to grow and mature before they can harvest them. BSB BSB: Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
8 UDB Similarly, you also should wait patiently and trust the Lord Jesus firmly because he is coming back soon and will judge all people fairly. BSB BSB: You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
9 UDB My brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other, so that the Lord Jesus may not condemn and punish you. It is he who will judge us, and he is ready to appear. BSB BSB: Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 UDB My brothers and sisters, as an example of how to be patient, consider the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Although people caused them to suffer much, they endured it patiently. BSB BSB: Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 UDB We know that God honors and helps those who endure suffering for him. You know how patient Job was, and you have seen that the Lord finally brought good to him. And from that we know that the Lord is very compassionate and kind. BSB BSB: See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 UDB Also, my brothers and sisters, I want to say something important about how you talk. You must not take an oath by calling on heaven or the earth or anything else to stand as a witness for the promise you make. All you need to say is "Yes" or "No." God will judge you when you say more than that. BSB BSB: Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
The Prayer of Faith 13 UDB Whoever among you is experiencing trouble should pray that God would help him. Whoever is cheerful should sing songs of praise to God. BSB BSB: Is any one of you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
15 UDB The prayer that is offered to God with faith will heal the person who is sick, and the Lord will restore his health. If that person has sinned, God will forgive him. BSB BSB: And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
16 UDB So, because the Lord is able to heal the sick and to forgive sins, tell each other the sinful things that you have done, and pray for each other in order that you may be healed. If righteous people pray and ask fervently for God to do something, God will act powerfully and will certainly do it. BSB BSB: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
17 UDB Although the prophet Elijah was an ordinary person like us, he earnestly prayed that it would not rain. And it did not rain for three and a half years. BSB BSB: Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18 UDB Then he prayed again, asking God to send rain, and God sent rain, and plants grew and produced crops again. BSB BSB: Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops.
Restoring a Sinner 19 UDB My brothers and sisters, if anyone of you stops obeying the true message from God, some other person among you should persuade that person to once again do what God has told us to do. If he stops doing what is wrong, BSB BSB: My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
20 UDB all of you should remember that because of that other person, God will save the sinner from spiritual death and will forgive his many sins. BSB BSB: consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.