Dívidas
As dívidas podem escravizar, mas a Bíblia nos ensina princípios de sabedoria financeira: não se endividar imprudentemente, pagar o que se deve e confiar em Deus como provedor.
O devedor é servo do credor
O rico domina sobre o pobre, e o que toma emprestado é servo do que empresta. A Bíblia convida à liberdade financeira.
Rich people rule over poor people harshly,
and those who borrow money become like slaves [MET] of the people who lend money to them.
If you are able to help people who deserve it,
do not refuse to help them.
Those who acquire a lot of money quickly by doing what is wrong, probably will lose it quickly,
but if people earn money slowly, the amount of money they have will increase.
"No one is able to serve two different bosses at the same time. If he tried to do that, he would dislike one of them and love the other one, or he would be loyal to one of them and despise the other one [DOU]. Similarly, you cannot devote your life to worshipping God and worshipping money and material goods at the same time."
Princípios financeiros
Pagai a todos o que lhes é devido. Deus promete que o justo não será desamparado e que a bênção virá sobre os obedientes.
Give to all the officials what you are supposed to give to them! Pay taxes to those who require that you pay taxes. Pay duties on goods to those who require that you pay those duties. Respect those who ought to be respected. Honor those who ought to be honored.
Pay all of your debts when you are supposed to pay them. The only thing that is like a debt that you should never stop paying is to love one another. Whoever loves others has fulfilled all that God requires in his laws.
The wicked people borrow money, but they are not able to repay it;
righteous/godly people, in contrast, have enough money that they can give generously to others.
I will illustrate [MET]. If one of you desired to build a ◄tower/big house►, ◄you would surely first sit down and determine how much it would cost!/would you not first sit down and determine how much it would cost?► [RHQ] Then you would determine whether you had enough money to complete it.
Give something to everyone who asks you (sg) for something. If someone takes away things that belong to you (sg), do not ask him to return them.
Forgive our sins just like we (exc) have forgiven the people who sin against us (exc).
Contentamento
Seja o vosso viver sem ganância, contentando-vos com o que tendes. O Senhor é suficiente — não nos desamparará.
Live without constantly coveting money, and be content with the things you possess, remembering what Moses wrote that God has said about supplying what you need,
I will never leave you,
I will never stop providing for you [DOU].
Yahweh our God will bless you like he has promised to do, and you will be able to lend money to people of other people-groups, but you will not need to borrow from any of them. You will control the finances of many people-groups, but they will not control your finances.