Moreover thou
shalt provide
out of all
the people able men,
such as
fear God,
men of truth,
hating covetousness;
and place such
over them,
to be rulers
of thousands,
and rulers
of hundreds,
rulers
of fifties,
and rulers
of tens:
Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour's house,
thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour's wife,
nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant,
nor his ox,
nor his ass,
nor any thing
that is
thy neighbour's.
Neither shalt
thou desire
thy neighbour's wife,
neither shalt
thou covet
thy neighbour's house,
his field,
or his manservant,
or his maidservant,
his ox,
or his ass,
or any thing
that is
thy neighbour's.
Then I
consulted
with myself,
and
I rebuked
the nobles,
and the rulers,
and
said unto them,
Ye exact usury,
every one
of his brother.
And I set
a great
assembly against them.
He hath swallowed
down riches,
and
he shall vomit them
up again:
God shall cast them
out of his belly.
If I
have made
gold my hope,
or have said
to the fine gold,
Thou art my confidence;
If I
rejoice
because
my wealth
was great,
and
because
mine hand
had gotten much;
This also were
an iniquity
to be punished
by the judge:
for I
should have denied
the God that is above.
For the wicked
boasteth of his heart's desire,
and blesseth the covetous,
whom
the LORD abhorreth.
Incline
my heart
unto thy testimonies,
and
not to covetousness.
So are
the ways
of every one
that is greedy
of gain;
which taketh away
the life
of the owners
thereof.
There is
that scattereth,
and yet increaseth;
and there is
that withholdeth
more than is meet,
but it
tendeth to poverty.
He that
withholdeth corn,
the people
shall curse him:
but blessing
shall be
upon the head
of him that selleth it.
He that is greedy
of gain
troubleth his own house;
but he
that
hateth
gifts shall live.
The desire
of the slothful
killeth him;
for his hands
refuse to labour.
He coveteth greedily all
the day long:
but the righteous
giveth and spareth not.
He that
oppresseth
the poor
to increase his riches,
and
he that
giveth to the rich,
shall surely come
to want.
Labour not
to be rich:
cease
from thine own wisdom.
Remove far
from me vanity
and lies:
give me neither poverty
nor riches;
feed me
with food convenient
for me:
Lest
I be full,
and deny thee,
and say,
Who is the LORD?
or lest
I be poor,
and steal,
and take
the name
of my God
in vain.
All things
are full of labour;
man cannot utter it:
the eye
is not satisfied
with seeing,
nor the ear
filled with hearing.
There is
one alone,
and there is not
a second;
yea,
he hath neither child
nor brother:
yet is there
no end
of all his labour;
neither is
his eye satisfied
with riches;
neither saith he,
For whom
do
I labour,
and bereave
my soul
of good?
This is also
vanity,
yea,
it is a sore travail.
He that
loveth silver
shall not be satisfied
with silver;
nor he
that loveth abundance
with increase:
this is also
vanity.
When goods increase,
they
are increased
that eat them:
and
what good
is there
to the owners
thereof,
saving the beholding
of them
with their eyes?
Thy princes
are rebellious,
and companions
of thieves:
every one
loveth gifts,
and followeth after rewards:
they judge not
the fatherless,
neither doth
the cause
of the widow
come unto them.
Woe unto them that
join house to house,
that lay
field to field,
till there be
no place,
that they
may be placed alone
in the midst
of the earth!
Yea,
they are greedy dogs
which can never have
enough,
and
they are shepherds
that cannot understand:
they all look
to their own way,
every one
for his gain,
from his quarter.
For the iniquity
of his covetousness
was
I wroth,
and smote him:
I hid me,
and was wroth,
and
he went on frowardly
in the way
of his heart.
For from the least
of them
even unto the greatest
of them every one
is given
to covetousness;
and
from the prophet
even unto the priest every one
dealeth falsely.
Therefore will
I give
their wives
unto others,
and their fields
to them
that shall inherit them:
for every one
from the least
even unto the greatest
is given
to covetousness,
from the prophet
even unto the priest every one
dealeth falsely.
As the partridge
sitteth on eggs,
and hatcheth them not;
so he
that getteth riches,
and not by right,
shall leave them
in the midst
of his days,
and at his end
shall be
a fool.
But thine
eyes
and thine heart
are not
but for thy covetousness,
and for to shed innocent blood,
and
for oppression,
and for violence,
to do it.
O thou
that dwellest upon many waters,
abundant in treasures,
thine end
is come,
and the measure
of thy covetousness.
In thee
have
they taken gifts
to shed blood;
thou hast taken usury
and increase,
and
thou hast greedily gained
of thy neighbours
by extortion,
and hast forgotten me,
saith the Lord GOD.
Behold,
therefore I
have smitten mine hand
at thy dishonest
gain which
thou hast made,
and at thy blood which
hath been
in the midst
of thee.
And they come
unto thee
as the people cometh,
and they sit
before thee as my people,
and they
hear thy words,
but
they will not do them:
for with their mouth
they shew
much love,
but their heart
goeth after their covetousness.
Their drink
is sour:
they have committed
whoredom continually:
her rulers
with shame
do love,
Give ye.
Israel is an empty vine,
he bringeth forth fruit
unto himself:
according to the multitude
of his fruit
he hath increased
the altars;
according to the goodness
of his land
they have made
goodly images.
And
they covet fields,
and take them
by violence;
and houses,
and take them away:
so they
oppress a man
and his house,
even a man
and his heritage.
The heads
thereof judge
for reward,
and the priests
thereof teach
for hire,
and the prophets
thereof divine
for money:
yet will
they lean
upon the LORD,
and say,
Is not
the LORD
among us?
none evil
can come upon us.
That they
may do evil
with both hands earnestly,
the prince asketh,
and the judge
asketh for a reward;
and the great man,
he uttereth his mischievous desire:
so they
wrap it up.
They take up
all of them
with the angle,
they catch them
in their net,
and gather them
in their drag:
therefore they
rejoice
and are glad.
Therefore they
sacrifice
unto their net,
and burn
incense
unto their drag;
because by them their portion
is fat,
and their meat plenteous.
Yea also,
because
he transgresseth by wine,
he is a proud man,
neither keepeth at home,
who enlargeth his desire
as hell,
and is as death,
and cannot be satisfied,
but gathereth
unto him all nations,
and heapeth unto him all people:
Shall not all
these take up
a parable
against him,
and a taunting proverb
against him,
and say,
Woe to him
that increaseth
that
which is not his!
how long?
and to him
that ladeth himself
with thick clay!
Shall
they not rise
up suddenly
that shall bite thee,
and awake that
shall vex thee,
and
thou shalt be
for booties
unto them?
Because
thou hast spoiled
many nations,
all the remnant
of the people
shall spoil thee;
because
of men's blood,
and
for the violence
of the land,
of the city,
and of all
that dwell
therein.
Woe to him
that coveteth
an evil covetousness
to his house,
that he
may set
his nest
on high,
that he
may be delivered from the power
of evil!
Ye have sown much,
and bring in little;
ye eat,
but
ye have not enough;
ye drink,
but
ye are not filled
with drink;
ye clothe you,
but there is none warm;
and he
that earneth
wages
earneth
wages
to put it
into a bag
with holes.
Who is there
even among you
that would shut
the doors
for nought?
neither do
ye kindle
fire
on mine altar
for nought.
I have no pleasure
in you,
saith the LORD
of hosts,
neither will
I accept
an offering
at your hand.
Lay not up
for yourselves
treasures
upon earth,
where moth
and rust
doth corrupt,
and where
thieves
break
through and steal:
But lay up
for yourselves treasures
in heaven,
where neither moth nor
rust
doth corrupt,
and
where thieves
do not break
through nor steal:
For where
your treasure is,
there will
your heart be also.
No man
can serve
two masters:
for either
he will hate
the one,
and love
the other;
or else
he will hold
to the one,
and despise
the other.
Ye cannot serve God
and mammon.
Therefore I
say
unto you,
Take no
thought
for your life,
what
ye shall eat,
or what
ye shall drink;
nor
yet for your body,
what
ye shall put on.
Is not
the life more than meat,
and the body
than raiment?
Therefore take
no thought,
saying,
What
shall
we eat?
or,
What
shall
we drink?
or,
Wherewithal
shall we be clothed?
(For
after all
these things
do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father
knoweth that
ye have
need
of all these things.
But seek
ye first
the kingdom
of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things
shall be added
unto you.
He also
that received
seed
among the thorns
is
he that heareth
the word;
and the care
of this world,
and the deceitfulness
of riches,
choke the word,
and
he becometh unfruitful.
For what
is a man profited,
if he
shall gain
the whole world,
and lose
his own soul?
or what
shall a man
give
in exchange
for his soul?
And again
I say unto you,
It is easier
for a camel
to go through the eye
of a needle,
than for a
rich man
to enter
into the kingdom
of God.
But
they made light of it,
and went their ways,
one to his farm,
another to his merchandise:
And the cares
of this world,
and the deceitfulness
of riches,
and the lusts
of other things
entering in,
choke the word,
and it
becometh unfruitful.
For from within,
out of the heart
of men,
proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries,
fornications,
murders,
And he
came
and touched
the bier:
and
they
that bare him
stood still.
And he said,
Young man,
I say unto thee,
Arise.
And
he said unto them,
Take heed,
and beware
of covetousness:
for a man's life
consisteth not
in the abundance
of the things
which he possesseth.
Sell that
ye have,
and give alms;
provide yourselves
bags
which wax not old,
a treasure
in the heavens
that faileth not,
where no thief approacheth,
neither moth corrupteth.
For where
your treasure is,
there will
your heart be also.
And
they
all with one consent
began to make excuse.
The first said
unto him,
I have bought
a piece
of ground,
and
I must needs go
and see it:
I pray thee
have me excused.
And
when Jesus
saw that
he was very sorrowful,
he said,
How hardly shall
they that
have riches
enter
into the kingdom
of God!
For it
is easier
for a camel
to go
through a needle's eye,
than for a
rich man
to enter
into the kingdom
of God.
Jesus
answered them
and said,
Verily,
verily,
I say unto you,
Ye seek me,
not
because
ye saw
the miracles,
but
because
ye did eat
of the loaves,
and were filled.
Labour
not for the meat
which perisheth,
but for that meat
which endureth unto everlasting life,
which the Son
of man
shall give
unto you:
for him hath
God the Father sealed.
Being filled
with all unrighteousness,
fornication,
wickedness,
covetousness,
maliciousness;
full of envy,
murder,
debate,
deceit,
malignity;
whisperers,
For this,
Thou
shalt not commit
adultery,
Thou shalt not kill,
Thou shalt not steal,
Thou
shalt not bear
false witness,
Thou shalt not covet;
and
if there be
any other commandment,
it is briefly comprehended
in this saying,
namely,
Thou
shalt love
thy neighbour
as thyself.
But now
I have written
unto you not
to keep company,
if any man
that is called
a brother
be
a fornicator,
or covetous,
or an idolater,
or a railer,
or a drunkard,
or an extortioner;
with such
an one no not
to eat.
Nor thieves,
nor covetous,
nor drunkards,
nor revilers,
nor extortioners,
shall inherit
the kingdom
of God.
But fornication,
and all uncleanness,
or covetousness,
let it
not be once named
among you,
as becometh saints;
(For many walk,
of whom
I have told
you often,
and now tell you
even weeping,
that they
are the enemies
of the cross
of Christ:
Whose end
is destruction,
whose God
is their belly,
and whose glory
is in their shame,
who mind earthly things.)
Set your affection
on things above,
not on things
on the earth.
Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth;
fornication,
uncleanness,
inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence,
and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
For which things' sake
the wrath
of God
cometh on the children
of disobedience:
For neither
at any time
used
we flattering words,
as ye know,
nor a cloke
of covetousness;
God is witness:
Not given
to wine,
no striker,
not greedy
of filthy lucre;
but patient,
not a brawler,
not covetous;
Perverse disputings
of men
of corrupt minds,
and destitute
of the truth,
supposing
that gain
is godliness:
from such
withdraw thyself.
But godliness
with contentment
is great gain.
For we
brought nothing
into this world,
and it
is certain
we can carry nothing out.
And having food
and raiment let us
be therewith content.
But they
that will be rich fall
into temptation
and a snare,
and into many foolish
and hurtful lusts,
which drown men
in destruction
and perdition.
For the love
of money
is the root
of all evil:
which while some coveted after,
they have erred
from the faith,
and pierced themselves
through
with many sorrows.
But thou,
O man of God,
flee these things;
and follow
after righteousness,
godliness,
faith,
love,
patience,
meekness.
Charge them that
are rich in
this world,
that they
be not highminded,
nor trust
in uncertain riches,
but in the living God,
who giveth us richly all
things
to enjoy;
For men
shall be lovers
of their own selves,
covetous,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient
to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
For a bishop
must be blameless,
as the steward
of God;
not selfwilled,
not soon angry,
not given
to wine,
no striker,
not given
to filthy lucre;
Whose mouths
must be stopped,
who subvert
whole houses,
teaching things
which they ought not,
for filthy lucre's sake.
Let your conversation
be without covetousness;
and be content
with such things
as ye have:
for he
hath said,
I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.
Ye lust,
and have not:
ye kill,
and desire
to have,
and cannot obtain:
ye fight and war,
yet ye
have not,
because
ye ask not.
Go to now,
ye that say,
To day or
to morrow
we will go
into such
a city,
and continue there
a year,
and buy
and sell,
and get gain:
Whereas
ye know not what
shall be
on the morrow.
For what
is your life?
It is even
a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time,
and
then vanisheth away.
Feed the flock
of God
which is among you,
taking the oversight
thereof,
not by constraint,
but willingly;
not for filthy lucre,
but of a ready mind;
And
through covetousness
shall
they
with feigned words make merchandise
of you:
whose judgment
now of
a long time lingereth not,
and their damnation
slumbereth not.
Having
eyes
full of adultery,
and that
cannot cease
from sin;
beguiling unstable souls:
an heart
they have exercised
with covetous practices;
cursed children:
Love
not the world,
neither the things
that are in the world.
If any man
love the world,
the love
of the Father
is not in him.
Woe unto them!
for they have gone in
the way of Cain,
and ran greedily
after the error
of Balaam
for reward,
and perished
in the gainsaying
of Core.