Ecclesiastes 5:9

"If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them."

Key Reflection

In Ecclesiastes 5:9, the passage suggests that witnessing injustice against the poor or the suppression of justice should not surprise us, as such corruption often extends through layers of authority, with higher officials tacitly approving or even enabling lower ones. This reflects the broader theme of human wickedness and the systemic nature of oppression within societal structures.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

The king himself is served by the field -Rather, the king is subject to the field, i. e., is dependent on its cultivation. The higher ranks, if they oppress the lower, lose thereby their own means of subsistence.

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