Old Testament (NKJV)

The Book of Psalms Chapter 49:1-20

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.

My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,

None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him--

For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever--

That he should continue to live eternally,
And not see the Pit.

For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.

Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.

Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.

This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them;
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
For He shall receive me. Selah

Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;

For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.

Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.

A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.

New Testament

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians Chapter 4:1-6-14-21

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us--and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?