“ The manager had not been honest. But the master praised him for being clever. The people of this world are clever in dealing with those who are like themselves. They are more clever than God’s people.

主人就夸奖这不义的管家做事聪明；因为今世之子，在世事之上，较比光明之子更加聪明。

主人就夸奖这不义的管家做事精明，因为今世之子应付自己的世代比光明之子更加精明。

主人就夸奖这不义的管家做事精明，因为今世之子应付自己的世代比光明之子更加精明。

“主人夸奖这个不义的管家精明。因为今世的儿女在处理世事方面比光明的儿女更精明。

主人就夸奖这不义的管家作事机警；因为在应付自己的世事上，今世之子比光明之子更精明。

“于是主人因这个不义的管家做事精明，就称赞他。这样看来，今世的儿女在自己的世代里，比光明的儿女还要聪明。

主人就誇獎這不義的管家做事聰明；因為今世之子，在世事之上，較比光明之子更加聰明。

主人就誇獎這不義的管家做事精明，因為今世之子應付自己的世代比光明之子更加精明。

主人就誇獎這不義的管家做事精明，因為今世之子應付自己的世代比光明之子更加精明。

「主人誇獎這個不義的管家精明。因為今世的兒女在處理世事方面比光明的兒女更精明。

主人就誇獎這不義的管家作事機警；因為在應付自己的世事上，今世之子比光明之子更精明。

主人就稱讚這不義的管家作事精明。因為對付自己的世代，今世之子竟比亮光之子更精明了。

「於是主人因這個不義的管家做事精明，就稱讚他。這樣看來，今世的兒女在自己的世代裡，比光明的兒女還要聰明。

其主乃譽不義之家宰、以其所行之智也、蓋斯世之子於其世事、較光明之子尤智也、

主見不義操會所行、稱其巧、蓋此世之人、其為身謀、較光明之人、尤巧也、○

主人乃譽此不義之司事者、因其所行者巧也、蓋此世之子、為世事而謀、較光明之子尤巧、

掌家固不義、然其深思遠慮、即其主人、亦不能不為之歎佩。蓋世俗子之所以謀身者、有敏於光明子之所以謀道者焉。

“ The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

“ The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.

“ The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.

And his master complimented the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.

So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.

“ The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light in dealing with their own people.

And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.

“ His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.

At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light.

All of you are children of the light. You are children of the day. We don’t belong to the night. We don’t belong to the darkness.

While you have the light, believe in it. Then you can become children of light.” When Jesus had finished speaking, he left and hid from them.

Jesus replied,“ People in this world get married. And their parents give them to be married.

“ Suppose you can be trusted with something very little. Then you can also be trusted with something very large. But suppose you are not honest with something very little. Then you will also not be honest with something very large.

You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise!It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler.But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time.

The serpent was more clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman,“ Did God really say,‘ You must not eat fruit from any tree in the garden’?”

Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. May what you have stored up for evil people fill their bellies. May their children’s stomachs be filled with it. And may there even be leftovers for their little ones.

Come. We must deal with them carefully. If we don’t, there will be even more of them. Then if war breaks out, they’ll join our enemies. They’ll fight against us and leave the country.”

I know what I’m going to do. I’ll do something so that when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things.

Here is how you can tell the difference between God’s children and the devil’s children. Anyone who doesn’t do what is right isn’t God’s child. And anyone who doesn’t love their brother or sister isn’t God’s child either.

Don’t fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become“ fools” so that you can become wise.

Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very clever man.

“ From others,” Peter answered.“ Then the children don’t have to pay,” Jesus said to him.

The Lord said,“ Listen to what the unfair judge says.

Send for all of Baal’s prophets. Also send for all his priests and the others who serve him. Make sure that not a single one is missing. I’m going to hold a great sacrifice to honor Baal. Anyone who doesn’t come will be killed.” But Jehu was lying to them. He was planning to destroy everyone who served Baal.

But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Everyone can see that even wise people die. People who are foolish and who have no sense also pass away. All of them leave their wealth to others.Their tombs will remain their houses forever. Their graves will be their homes for all time to come. Naming lands after themselves won’t help either.Even though people may be very rich, they don’t live on and on. They are like the animals. They die.That’s what happens to those who trust in themselves. It also happens to their followers, who agree with what they say.They are like sheep and will end up in the grave. Death will be their shepherd. But when honest people come to power, a new day will dawn. The bodies of sinners will waste away in the grave. They will end up far away from their princely houses.But God will save me from the place of the dead. He will certainly take me to himself.Don’t get too upset when other people become rich. Don’t be troubled when they become more and more wealthy.They won’t take anything with them when they die. Their riches won’t go down to the grave with them.While they lived, they believed they were blessed. People praised them when things were going well for them.But they will die, like their people of long ago. They will never again see the light of life.