The discipleswere amazedat His words.But Jesusansweredagainand saidto them, "Children,howhardit is to enterthe kingdomof God!
From menwith Your hand,O LORD,From menof the world,whose portionis in [this] life,And whose bellyYou fillwith Your treasure;They are satisfiedwith children,And leavetheir abundanceto their babes.
"Behold,the manwho would not makeGodhis refuge,But trustedin the abundanceof his riches[And] was strongin his [evil] desire."
Do not trustin oppressionAnd do not vainlyhopein robbery;Ifrichesincrease,do not set[your] heart[upon them].
He who trustsin his richeswill fall,But the righteouswill flourishlike the [green] leaf.
A richman'swealthis his strongcity,And like a highwallin his own imagination.
When you setyour eyeson it, it is gone.For [wealth] certainlymakesitself wingsLike an eaglethat flies[toward] the heavens.
Thussaysthe LORD,"Let not a wisemanboastof his wisdom,and let not the mightymanboastof his might,let not a richmanboastof his riches;
"Woeto him who getsevilgainfor his houseTo puthis neston high,To be deliveredfrom the handof calamity!
Neithertheir silvernortheir goldWill be ableto deliverthem On the dayof the LORD'Swrath;And allthe earthwill be devouredIn the fireof His jealousy,For He will makea completeend,Indeeda terrifyingone, Of allthe inhabitantsof the earth.
When the disciplesheard[this], they were veryastonishedand said,"Thenwhocanbe saved?"
They were allamazed,sothat they debatedamong themselves,saying,"Whatis this?A newteachingwith authority!He commandseventhe uncleanspirits,and they obeyHim."
And Jesus,looking around,saidto His disciples,"Howhardit will be for thosewho are wealthyto enterthe kingdomof God!"
Nowthe Pharisees,who were lovers of money,were listeningto allthese thingsand were scoffingat Him.
"Little children,I amwith you a little whilelonger.You will seekMe; and as I saidto the Jews,nowI alsosayto you, 'WhereI am going,you cannotcome.'
SoJesussaidto them, "Children,you do not haveanyfish,do you?" They answeredHim, "No."
Thereforemanyof His disciples,when they heard[this] said,"Thisis a difficultstatement;whocanlistento it?"
My children,with whomI amagainin laboruntilChristis formedin you--
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
My little children,I am writingthese thingsto you sothat you may not sin.And ifanyonesins,we havean Advocatewith the Father,JesusChristthe righteous;
You are from God,little children,and have overcomethem; becausegreateris He who is in you thanhe who is in the world.
Little children,guardyourselvesfrom idols.
Becauseyou say,"I amrich,and have become wealthy,and haveneedof nothing,"and you do not knowthat you are wretchedand miserableand poorand blindand naked,
