בָּצַע

…that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

For what is the hope of the godless when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?

For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

He who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble on his household, but he who hates bribes will live.

So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.

“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

The LORD has done what He planned; He has accomplished His decree, which He ordained in days of old; He has overthrown you without pity. He has let the enemy gloat over you and exalted the horn of your foes.

In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.

They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.

I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said: “Strike the tops of the pillars so that the thresholds shake. Topple them on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the rest with the sword. None of those who flee will get away; none of the fugitives will escape.

Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.