The Realities of Wealth

⁸ If you see oppression of the poor^(A) and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation,^(B) because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. ⁹ The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.^[a](C)

¹⁰ The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. ¹¹ When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? ¹² The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.