Thematic Bible: Business life


Thematic Bible



And Moses waxed very angry and said unto the LORD, "Turn not unto their offerings. I have not taken so much as an ass from them, neither have vexed any of them."

Moreover, they reckoned not with the men, into whose hands they delivered that money to be bestowed on workmen: But they did it even of fidelity.

And they said, "Thou hast done us no wrong, nor oppressed us; neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand."

And the man answered Joab, "Though I had a thousand sicles of silver told in my hand yet would I not stretch out mine hand against the king's son. For we heard with our ears when the king charged thee, Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Spare me the lad Absalom.'

But the man of God answered the king, "If thou wouldest give me half thine house, I would not go with thee - neither would I eat meat or drink water in this place.

But he said, "As surely as the LORD liveth before whom I stand, I will receive none." And the other would have constrained him to receive: but he would not do it.

Howbeit, let no reckoning be made with them of the money that is delivered into their hands, but let them do it of their conscience."

For the old captains that were before me, had been chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, and forty sicles of silver: yea and their servants had oppressed the people. But so did not I, and that because of the fear of God.

Understand us: we have hurt no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.






"It is naught; It is naught," sayeth he that buyeth anything: but when he cometh to his own house, then he boasteth of his pennyworth.



Whoso hordeth up riches with the deceitfulness of his tongue: he is a fool, and like unto them that seek their own death.

Woe worth him, that buildeth his house with unrighteousness, and his parlors with the good that he hath gotten by violence: which never recompenceth his neighbour's labour, nor payeth him his hire.




He that tilleth his land, shall have plenteousness of bread; but he that followeth idleness, is a very fool.





She occupieth wool and flax, and laboureth gladly with her hands.



Whoso hordeth up riches with the deceitfulness of his tongue: he is a fool, and like unto them that seek their own death.

Woe worth him, that buildeth his house with unrighteousness, and his parlors with the good that he hath gotten by violence: which never recompenceth his neighbour's labour, nor payeth him his hire.

Better it is to have a little thing with righteousness, than great rents wrongfully gotten.



Behold, I have smitten my hands upon thy covetousness, that thou hast used, and upon the blood which hath been shed in thee.




"'Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, neither in meteyard, weight or measure. But ye shall have true balances, true weights, a true ephah and a true hin. I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt,

But thou shalt have a perfect and a just measure: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.



and therefore make provision for honest things, not in the sight of God only, but also in the sight of men.

Furthermore brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things pertain to love, whatsoever things are of honest report, if there be any virtuous thing, if there be any laudable thing, those same have ye in your mind,




But ye shall have true balances, true weights, a true ephah and a true hin. I am the LORD your God which brought you out of the land of Egypt,






And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded these servants, to be called to him, to whom he gave his money, to know what every man had done.

besides that he had of chapmen and merchants of apothecaries and of all the kings of Arabia and of the lords of the country.

and brake off the top of his twig, and carried it into the land of Canaan, and set it in a city of merchants.

"It is naught; It is naught," sayeth he that buyeth anything: but when he cometh to his own house, then he boasteth of his pennyworth.

and dwell with us, and the land shall be at your pleasure; dwell and do your business, and have your possessions therein."

and bring your youngest brother unto me; And thereby shall I know that ye are no spies, but mean truly: So will I deliver you your brother again, and ye shall occupy in the land.'"

Tarshish occupied with thee in all manner of wares: in silver, iron, tin and lead, and made thy market great.


wherethrough the poor are oppressed on every side, and the innocents of my people are therewith robbed of judgment: that widows may be your prey, and that ye may rob the fatherless.

Yea, gifts have been received in thee to shed blood. Thou hast taken usury and increase, thou hast oppressed thy neighbours by extortion, and forgotten me, sayeth the LORD God.

Forsomuch then as ye oppress the poor, and rob him of his best sustenance: therefore, where as ye have builded houses of square stone, ye shall not dwell in them. Marvelous pleasant vineyards shall ye plant; but the wine of them shall ye not drink. And why?

And the said servant went out and found one of his fellows, which owed him a hundred pence. And laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me that thou owest.'


And he said unto them, "Require no more than that which is appointed unto you."

And I meant not at all of the fornicators of this world, either of the covetous, or of extortioners, either of the idolaters - for then must ye needs have gone out of the world -


Then said Jezebel his wife unto him, "What a goodly kingdom were thou able to make in Israel? Up, and eat meat and set thine heart at rest, for I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

And Abraham rebuked Abimelech for a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had taken away.

And the herdsmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." Then called he the well Esek, because they strove with him.

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house, and served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy sheep, and thou hast changed my reward ten times.

Israel hath sinned and also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them, and have taken of the excommunicate things, and have stolen and hid them, and also put them unto their own stuff:

which said unto his mother, "The eleven hundred silverlings that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst and saidst in mine ears: Behold, the silver is with me for I took it away." Then said his mother, "Blessed be thou my son, in the LORD."

And the five men that went to spy out the land, went in thither and took the carved image and the ephod, the graven image, and the image of metal. And the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were armed unto battle,


My son, if thou be surety for thy neighbour, thou hast fastened thine hand with another man: yea, thou art bound with thine own words, and taken with thine own speech.

The righteousness of the innocent ordereth his way; but the ungodly shall fall in his own wickedness.

Whoso promiseth by the hand, and is surety for another; he is a fool.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and take a pledge of him for the unknown man's sake.

Be not thou one of them that bind their hand upon promise, and are surety for debt;

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for the unknown man's sake.


and carried away all his cattle and all his substance which he had gotten in Mesopotamia, for to go to Isaac his father, unto the land of Canaan.

and brought again all the goods and also his brother Lot, and his goods; the women also and the people.

And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian prisoners, and their children; and spoiled all their cattle, their substance and their goods.

And all they that were about them, strengthened their hands with vessels of silver and gold, with goods and cattle, and jewels, beside that which they gave of their own free will.

And they won their strong cities, and a fat land, and took possession of houses that were full of all manner goods, wells digged out, vineyards, olive gardens, and many fruitful trees: and they ate and were filled, and became fat, and lived in wealth through thy great goodness.

One of the company said unto him, "Master, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me."

and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me my part of the goods that to me belongeth. And he divided unto them his substance.


But and if the servant say, 'I love my master and my wife and my children, I will not go out free.'

Behold, even as the eyes of servants look unto the hands of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hands of her mistress, even so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until he have mercy upon us.

A discreet servant shall have more rule than the sons that have no wisdom, and shall have like heritage with the brethren.


Whoso keepeth his fig tree, shall enjoy the fruits thereof; he that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honour.

If there be any faithful servant and wise, whom his master hath made ruler over his household, for to give them meat in season convenient;


If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be as an usurer unto him, neither shalt oppress him with usury.

and I advised so in my mind, that I rebuked the councilors and the rulers, and said unto them, "Will ye require usury one of another?" And I brought a great congregation against them,


And thou shalt take none usury of him, nor yet vantage. But shalt fear thy God, that thy brother may live with thee.

He that hath not given his money upon usury, nor taken reward against the innocent. Whoso doeth these things shall never fall.

he lendeth nothing upon usury; he taketh nothing over; he withdraweth his hand from doing wrong; he handleth faithfully betwixt man and man;



Yea, and we desire that every one of you show the same diligence, to the establishing of hope, even unto the end:









When a man borroweth ought of his neighbor if it be hurt or else die, and if the owner thereof be not by, he shall make it good:

And he said, "Go and borrow thee in other places, of all thy neighbours, empty vessels - and that not a few.

And as one was heaving of a beam, the axe head fell into the water. And he cried out and said, "Alas, master, for it was lent me."




But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

And the servant of a certain Centurion was sick, and ready to die, whom he made much of.

Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments,

Then David returned to salute his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out against him, and said, "Oh how glorious was the king of Israel today, which stripped himself today before the eyes of the maidens of his servants, as a light-brained fellow is wont to strip himself."




But if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, then choose you this day, whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the water, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land, ye dwelt. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

And the servant of a certain Centurion was sick, and ready to die, whom he made much of.

Then said Jacob unto his household, and to all that were with him, "Put away the strange gods that are among you and make yourselves clean, and change your garments,

Then David returned to salute his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out against him, and said, "Oh how glorious was the king of Israel today, which stripped himself today before the eyes of the maidens of his servants, as a light-brained fellow is wont to strip himself."


besides that he had of chapmen and merchants of apothecaries and of all the kings of Arabia and of the lords of the country.

And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and wail in themselves, for no man will buy their ware any more,

Then remained the chapmen and merchants once or twice overnight without Jerusalem with all manner of wares.

Who hath devised such things upon Tyre the crown of all cities, whose merchants and Captains were the highest and principal of the world?


The Syrians occupied with thee, because of thy divers works, and increased thy merchandise, with Smaragdus, with scarlet, with needle work, with white linen cloth, with silk and with Crystal.

And said unto them that sold doves, "Have these things hence, and make not my father's house a house of merchandise."

the ware of gold and silver, and precious stones, neither of pearl, and raynes, and purple, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron,

And if the people of the land brought wares on the Sabbath, and all manner of victuals to sell, that we would not take it of them on the Sabbath and on the holy days. And that we would let the seventh year be free concerning all manner of charge.

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah and Jerusalem.


Then said Abram to Sarai, "Behold, thy maid is in thy hand, do with her as it pleaseth thee." And because Sarai fared foul with her, she fled from her.


And he took Joseph and put him in prison: even in the place where the king's prisoners lay bound. And there continued he in prison,

And the Egyptians held the children of Israel in bondage without mercy,

Then David said unto him, "To whom belongest thou and whence art thou?" And the lad answered, "I am an Egyptian and servant to an Amalekite: and my master left me behind, because it is three days a gone that I fell sick.


Then said Abram to Sarai, "Behold, thy maid is in thy hand, do with her as it pleaseth thee." And because Sarai fared foul with her, she fled from her.


And he took Joseph and put him in prison: even in the place where the king's prisoners lay bound. And there continued he in prison,

And the Egyptians held the children of Israel in bondage without mercy,

Then David said unto him, "To whom belongest thou and whence art thou?" And the lad answered, "I am an Egyptian and servant to an Amalekite: and my master left me behind, because it is three days a gone that I fell sick.



But open thine hand unto him and lend him sufficient for his need which he hath.

The righteous is ever merciful, and lendeth gently; therefore shall his seed be blessed.




"When a soul sinneth and trespasseth against the LORD, and denied unto his neighbour that which was taken him to keep, or that was put under his hand, or that which he hath violently taken away, or that which he hath deceived his neighbour of with subtlety,

Marvel not at me that I am so black: For why? The sun hath shined upon me. My mother's children had evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

The goodly ornaments and Jewels which I gave thee of mine own gold and silver, hast thou taken, and made thee men's images thereof, and committed whoredom withal.

And if ye have not been faithful in another man's business: who shall give you your own?


Thou hast taken the pledge from thy brethren for naught, and robbed the naked of their clothing;

If thou take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge, see that thou deliver it unto him again by that the sun go down.

No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge, for then he taketh a man's life to pledge.

that drive away the ass of the fatherless; that take the widow's ox for a pledge;

they lie beside every altar upon clothes taken to pledge, and in the house of their gods they drink the wine of the oppressed.


And Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them unto Abimelech. And they made both of them a bond together.

And so both the field and the cave that is therein, was made unto Abraham a sure possession to bury in, of the sons of Heth.

Now this was the manner of old time in Israel concerning purchase and changing, for to establish all things: that a man must pluck off his shoe and give it his neighbour, and this was a witness in Israel. And the kinsman said to Boaz, "Buy it thou": and so drew off his shoe.

And Hiram sent again to Solomon, saying, "I have accepted the request which thou sentest to me for, and will satisfy all thy lust, concerning timber of Cedar trees and fir. My servants shall bring them from Lebanon to the sea. And I will convey them by ship unto the place that thou shalt send me word, and will cause them to be discharged there, that thou mayest receive them. And thou shalt do me this pleasure again, to minister food for mine house." And so Hiram gave Solomon Cedar trees and fir trees, as much as he desired. read more.
And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand quarters of wheat to feed his household withal, and twenty butts of pure oil. And so much gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.




Nay, ye yourselves do wrong, and rob: and that the brethren.


No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge, for then he taketh a man's life to pledge.

that drive away the ass of the fatherless; that take the widow's ox for a pledge;

And there cried a certain woman of the wives of the children of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, "Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD. And the creditor is come to fetch my two sons, to be his bondmen."


So I gat her for fifteen silverlings, and for a homer and a half of barley,

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph. And he gave them bread for horses and sheep, and oxen and asses: so he fed them with bread for all their cattle that year.

And so Hiram gave Solomon Cedar trees and fir trees, as much as he desired.



Give him his hire the same day, and let not the sun go down thereon. For he is needy and therewith sustaineth his life, lest he cry against thee unto the LORD and it be sin unto thee.



Give him his hire the same day, and let not the sun go down thereon. For he is needy and therewith sustaineth his life, lest he cry against thee unto the LORD and it be sin unto thee.


Again he sent forth other servants, saying, 'Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner, mine oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage.' But they made light of it, and went their ways: one to his firm place, another about his merchandise:

Then said he to him, "A certain man ordained a great supper, and bade many; and sent his servant at supper time, to say to them that were bidden, come: for all things are now ready. And they all at once began to make excuse. The first said unto him, 'I have bought a farm, and I must needs go and see it, I pray thee have me excused.' read more.
And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to prove them, I pray thee have me excused.' The third said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'



And he put forth a similitude unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth fruits plenteously, and he thought in himself saying, 'What shall I do? Because I have no room where to bestow my fruits.' And he said, 'This will I do. I will destroy my barns, and build greater: and therein will I gather all my fruits, and my goods:



The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, "And what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do violence to no man: neither trouble any man wrongfully: But be content with your wages."


and to masons and carpenters to buy hewed stone and timber for to make couples and beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed: And the men wrought in the work of fidelity. And the overseers of them, to courage them forward, were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites of the children of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam of the children of the Kohathites; and as many other of the Levites as could skill of instruments of Music.


So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Sun:


A labouring man sleepeth sweetly, whether it be little or much that he eateth; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.




And when the king came by, he cried unto him and said, "Thy servant went out in the midst of the battle. And see, there was one began to flee. And there came a man to me and said, 'Keep this man. And if he be missed thy life shall go for his, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.' And as thy servant had here and there to do, he was gone." And the king of Israel said unto him, "Even so shall thy judgment be, as thou hast defined it thyself."


And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents: Whom, because he had nought to pay, his Master commanded him to be sold: and his wife, and his children, and all that he had; and payment to be made.




Woe worth him, that buildeth his house with unrighteousness, and his parlors with the good that he hath gotten by violence: which never recompenceth his neighbour's labour, nor payeth him his hire.




Brethren, I will speak after the manner of men. Though it be but a man's testament, yet no man despiseth it, or addeth anything thereto when it is once allowed.


And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.


Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God, and his doctrine be not evil spoken of.






Moreover, they reckoned not with the men, into whose hands they delivered that money to be bestowed on workmen: But they did it even of fidelity.




Did I ever think scorn to do right unto my servants and maidens, when they had any matter against me? But seeing that God will sit in judgment, what shall I do? And for so much as he will needs visit me, what answer shall I give him?


And therefore he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and looked upon nothing that was with him, save only on the bread which he ate. And Joseph was a goodly person and a well favored.


Some said, "Let us set our lands, vineyards, and houses, to pledge, and take up corn in the dearth."




Then called he all his master's debtors, and said unto the first, 'How much owest thou unto my master?' And he said, 'An hundred tonnes of oil.' And he said to him, 'Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.'


Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go and sell the oil and pay thy creditor. And live, thou and thy children, off the rest."




Yea every man walketh as it were a shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.


Wherefore the princes and lords sought to pick out in Daniel some quarrel against the kingdom: yet could they find none occasion nor fault upon him. For why? He was so faithful, that there was no blame nor dishonesty found in him.


The servants exhort to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please in all things, not answering again,




And because he was of the same craft he abode with them and wrought: their craft was to make tents.


And this fellow Jeroboam was an active man. And when Solomon saw the young man, that he wrought so lustily in the work, he made him ruler over all the charges of the house of Joseph.


And so she gathered until even and then threshed that she had gathered, and it was upon an ephah of barley.


and we will be laboring in the work." And the half part of them held the spears from the morning spring, till the stars came forth.