(Proverbs 15:27 KJV) He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
On this verse I like the KJV more than the NASB but neither gets the nuance. The NASB uses the phrase “profits (1214) illicitly (1214)” The KJV says “greedy of gain.” We need to understand the difference between making a profit and what this talks about.
Notice that the two words’ numbers are consecutive in the Hebrew. One is the noun and one is the verb. Neither word means the profit that is retained after a legal and non-coerced business transaction. The verb will illustrate this. The definition is “to cut off, break off, gain by violence.” This would fit the coercion of the government. This would fit the extortion of the mob demanding “protection insurance.” This is not a word for profit gained in a free market.
Cheating and deception are an abomination to God. Making a profit is blessed by God. One does not require the other. Reject the yells of the socialists in our culture who try to tell you different.
So? Read and understand the Word, not your economics professor. Rarely do they march to the same drummer.
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2 comments:
Rarely indeed! Some folks that I USED to go to church with used verses like that as an excuse to hate anyone better-off than they were. They wouldn't care for an ACCURATE translation.
One of the tendencies I have to fight is to use scripture to make myself better than others. I assume others have the same problem. When I was preaching I kept trying to preach to myself, because I needed it, not just have a good word for "them."
Grace and peace.
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