Hebrews 13:5

King James Version

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

Legacy Standard Bible
Make sure that your way of life is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't have a hankerin' for money. Be glad about what ya got, because the Big Boss has said, "I ain't never gonna leave ya, nor forsake ya."

Bible in Basic English
Be free from the love of money and pleased with the things which you have; for he himself has said, I will be with you at all times.

Darby Translation
[Let your] conversation [be] without love of money, satisfied with [your] present circumstances; for *he* has said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.

World English Bible
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Let your disposition be without covetousness: be content with the things that are present; for he hath said , No, I will not leave thee: verily I will not forsake thee.

Weymouth's New Testament
Your lives should be untainted by love for money. Be content with what you have; for God Himself has said, "I will never, never let go your hand: I will never never forsake you."

King James Version (1611)
Let your conuersation bee without couetousnesse: and be content with such things as yee haue. For hee hath said, I will neuer leaue thee, nor forsake thee.

Literal Translation
Set your way of life without money-loving, being satisfied with present things; for He has said, "Not at all will I leave you, not at all will I forsake you," never! Deut. 31:6

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let youre conuersacion be without couetousnes, and be content with that ye haue allready, for he hath sayde: I wyl not fayle the nether forsake the,

Mace New Testament (1729)
let your morals be free from avarice, being contented with what you have: for he hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

THE MESSAGE
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?

Amplified Bible
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, "I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!"

American Standard Version
Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.

Revised Standard Version
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Let youre conversacion be with out coveteousnes and be contet with that ye have all redy. For he verely sayd: I will not fayle the nether forsake the:

Update Bible Version
Be free from the love of money; content with such things as you have: for he himself has said, I will never fail you, neither will I ever forsake you.

Webster's Bible Translation
[Let your] manner of life [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Young's Literal Translation
Without covetousness the behaviour, being content with the things present, for He hath said, `No, I will not leave, no, nor forsake thee,'

New Century Version
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you." Deuteronomy 31:6

New English Translation
Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, " I will never leave you and I will never abandon you ."

Berean Standard Bible
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Contemporary English Version
Don't fall in love with money. Be satisfied with what you have. The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.

Complete Jewish Bible
Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you."

English Standard Version
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse, and be content with those things that ye haue, for he hath said,

George Lamsa Translation
Do not be carried away by the love of money; but be content with what you have: for the LORD himself has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Christian Standard Bible®
Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.

Hebrew Names Version
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."

International Standard Version
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for Godhe">[fn] has said, "I will never leave you or abandon you."Deuteronomy 31:6">[fn]Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:6,8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Psalm 37:25; Matthew 6:25,34; Philippians 4:11-12; Matthew 6:25,34, 1 Timothy 6:6,8;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Let not your mind love money; but let whatever ye have suffice you: for the Lord hath said, I will not abandon thee, nor withhold from thee support [fn] .

Murdock Translation
Let not your mind love money; but let what ye have, satisfy you. For the Lord himself hath said, I will never leave thee, nor slacken the hand towards thee.

New King James Version
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5">[fn]

New Living Translation
Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."

New Life Bible
Keep your lives free from the love of money. Be happy with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you or let you be alone."

English Revised Version
Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.

New Revised Standard
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Without fondness for money, be your way of life, - being content with the present things, - for, he, hath said: In nowise, thee, will I leave, no indeed! in nowise, thee, will I forsake:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let your manners be without covetousness, contented with such things as you have. For he hath said: I will not leave thee: neither will I forsake thee.

Lexham English Bible
Your lifestyle must be free from the love of money, being content with what you have. For he himself has said, "I will never desert you, and I will never abandon you."

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let your conuersation be without couetousnesse, beyng content with such thynges as ye haue. For he hath sayde: I wyll not fayle thee, neither forsake thee.

Easy-to-Read Version
Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never run away from you."

New American Standard Bible
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU,"

Good News Translation
Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never abandon you."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Be youre maneres withoute coueitise, apaied with present thingis; for he seide, Y schal not leeue thee,

Contextual Overview

¹ Let brotherly love continue. ² Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ³ Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. ⁴ Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. ⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ⁷ Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ⁸ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. ⁹ Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. ¹⁰ We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

conversation: Exodus 20:17, Joshua 7:21, Psalms 10:3, Psalms 119:36, Jeremiah 6:13, Ezekiel 33:31, Mark 7:22, Luke 8:14, Luke 12:15-21, Luke 16:13, Luke 16:14, Romans 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:10, Ephesians 5:3, Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:9, 1 Timothy 6:10, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14, Jude 1:11

and be: Exodus 2:21, Matthew 6:25, Matthew 6:34, Luke 3:14, Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:12, 1 Timothy 6:6-8

I will: Genesis 28:15, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Samuel 12:22, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalms 37:25, Psalms 37:28, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 41:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 14:23 - lest Genesis 15:1 - and thy Genesis 21:22 - God Genesis 23:13 - I will Genesis 26:28 - was with Genesis 30:31 - General Genesis 31:3 - with thee Genesis 43:21 - we have Exodus 3:12 - Certainly Exodus 16:20 - bred worms Exodus 40:29 - the altar Leviticus 11:29 - creeping things that creep Leviticus 25:20 - General Deuteronomy 5:21 - General Deuteronomy 8:3 - doth Deuteronomy 23:24 - thou mayest 1 Kings 6:13 - will not forsake 1 Kings 8:57 - General 1 Kings 17:6 - the ravens 1 Kings 18:2 - went to show 1 Kings 19:5 - an angel 2 Kings 4:13 - I dwell Esther 9:15 - but on the prey Psalms 22:1 - why hast Psalms 23:1 - I shall Psalms 27:9 - leave Psalms 73:23 - Nevertheless Psalms 94:14 - For Psalms 124:1 - The Lord Proverbs 10:3 - will Proverbs 13:25 - righteous Proverbs 19:23 - shall abide Isaiah 42:16 - and not Isaiah 62:4 - shalt no Isaiah 62:12 - not Jeremiah 1:8 - for I am Jeremiah 14:9 - leave Jeremiah 45:5 - seekest Matthew 6:19 - General Luke 10:19 - and nothing Luke 12:22 - Take Luke 12:31 - General Luke 18:30 - manifold more John 21:5 - have Acts 11:29 - to send Romans 12:16 - condescend to men of low estate 1 Corinthians 7:21 - care 2 Corinthians 4:9 - but Ephesians 6:17 - which Philippians 4:5 - your 1 Timothy 6:8 - General James 3:13 - a good 1 Peter 1:15 - in 1 Peter 2:12 - your conversation 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting 2 Peter 3:11 - in all

Cross-References

Genesis 4:20
And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.

Genesis 25:27
And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

Jeremiah 49:29
Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let your conversation be without covetousness,.... Which is an immoderate desire, of riches, an over anxious care for worldly things, attended with dissatisfaction, and discontent with their present state: it discovers itself many ways; in preferring the world to religion; in laying up treasure for a man's own self, without being any ways useful to others; in withholding from himself the necessaries of life, and in making no use of his substance for the glory of God, and the interest of religion: this is a very great evil; it is called idolatry, and is said to be the root of all evil; and is very pernicious to true religion: a believer's conversation should be without it; in his family, for whom he should provide things convenient and honest; and in the world, where he should deal uprightly, and not defraud and overreach; and in the church, where he should be liberal, and generously communicate, upon all occasions; and such a conversation is becoming the Gospel, which is a declaration of things freely given to us of God. The reason of the apostle's mentioning this sin of covetousness is, because the Jews were prone to it, and these believing Hebrews might be inclined to it, and be dissatisfied with their present condition, in which they suffered the spoiling of their goods; and besides, unless this was avoided, the above mentioned duties could not be performed aright, as brotherly love, hospitality, remembering and relieving persons in bonds, and adversity.

And be content with such things as ye have; or with present things; with present riches, or with present poverty; with present losses and crosses; with present reproaches and afflictions; and contentment with these things shows itself by thankfulness for every mercy, and by submission to the will and providence of God in every state of life: and there are many things which may move and engage unto it; as the consideration of the state and condition men are in, when they come into the world, and will be when they go out of it; the will of God, and the disposition of his providence according to it, which is unalterable; a sense of: their own unworthiness; a view of interest in God and Christ; and an eye to the recompense of reward; as well as the many promises of God to support and supply his: and among the rest, what follows,

for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; which is a promise made to Joshua, and belongs to all believers, Joshua 1:5 which may regard things temporal, as that God will not leave his people in the hands of their enemies, nor forsake them in distress, nor withhold any good thing from them needful for them, but will supply them with the necessaries of life, with which they should be content: and this passage is very pertinently cited for this purpose, and could be easily understood in this sense by the Hebrews; for the Jews explain such places as speak of God's not forsaking men, of the sustenance of them, as Psalms 37:25 and observe that the word עזיבה, "forsaking", is never used but with respect to

פרנסה, "sustenance" u; though the words may also relate to things spiritual, as that God will not leave them to themselves, to their own corruptions, which would overpower them; nor to their own strength, which is but weakness; nor to their own wisdom, which is folly; nor to Satan, and his temptations, who is an over match for them; nor to the world, the frowns and flatteries of it, by which they might be drawn aside; nor will he leave them destitute of his presence; for though he sometimes hides his face, and withdraws himself, yet not wholly, nor finally; nor will he forsake the work of his own hands, in them, but will perform it until the day of Christ; he will not leave or forsake them, so as that they shall perish; he will not forsake them in life, nor at death, nor at judgment.

u Bereshit Rabba, sect. 69. fol. 61. 4. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 35. fol. 175. 2. Yalkut, par. 2. fol. 103. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Let your conversation - Your “conduct” - for so the word “conversation” is used in the Scriptures; notes, Philippians 1:27.

Be without covetousness - Ephesians 5:3 note; Colossians 3:5 note.

And be content with such things as ye have - see the Philippians 4:11-12 notes; Matthew 6:25-34 notes. The particular reason here given for contentment is, that God has promised never to leave his people. Compare with this the beautiful argument of the Saviour in Matthew 6:25 ff.

For he hath said - That is, God has said.

I will never leave thee nor forsake thee - see Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20. Substantially the same expression is found in each of those places, and all of them contain the principle on which the apostle here relies, that God will not forsake his people.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 13:5. Let your conversation — That is, the whole tenor of your conduct, τροπος, the manner of your life, or rather the disposition of your hearts in reference to all your secular transactions; for in this sense the original is used by the best Greek writers.

Be without covetousness — Desire nothing more than what God has given you; and especially covet nothing which the Divine Providence has given to another man, for this is the very spirit of robbery.

Content with such things as ye have — Αρκουμενοι τοις παρουσιν· Being satisfied with present things. In one of the sentences of Phocylides we have a sentiment in nearly the same words as that of the apostle: Αρκεισθαι παρεουσι, και αλλοτριων απεχεσθαι· Be content with present things, and abstain from others. The covetous man is ever running out into futurity with insatiable desires after secular good; and, if this disposition be not checked, it increases as the subject of it increases in years. Covetousness is the vice of old age.

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. — These words were, in sum, spoken to Joshua, Joshua 1:5: "As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." They were spoken also by David to Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:20: "David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." The apostle, in referring to the same promises, feels authorized to strengthen the expressions, as the Christian dispensation affords more consolation and confidence in matters of this kind than the old covenant did. The words are peculiarly emphatic: Ου μη σε ανω, ουδ' ου μη σε εγκαταλιπω. There are no less than five negatives in this short sentence, and these connected with two verbs and one pronoun twice repeated. To give a literal translation is scarcely possible; it would run in this way: "No, I will not leave thee; no, neither will I not utterly forsake thee." Those who understand the genius of the Greek language, and look at the manner in which these negatives are placed in the sentence, will perceive at once how much the meaning is strengthened by them, and to what an emphatic and energetic affirmative they amount.

This promise is made to those who are patiently bearing affliction or persecution for Christ's sake; and may be applied to any faithful soul in affliction, temptation, or adversity of any kind. Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, and never lean to thy own understanding; for he hath said, "No, I will never leave thee; not I: I will never, never cast thee off."