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Gambling

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Gambling
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. — 1 Timothy 6:9
Category	Ethics
Passages	16 (23 verses)
Old Testament	8 passages
New Testament	8 passages
Books cited	Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Luke, Ephesians, Philippians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, Hebrews
Also called	betting, lottery, casino, games of chance, sports betting, get rich quick

Gambling is not named in the Bible. This page lists the verses that speak to greed, the pursuit of quick riches, honest work, and contentment.

The love of money

1 Timothy 6:9-10
⁹But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
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Ecclesiastes 5:10
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
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Hebrews 13:5
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.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.”
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Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied.
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Proverbs 28:20
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.A faithful man will abound with blessings, but one eager to be rich will not go unpunished.
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Proverbs 28:22
He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.
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Proverbs 23:4-5
⁴Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. ⁵Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
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Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
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2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
¹⁰For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.” ¹¹For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.Yet we hear that some of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies. ¹²Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.We command and urge such people by our Lord Jesus Christ to begin working quietly to earn their own living.
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Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
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Proverbs 14:23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
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Philippians 4:11-12
¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. ¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
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1 Timothy 6:6-8
⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain.Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. ⁸And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
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Luke 12:15
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
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Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
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Matthew 27:35
And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.When they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments by casting lots.
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