who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you ¹  and me.

Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.

Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, ¹  for a god that cannot help them at all! ² 

My people will sow wheat, but will harvest weeds. ¹  They will work until they are exhausted, but will get nothing from it. They will be disappointed in their harvests ²  because the Lord will take them away in his fierce anger. ³ 

For what does it benefit a person ¹  if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

For “physical exercise ¹  has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”

Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?

Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.

She knows ¹  that her merchandise is good, and her lamp ²  does not go out in the night.

What benefit ¹  do people ²  get from all the effort which ³  they expend ⁴  on earth? ⁵ 

Her profits and earnings will be set apart for the Lord. They will not be stored up or accumulated, for her profits will be given to those who live in the Lord’s presence and will be used to purchase large quantities of food and beautiful clothes. ¹ 

This saying ¹  is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, ²  so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people.

Every scripture ¹  is inspired by God ²  and useful for teaching, for reproof, ³  for correction, and for training in righteousness,

You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped ¹  by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all? ² 

But when her owners ¹  saw their hope of profit ²  was gone, they seized ³  Paul and Silas and dragged ⁴  them into the marketplace before the authorities.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town ¹  and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”

Moreover, the strength of their ¹  hands – what use was it to me? Men whose strength ²  had perished;

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. ¹  How does that benefit him? ² 

Wisdom, like ¹  an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day. ²