978 verses about Greed

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.

The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.

Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.

Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.

Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

The rich rule over the poor. The borrower is servant to the lender.

Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, both come to poverty.

Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;

put a knife to your throat, if you are a man given to appetite.

Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.

Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies:

for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, and lose your good words.

Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat:

for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, lest you eat too much, and vomit it.

A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

A needy man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain which leaves no crops.

He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

A faithful man is rich with blessings; but one who is eager to be rich will not go unpunished.

To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn’t know that poverty waits for him.

Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, “It’s not wrong.” He is a partner with a destroyer.

One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.

The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.

lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

“The leach has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough:’

Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘Enough.’

For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food;

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—musical instruments, and that of all sorts.