[和合本] 主人就夸奖这不义的管家作事聪明，因为今世之子，在世事之上，较比光明之子更加聪明。
[新标点] 主人就夸奖这不义的管家做事聪明；因为今世之子，在世事之上，较比光明之子更加聪明。
[和合修] 主人就夸奖这不义的管家做事精明，因为今世之子应付自己的世代比光明之子更加精明。
[新译本] 主人就夸奖这不义的管家作事机警；因为在应付自己的世事上，今世之子比光明之子更精明。
[当代修] “主人夸奖这个不义的管家精明。因为今世的儿女在处理世事方面比光明的儿女更精明。
[现代修] “主人夸奖这个不诚实的管家的机警行为。因为在应付世事方面，俗世的人竟比光明的人更加精明。”
[吕振中] 主人就称赞这不义的管家作事精明。因为对付自己的世代，今世之子竟比亮光之子更精明了。
[思高本] 主人遂称赞这个不义的管家，办事精明：这些今世之子应付自己的世代，比光明之子更为精明。
[文理本] 其主乃誉不义之家宰、以其所行之智也、盖斯世之子于其世事、较光明之子尤智也、
[GNT] As a result the master of this dishonest manager praised him for doing such a shrewd thing; because the people of this world are much more shrewd in handling their affairs than the people who belong to the light."
[BBE] And his lord was pleased with the false servant, because he had been wise; for the sons of this world are wiser in relation to their generation than the sons of light.
[KJV] And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
[NKJV] "So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.
[KJ21] And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely; for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
[NASB] And his (Or lord master complimented the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own (Lit generation kind than the sons of light.
[NRSV] And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.
[WEB] "His lord commended the dishonest manager because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.
[ESV] The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
[NIV] "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
[NIrV] "The manager had not been honest. But the master praised him for being clever. The people of this world are clever in dealing with those who are like themselves. They are more clever than God's people.
[HCSB] "The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light [in dealing] with their own people.
[CSB] "The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted astutely. For the sons of this age are more astute than the sons of light [in dealing] with their own people.
[AMP] And [his] master praised the dishonest (unjust) manager for acting shrewdly and prudently; for the sons of this age are shrewder and more prudent and wiser in [relation to] their own generation [to their own age and kind] than are the sons of light.
[NLT] "The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
[YLT] 'And the lord commended the unrighteous steward that he did prudently, because the sons of this age are more prudent than the sons of the light, in respect to their generation.