“ 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.

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 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.

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 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.

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

Jesus replied,“ Marriage is for people here on earth.

“ If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work,they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman,“ Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.

We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.”

Ah, I know how to ensure that I’ll have plenty of friends who will give me a home when I am fired.’

They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise.

But Amnon had a very crafty friend— his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea.

“ They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.“ Well, then,” Jesus said,“ the citizens are free!

Then the Lord said,“ Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

Therefore, summon all the prophets and worshipers of Baal, and call together all his priests. See to it that every one of them comes, for I am going to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who fails to come will be put to death.” But Jehu’s cunning plan was to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates after themselves,but their fame will not last. They will die, just like animals.This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise. InterludeLike sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates.But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave. InterludeSo don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid.For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day.