1242 verses about Materialism

Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

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

I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

“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.

They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.

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.

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

Wealth and riches are in his house. His righteousness endures forever.

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Revive me in your ways.

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.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

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.

so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

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

She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

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

so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

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.

I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”

Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

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

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

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

Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

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.

Better is he who is little know, and has a servant, than he who honors himself, and lacks bread.

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.

The ransom of a man’s life is his riches, but the poor hear no threats.

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.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.

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

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.

Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

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

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

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.

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

Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.

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

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

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.

There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

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.

Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

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

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 you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

If you don’t have means to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?

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

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

Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.

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.

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.

a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep;

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.

Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:

for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.

The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.

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

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.