'Gain' in the Bible

and he drove away all his livestock and [took along] all his property which he had acquired, the livestock he had obtained and accumulated in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

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

I will harden (make stubborn, defiant) Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians shall know [without any doubt] and acknowledge that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

As for Me, hear this: I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will go in [the sea] after them; and I will be glorified and honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and his war-chariots and his horsemen.

Furthermore, you shall select from all the people competent men who [reverently] fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; you shall place these over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.

“The kings came and fought;Then the kings of Canaan foughtAt Taanach by the waters of Megiddo.Spoils of silver they did not obtain.

His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

“Will you show partiality for Him [and be unjust to me so that you may gain favor with Him]?Will you contend and plead for God?

“Is it any pleasure or joy to the Almighty that you are righteous?Or is it of benefit to Him that you make your ways perfect?

For the wicked boasts and sings the praises of his heart’s desire,And the greedy man curses and spurns [and even despises] the Lord.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.

Hear, O children, the instruction of a father,And pay attention [and be willing to learn] so that you may gain understanding and intelligent discernment.

He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.

He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himselfOr who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest)Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.

The heart of her husband trusts in her [with secure confidence],And he will have no lack of gain.

She sees that her gain is good;Her lamp does not go out, but it burns continually through the night [she is prepared for whatever lies ahead].

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes?

This also is a grievous evil—exactly as he was born, so he shall die. So what advantage has he who labors for the wind?

But her commercial gain and her prostitute’s wages will be dedicated to the Lord; it will not be treasured or stored up, but her commercial gain will become sufficient food and stately clothing for those who dwell (minister) in the presence of the Lord.

The fool (the good-for-nothing) will no longer be called noble,Nor the rogue said to be generous.

As for the rogue, his weapons are evil;He conceives wicked plansTo ruin the poor with lies,Even when the plea of the needy one is just and right.

He who walks righteously and speaks with integrity,Who rejects gain from fraud and from oppression,Who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes,Who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshedAnd shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil;

And the dogs are greedy; they never have enough.They are shepherds who have no understanding;They have all turned to their own way,Each one to his unlawful gain, without exception.

“Because of the wickedness of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;I hid My face and was angry,And he went on turning away and backsliding, in the way of his [own willful] heart.

“Now what are you doing by going to Egypt [in search of an ally],To drink the [muddy] waters of the Nile?Or what are you doing by going to Assyria [in search of an ally],To drink the [muddy] waters of the Euphrates?

“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,Everyone is greedy for [unfair] gain;And from the prophet even to the priestEveryone deals deceitfully.

“Therefore I will give their wives to othersAnd their fields to new owners;Because from the least even to the greatestEveryone is greedy for [unjust] gain;From the prophet even to the priestEveryone practices deceit and deals in corruption.

“But your eyes and your heartAre only intent on your own dishonest gain,On shedding innocent blood,On oppression and extortion and violence.”

“Behold, therefore, I strike My hands [together] at your dishonest gain which you have acquired and at the bloodshed which is among you.

Her princes within her are like wolves tearing and devouring the prey, shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not practice them; for with their mouth they express loving devotion, but their heart goes after their (unlawful) gain.

The king replied, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, because you have seen that my command [to you] is firm and irrevocable.

I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostituteOr your brides when they commit adultery,For the men themselves slip away with prostitutes,And they offer sacrifices with temple prostitutes [who give their bodies in honor of the idol].So the people without understanding [stumble and fall and] come to ruin.

All her idols shall be broken in pieces,All her earnings [from her idolatry] shall be burned with fire,And all her images I shall make desolate;For from the earnings of a prostitute she collected them,And to the earnings of a prostitute they shall return.

“Arise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion!For I will make your horn ironAnd I will make your hoofs bronze;That you may beat many peoples in pieces [trampling down your enemies],That you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain (pagan possessions)And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

“Woe (judgment is coming) to him who obtains wicked gain for his house [and thinks by so doing]To set his nest on high,That he may be rescued from the hand of evil.