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In reply to the discussion: When rich kill the poor, it's capitalism. When the poor kill the rich, it's crime. [View all]markodochartaigh
(3,737 posts)19. Sirach 13
3
The rich do wrong and boast of it,
while the poor are wronged and beg forgiveness.
4
As long as the rich can use you they will enslave you,
but when you are down and out they will abandon you.
5
As long as you have anything they will live with you,
but they will drain you dry without remorse.
6
When they need you they will deceive you
and smile at you and raise your hopes;
they will speak kindly to you and say, What do you need?
7
They will embarrass you at their dinner parties,
and finally laugh at you.
Afterwards, when they see you, they will pass you by,
and shake their heads at you.
8
Be on guard: do not act too boldly;
do not be like those who lack sense.
9
When the influential draw near, keep your distance;
then they will urge you all the more.
10
Do not draw too close, lest you be rebuffed,
but do not keep too far away lest you be regarded as an enemy.
11
Do not venture to be free with them,
do not trust their many words;
For by prolonged talk they will test you,
and though smiling they will probe you.
12
Mercilessly they will make you a laughingstock,
and will not refrain from injury or chains.
13
Be on your guard and take care
never to accompany lawless people.
15
Every living thing loves its own kind,
and we all love someone like ourselves.
16
Every living being keeps close to its own kind;
and people associate with their own kind.
17
Is a wolf ever allied with a lamb?
So the sinner with the righteous.a
18
Can there be peace between the hyena and the dog?
Or peace between the rich and the poor?*
19
Wild donkeys of the desert are lions prey;
likewise the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.
20
Humility is an abomination to the proud;
and the poor are an abomination to the rich.
21
When the rich stumble they are supported by friends;
when the poor trip they are pushed down by friends.
22
When the rich speak they have many supporters;
though what they say is repugnant, it wins approval.
When the poor speak people say, Come, come, speak up!
though they are talking sense, they get no hearing.
23
When the rich speak all are silent,
their wisdom people extol to the clouds.
When the poor speak people say: Who is that?
If they stumble, people knock them down.
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When rich kill the poor, it's capitalism. When the poor kill the rich, it's crime. [View all]
Coventina
Dec 2024
OP
Engels describes the GOP elite and their feudal policies for Americans to a "T."
C0RI0LANUS
Dec 2024
#30
It's the Gilded Age all over again, minus any pretense at good manners. The GOP wants to erase the 20th century
Hekate
Dec 2024
#24
When a criminal can be POTUS or a cabinet secretary, it makes you wonder what the point of obeying the law even
Karasu
Dec 2024
#23
Leona Helmsley ("the Queen of Mean" ) encapsulated the attitude perfectly when asked about her taxes...
Hekate
Dec 2024
#26
Press charges for WHAT? The law protects those who work to protect shareholders interests
Attilatheblond
Dec 2024
#50
Exactly. It's not murder when poor people are in the way of rich people getting more MONEY
ck4829
Dec 2024
#74
Yes. The rich and powerful have made it a crime to save the life of a dying pregnant woman.
Irish_Dem
Dec 2024
#68