1242 verses about Materialism

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.

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

The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

One who works his land will have an abundance of food; but one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

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.

One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

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.

“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;

She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

“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?

All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing 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 said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth: therefore enjoy pleasure”; and behold, this also was vanity.

I said of laughter, “It is foolishness”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.

I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem;

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.

So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. “For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?” This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was—yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.