A soldier does not take part in things that don’t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer.

凡在军中当兵的，不将世务缠身，好叫那招他当兵的人喜悦。

凡当兵的，不让世务缠身，好使那招他当兵的人喜悦。

凡当兵的，不让世务缠身，好使那招他当兵的人喜悦。

当兵的若让其他事务缠身，就不能取悦征召他的上司。

当兵的人不让世务缠身，为要使那招兵的人欢喜。

凡是当兵的，没有一个会让日常事务纠缠自己，这是为要使那招兵的人喜悦。

凡在軍中當兵的，不將世務纏身，好叫那招他當兵的人喜悅。

凡當兵的，不讓世務纏身，好使那招他當兵的人喜悅。

凡當兵的，不讓世務纏身，好使那招他當兵的人喜悅。

當兵的若讓其他事務纏身，就不能取悅徵召他的上司。

當兵的人不讓世務纏身，為要使那招兵的人歡喜。

凡當兵的、沒有一個讓自己在人生事務裏糾纏着，好讓招兵的人喜歡。

凡是當兵的，沒有一個會讓日常事務糾纏自己，這是為要使那招兵的人喜悅。

夫從軍者不以世務自累、致悅募之者、

凡為卒者、不以世故憧擾、致悅募己者、

凡為卒者、不以世務纏身、致可見悅於募之者、

夫從軍者、欲得其長官之獎許、必專心一志、不以雜務自累。

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of[ this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.

No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth.

In fact, it is just the opposite. God has approved us to preach. He has trusted us with the good news. We aren’t trying to please people. We want to please God. He tests our hearts.

They may have escaped the sin of the world. They may have come to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But what if they are once again caught up in sin? And what if it has become their master? Then they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

The person who was a slave when the Lord chose them is now the Lord’s free person. The one who was free when God chose them is now a slave of Christ.Christ has paid the price for you. Don’t become slaves of human beings.

Demas has deserted me. He has gone to Thessalonica. He left me because he loved this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia. Titus has gone to Dalmatia.

So we try our best to please him. We want to please him whether we are at home in our bodies or away from them.

All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.

He said to another man,“ Follow me.” But the man replied,“ Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”Jesus said to him,“ Let dead people bury their own dead. You go and tell others about God’s kingdom.”Still another person said,“ I will follow you, Lord. But first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”Jesus replied,“ Suppose someone starts to plow and then looks back. That person is not fit for service in God’s kingdom.”

People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.But you are a man of God. Run away from all these things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe.Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.

The officers will speak to the army. They will say,“ Has anyone built a new house and not started to live in it? Let him go home. If he doesn’t, he might die in battle. Then someone else will live in his house.Has anyone planted a vineyard and not started to enjoy it? Let him go home. If he doesn’t, he might die in battle. Then someone else will enjoy his vineyard.Has anyone promised to be married to a woman but hasn’t done it yet? Let him go home. If he doesn’t, he might die in battle. Then someone else will marry her.”