⁸If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they. ⁹Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

¹⁰He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. ¹¹When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes? ¹²The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

¹³There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: ¹⁴and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. ¹⁵As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

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