978 verses about Greed

If it pleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in charge of the king’s business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”

The king said to Haman, “The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

The couriers went out in haste by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given out in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

Haman also said, “Yes, Esther the queen let no man come in with the king to the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow I am also invited by her together with the king.

Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on it. Then go in merrily with the king to the banquet.” This pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.”

Did I say, ‘Give to me?’ or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’

Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.

For the company of the godless shall be barren, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.

He who denounces his friends for plunder, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.

His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

“Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.

Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.

There are people who remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks, and feed them.

They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.

They cut their food in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.

There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor,

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare clothing as the clay;

He lies down rich, but he shall not do so again. He opens his eyes, and he is not.

It can’t be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for its price.

Gold and glass can’t equal it, neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

For it is a fire that consumes to destruction, and would root out all my increase.

“If I have made gold my hope, and have said to the fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’

If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;

if I have eaten its fruits without money, or have caused its owners to lose their life,

Don’t let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy, and condemns Yahweh.

He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

from men by your hand, Yahweh, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.

in whose hands is wickedness, their right hand is full of bribes.

Better is a little that the righteous has, than the abundance of many wicked.

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

“Behold, this is the man who didn’t make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

Don’t trust in oppression. Don’t become vain in robbery. If riches increase, don’t set your heart on them.

For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.

Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.

They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,

who said, “Let us take possession of God’s pasture lands.”

but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.

He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.

They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint.

Thus they exchanged their glory for an image of a bull that eats grass.

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. YUD

Therefore I love your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.

If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.

You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse.”

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.

Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.

“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

Yahweh’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.

He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.

A gracious woman obtains honor, but violent men obtain riches.

There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.

People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.

The slothful man doesn’t roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.

The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.

In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.

In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.

Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.

He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.

Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.

The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; for his mouth urges him on.

A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.