4 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun.^(A) Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.

The Realities of Wealth

⁸ If you see oppression of the poor^(A) and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation,^(B) because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

⁹ All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.