But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its ¹  interpretation.

But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!”

Calamity ¹  pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous. ² 

As for the one who repays ¹  evil for good, evil will not leave ²  his house. ³ 

The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. ¹  Even though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the Lord’s chosen one.

Your officials are rebels, ¹  they associate with ²  thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for ³  payoffs. ⁴  They do not take up the cause of the orphan, ⁵  or defend the rights of the widow. ⁶ 

Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported ¹  to him the words of Balak.

“You must not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see ¹  and subverts the words of the righteous.

You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me. ¹ 

You must not pervert justice or show favor. Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort ¹  the words of the righteous. ² 

Certainly ¹  the Lord is just; ²  he rewards godly deeds; ³  the upright will experience his favor. ⁴ 

I cry out for help to the sovereign God, ¹  to the God who vindicates ²  me.

May your fountain be blessed, ¹  and may you rejoice ²  in your young wife ³  –

It is better to be lowly in spirit ¹  with the afflicted than to share the spoils ²  with the proud.

But his sons did not follow ¹  his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice. ² 

Do not trust in what you can gain by oppression! ¹  Do not put false confidence in what you can gain by robbery! ²  If wealth increases, do not become attached to it! ³ 

A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, ¹  and the work of his hands ²  will be rendered to ³  him.

The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, ¹  but each will receive his reward according to his work.

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves ¹  from everything that could defile the body ²  and the spirit, and thus accomplish ³  holiness out of reverence for God. ⁴