Do not trustin oppressionAnd do not vainlyhopein robbery;Ifrichesincrease,do not set[your] heart[upon them].
"Behold,the manwho would not makeGodhis refuge,But trustedin the abundanceof his riches[And] was strongin his [evil] desire."
Instructthosewho are richin thispresentworldnot to be conceitedorto fix their hopeon the uncertaintyof riches,but on God,who richlysuppliesus with all thingsto enjoy.
"As a partridgethat hatcheseggswhich it has not laid,[So] is he who makesa fortune,but unjustly;In the midstof his daysit will forsakehim, And in the endhe will be a fool."
For the love of moneyis a rootof allsorts of evil,and someby longingfor it have wandered awayfrom the faithand piercedthemselveswith manygriefs.
For I, the LORD,lovejustice,I haterobberyin the burntoffering;And I will faithfullygivethem their recompenseAnd makean everlastingcovenantwith them.
And Jesus,looking around,saidto His disciples,"Howhardit will be for thosewho are wealthyto enterthe kingdomof God!"
Thereforethussaysthe HolyOneof Israel,"Sinceyou have rejectedthiswordAnd have putyour trustin oppressionand guile,and have reliedon them,
Even those who trustin their wealthAnd boastin the abundanceof their riches?
"Thisis the wickedman'sportionfrom God,Even the heritagedecreedto him by God."
"For he has oppressed[and] forsakenthe poor;He has seizeda housewhich he has not built.
Noonesuesrighteouslyand noonepleadshonestly.They trustin confusionand speaklies;They conceivemischiefand bringforthiniquity.
"You feltsecurein your wickednessand said,Nooneseesme,' Your wisdomand your knowledge,they have deludedyou; For you have saidin your heart,I am, and thereis noonebesidesme.'
When you setyour eyeson it, it is gone.For [wealth] certainlymakesitself wingsLike an eaglethat flies[toward] the heavens.
"Becausehe has lovedMe, therefore I will deliverhim; I will sethim [securely] on high,becausehe has knownMy name.
"Surelyeverymanwalksabout as a phantom;Surelythey makean uproarfor nothing;He amasses[riches] and does not knowwhowill gatherthem.
Becauseyou have said,"We have madea covenantwith death,And with Sheolwe have madea pact.The overwhelmingscourgewill not reachus whenit passesby, For we have madefalsehoodour refugeand we have concealedourselves with deception."
"Thisis your lot,the portionmeasuredto you From Me," declaresthe LORD,"Becauseyou have forgottenMe And trustedin falsehood.
But knowthat the LORDhas setapartthe godlymanfor Himself; The LORDhearswhen I callto Him.
Behold,the nationsare like a dropfrom a bucket,And are regardedas a speckof duston the scales;Behold,He liftsup the islandslike finedust.
Allthe nationsare as nothingbeforeHim, They are regardedby Him as lessthannothingand meaningless.
