Covetousness

General scriptures concerning

• Exodus 18:21

  Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

• Exodus 20:17

  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

• Deuteronomy 5:21

  Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

• Nehemiah 5:7

  Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.

• Job 20:15

  He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.

• Job 31:24

  If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

• Job 31:25

  If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

• Job 31:28

  This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

• Psalms 10:3

  For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

• Psalms 119:36

  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

• Proverbs 1:19

  So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

• Proverbs 11:24

  There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

• Proverbs 11:26

  He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

• Proverbs 15:27

  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

• Proverbs 21:25

  The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

• Proverbs 21:26

  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

• Proverbs 22:16

  He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.

• Proverbs 23:4

  Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

• Proverbs 23:5

  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

• Proverbs 30:8

  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

• Proverbs 30:9

  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

• Ecclesiastes 1:2–8

  Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. …

• Ecclesiastes 4:8

  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

• Ecclesiastes 5:10

  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

• Ecclesiastes 5:11

  When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

• Isaiah 1:23

  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

• Isaiah 5:8

  Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

• Isaiah 56:11

  Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

• Isaiah 57:17

  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

• Jeremiah 6:13

  For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

• Jeremiah 8:10

  Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

• Jeremiah 17:11

  As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

• Jeremiah 22:17

  But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.

• Jeremiah 51:13

  O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

• Ezekiel 22:12

  In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

• Ezekiel 22:13

  Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.

• Ezekiel 33:31

  And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

• Hosea 4:18

  Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

• Hosea 10:1

  Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.

• Micah 2:2

  And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

• Micah 3:11

  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.

• Micah 7:3

  That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

• Habakkuk 1:15

  They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.

• Habakkuk 1:16

  Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.

• Habakkuk 2:5–9

  Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them? …

• Haggai 1:6

  Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

• Malachi 1:10

  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

• Matthew 6:19–21

  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

• Matthew 6:24

  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

• Matthew 6:25

  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

• Matthew 6:31–33

  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

• Matthew 13:22

  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

• Matthew 16:26

  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

• Matthew 19:23

  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

• Matthew 19:24

  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

• Matthew 22:1–14

  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. …

• Mark 4:19

  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

• Mark 7:21–23

  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

• Luke 7:14

  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

• Luke 12:15–21

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? …

• Luke 12:33

  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

• Luke 12:34

  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

• Luke 14:16–24

  Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. …

• Luke 18:24

  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

• Luke 18:25

  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

• John 6:26

  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

• John 6:27

  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

• Romans 1:29

  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

• Romans 13:9

  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

• 1 Corinthians 5:11

  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

• 1 Corinthians 6:10

  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

• Ephesians 5:3

  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

• Ephesians 5:5

  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

• Colossians 3:2

  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

• Colossians 3:5

  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

• Colossians 3:6

  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

• Philippians 3:18

  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

• Philippians 3:19

  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

• 1 Thessalonians 2:5

  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

• 1 Timothy 3:3

  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

• 1 Timothy 6:5–11

  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. …

• 1 Timothy 6:17

  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

• 2 Timothy 3:2

  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

• Titus 1:7

  For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

• Titus 1:11

  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

• Hebrews 13:5

  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

• James 4:2

  Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

• James 4:13–17

  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. …

• 1 Peter 5:2

  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

• 2 Peter 2:3

  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

• 2 Peter 2:14–16

  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

• 1 John 2:15–17

  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

• Jude 1:11

  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Instances of