Some people think their strength and wealth will protect them.\par But those people are fools.\par
Hosea 12:8 - Easy To Read Version Ephraim {\cf2\super [135]} said, ‘I am rich! I have found true riches! No person will learn about my crimes. No person will learn about my sins.’ Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Ephraim has said, Ah, but I have become rich; I have gained for myself wealth. All my profits shall bring on me no iniquity that would be sin. [But all his profits will never offset nor suffice to expiate the guilt which he has incurred.] [Rev. 3:17.] American Standard Version (1901) And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin. Common English Bible Ephraim has said, “I’m rich, I’ve gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offense has been found in me that would be sin.” Catholic Public Domain Version And Ephraim has said, "Nevertheless, I have become rich; I have found an idol for myself. All of my labors will not reveal to me the iniquity that I have committed." Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have committed. |
Some people think their strength and wealth will protect them.\par But those people are fools.\par
“Look what happened to the man\par who did not depend on God.\par That man thought his wealth and lies\par would protect him.”\par
Don’t trust the power to take things by force.\par Don’t think you will gain anything by stealing.\par And if you become rich,\par don’t trust your riches to help you.\par
\{Some people use scales that don’t weigh things properly. They use those scales to cheat people.\} The Lord hates those false scales. But accurate scales please the Lord.
A woman who is not faithful to her husband acts like she has done nothing wrong. She eats, takes a bath, and says she has done nothing wrong.
“Judah, how can you say to me,\par ‘I am not guilty;\par I have not worshiped the Baal {\cf2\super [13]} idols’?\par Think about the things you did in the valley.\par Think about what you have done.\par You are like a fast she-camel\par that runs from place to place.\par
But still, you say,\par ‘I am innocent.\par God is not angry with me.’\par So I will also judge you guilty \{of lying\}.\par Why? Because you say,\par ‘I have done nothing wrong.’\par
The houses of these evil men are full of lies,\par like a cage full of birds.\par Their lies made them rich and powerful.\par
Through your great wisdom and trade,\par you have made your riches grow.\par And now you are proud because of\par those riches.\par
\{I gave food to the Israelites.\} They ate that food. They became full and satisfied. They became proud. And they forgot me!
Israel, you fell and sinned against God. So come back to the Lord your God.
”The priests joined in the people’s sins. They wanted more and more of those sins. {\cf2\super [35]}
You businessmen say,\par “When will the New Moon {\cf2\super [101]} be over\par so we can sell grain?\par When will the Sabbath be over\par so we can bring our wheat \{to sell\}?\par We can raise the price\par and make the measure smaller. {\cf2\super [102]} \par We can adjust the scales\par and cheat the people. {\cf2\super [103]} \par
His net helps him live like a rich man\par and enjoy the best food.\par So the enemy worships his net.\par He makes sacrifices {\cf2\super [6]} and burns incense {\cf2\super [7]} \par to honor his net.\par
\{Their leaders are like owners and businessmen.\} Owners kill their sheep and are not punished. Businessmen sell the sheep and say, ‘Praise the Lord, I am rich!’ The shepherds don’t feel sorry for their sheep.
But the man wanted to show that the way he was living was right. So he said to Jesus, “But who are these other people I must love?”
Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’
“No servant can serve two masters at the same time. The servant will hate one master and love the other. Or he will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money {\cf2\super [261]} at the same time.”
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “You make yourselves look good in front of people. But God knows what is really in your hearts. The things that people think are important are worth nothing to God.
Don’t ever say to yourself, ‘I got all this wealth by my own power and ability.’
Give this command to the people who are rich with the things this world has. Tell them not to be proud. Tell those rich people to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted. But God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy.
They are always making trouble, because they are people whose thinking has been confused. They have lost their understanding of the truth. They think that serving God is a way to get rich.
You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don’t need a thing. But you don’t know that you are really terrible, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.