Quotes About Greed

So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ëGive me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.í And he replied, ëI will not give you my vineyard!í”

But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

“Get up and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria. See, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, of which he has gone to take possession.

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared this Aramean, Naaman, while not accepting what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”

“Everything is all right,” Gehazi replied. “My master has sent me to say, ëI have just now discovered that two young men from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.í”

When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed.

But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants?

The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,

He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.

He swallows wealth but vomits it out; God will force it from his stomach.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.

Because his appetite is never satisfied, he cannot escape with his treasure.

Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.

Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,

For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

From their prosperity proceeds iniquity; the imaginations of their hearts run wild.

We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

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.