Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Gain and Loss of Goods. 7 (A)If you see oppression of the poor, and violation of rights and justice in the realm, do not be astonished by the fact, for the high official has another higher than he watching him and above these are others higher still—. 8 But profitable for a land in such circumstances is a king concerned about cultivation.[a]
9 (B)The covetous are never satisfied with money, nor lovers of wealth with their gain; so this too is vanity.
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- 5:8 A king concerned about cultivation: the Hebrew text is ambiguous and obscure. The author does not criticize the oppression he describes in v. 7. Now perhaps he expresses the hope that the king would use his power to upbuild agriculture in order to alleviate the hunger and suffering of the poor and oppressed.
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