8. If you see the oppression of the poor, and denial of right-ruling and righteousness in a province, do not be astonished at the matter. For a higher than the high is guarding, and there are higher ones over them.
9. And the increase of the land is for all. The sovereign himself is served from the field.
10. He who loves silver is not satisfied with silver; nor he who loves wealth, and increase. That too is futile.
11. With the increase of goods, there is an increase of those consuming them. What advantage then is there to their owners, but to look on?
12. Sweet is the sleep of a labourer whether he eats little or much, but the plenty of the rich does not let him sleep.
13. There is a sickly evil I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner, for his evil.
14. But those riches perish through evil use. And he brings forth a son, and there is naught in his hand.
15. As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he returns, to go as he came. And from his labour which goes into his hand he takes none whatsoever.
16. And this too is a grievous evil – exactly as he came, so he goes. And what gain has he since he toiled for the wind?
17. All his days he also eats in darkness, and with much sorrow and sickness and wrath.