Bible Verses About The Rich

Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brothers the Jews.

For there were that said, “We, our sons and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live.”

Some also there were that said, “We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine.”

There were also some who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral.

Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children as their children. Behold, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”

I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

I said to them, “We, after our ability, have redeemed our brothers the Jews that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your brothers, and should they be sold to us?” Then they held their peace, and found never a word.

Also I said, “The thing that you do is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?

I likewise, my brothers and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury.

Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.”

Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised the LORD. The people did according to this promise.

“Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.

They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.

They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’

“This is the portion of a wicked man with God, the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty.

If his children are multiplied, it is for the sword. His offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Those who remain of him shall be buried in death. His widows shall make no lamentation.