Proverbs 11:4

11:4 Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, ¹ 

but righteousness delivers from mortal danger. ² 

Zephaniah 1:18

1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them

in the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.

The whole earth ³  will be consumed by his fiery wrath. ⁴ 

Indeed, ⁵  he will bring terrifying destruction ⁶  on all who live on the earth.” ⁷ 

Matthew 16:26

16:26 For what does it benefit a person ⁸  if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

James 5:1-3

Warning to the Rich

5:1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud ⁹  over the miseries that are coming on you. 5:2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 5:3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! ¹⁰ 

¹ sn The “day of wrath” refers to divine punishment in this life (R. N. Whybray, Proverbs [CBC], 67; e.g., also Job 21:30; Ezek 7:19; Zeph 1:18). Righteousness and not wealth is more valuable in anticipating judgment.

² tn Heb “from death.”

³ tn Or “land” (cf. NEB). This same word also occurs at the end of the present verse.

⁴ tn Or “passion”; traditionally, “jealousy.”

⁵ tn Or “for.”

⁶ tn Heb “complete destruction, even terror, he will make.”

⁷ tn It is not certain where the Lord’s words end and the prophet’s words begin. It is possible that Zephaniah begins speaking in the middle of v. 17 or at the beginning of v. 18 (note the third person pronouns referring to the Lord).

⁸ tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.

⁹ tn Or “wail”; Grk “crying aloud.”

¹⁰ tn Or “hoarded up treasure for the last days”; Grk “in the last days.”