בֶּ֫צַע

Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Kings came and fought; then the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no plunder of silver.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?

Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.

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.

A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—

Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

I was enraged by his sinful greed, so I struck him and hid My face in anger; yet he kept turning back to the desires of his heart.

“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.

“But your eyes and heart are set on nothing except your own dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood, on practicing extortion and oppression.”

You who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.

Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst.

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

So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

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

You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts?