<p class="poetry">Such<n id="1" /> are the ways<n id="2" /> of all who gain profit unjustly;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">it<n id="4" /> takes away the life<n id="5" /> of those who obtain it!<n id="6" />p>

Her officials are like wolves in her midst rending their prey &#8211; shedding blood and destroying lives &#8211; so they can get dishonest profit.

<p class="poetry">The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">He does this so he can build his nest way up highp> <p class="poetry">and escape the clutches of disaster.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Give me a desire for your rules,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">rather than for wealth gained unjustly.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one who is greedy for gain<n id="1" /> troubles<n id="2" /> his household,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but whoever hates bribes<n id="4" /> will live.p>

<p class="poetry">Is it of any special benefit<n id="1" /> to the Almightyp> <p class="poetry">that you should be righteous,p> <p class="poetry">or is it any gain to himp> <p class="poetry">that you make your ways blameless?<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;What<n id="1" /> profit is there in taking my life,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">in my descending into the Pit?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Can the dust of the grave<n id="4" /> praise you?p> <p class="poetry">Can it declare your loyalty?<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but the one who hates<n id="2" /> unjust gain will prolong his days.p>

<n id="1" /><p class="poetry">So I will give their wives to other menp> <p class="poetry">and their fields to new owners.p> <p class="poetry">For from the least important to the most important of them,p> <p class="poetry">all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.p> <p class="poetry">Prophets and priests alike,p> <p class="poetry">all practice deceit.p>

Then Judah said to his brothers, &#8220;What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

<p class="poetry">Kings came, they fought;p> <p class="poetry">the kings of Canaan fought,p> <p class="poetry">at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but<n id="2" /> they took no silver as plunder.p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;That is because, from the least important to the most important of them,p> <p class="poetry">all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.p> <p class="poetry">Prophets and priests alike,p> <p class="poetry">all of them practice deceit.p>

You have said, &#8216;It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped<n id="1" /> by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all?<n id="2" />

But you choose<n id="1" /> from the people capable men,<n id="2" /> God-fearing,<n id="3" /> men of truth,<n id="4" /> those who hate bribes,<n id="5" /> and put them over the people<n id="6" /> as rulers<n id="7" /> of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

<p class="lamhebrew">&#1506; (<i>Ayini>)p> <p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> has done what he planned;p> <p class="poetry">he has fulfilled<n id="1" /> his promise<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">that he threatened<n id="3" /> long ago:<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">He has overthrown you without mercy<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;p> <p class="poetry">he has exalted your adversaries&#8217; power.<n id="6" />p>