Lexicon :: Strong's H1215 - beṣaʿ

Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

“But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.

Kings came and fought.

Then the kings of Canaan fought

at Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo,

but they did not plunder the silver.

However, his sons did not walk in his ways ​— ​they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.

Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous?

Does he profit if you perfect your behavior?

“What gain is there in my death,

if I go down to the Pit?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it proclaim your truth?

Turn my heart to your decrees

and not to dishonest profit.

Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;

it takes the lives of those who receive it.[fn]

The one who profits dishonestly troubles his household,

but the one who hates bribes will live.

A leader who lacks understanding

is very oppressive,

but one who hates dishonest profit

prolongs his life.

The one who lives righteously

and speaks rightly,

who refuses profit from extortion,

whose hand never takes a bribe,

who stops his ears from listening to murderous plots

and shuts his eyes against evil schemes —

These dogs have fierce appetites;

they never have enough.

And they are shepherds

who have no discernment;

all of them turn to their own way,

every last one for his own profit.

“Because of his sinful greed I was angry,

so I struck him; I was angry and hid;

but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart.

For from the least to the greatest of them,

everyone is making profit dishonestly.

From prophet to priest,

everyone deals falsely.

“Therefore, I will give their wives to other men,

their fields to new occupants,

for from the least to the greatest,

everyone is making profit dishonestly.

From prophet to priest,

everyone deals falsely.

But you have eyes and a heart for nothing

except your own dishonest profit,

shedding innocent blood

and committing extortion and oppression.

You who reside by abundant water,

rich in treasures,

your end has come,

your life thread is cut.

“ ‘Now look, I clap my hands together against the dishonest profit you have made and against the blood shed among you.

“Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives in order to make profit dishonestly.

“So my people come to you in crowds,[fn] sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.

Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion,

for I will make your horns iron

and your hooves bronze

so you can crush many peoples.

Then you[fn] will set apart their plunder

for the LORD,

their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.

Woe to him who dishonestly makes

wealth for his house[fn]

to place his nest on high,

to escape the grasp of disaster!

You have said, “It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping his requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Armies?