Even the king milks the land for his own profit!

况且地的益处归众人，就是君王也受田地的供应。

况且地的益处归众人，就是君王也受田地的供应。

况且地的益处归众人，就是君王也受田地的供应。

况且，地的出产滋养万物，就是君王也需要从田地得到供应。

各人都从土地得着利益，就是君王也得到田地的供应。

各人都从这块地得好处，甚至君王也藉着这块地得益处。

況且地的益處歸眾人，就是君王也受田地的供應。

況且地的益處歸眾人，就是君王也受田地的供應。

況且地的益處歸眾人，就是君王也受田地的供應。

況且，地的出產滋養萬物，就是君王也需要從田地得到供應。

各人都從土地得著利益，就是君王也得到田地的供應。

但君王對國家、對有耕種之田地的、大體說來，總是有益處的。

各人都從這塊地得好處，甚至君王也藉著這塊地得益處。

且地利屬眾庶、即王亦受田疇之供、○

莫重乎農事、上下咸獲其利、

貪金者、有金亦不知足、好財者、財多亦不得益、此亦屬於虛、

The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

All of them take what the land produces. And the king himself takes his share from the fields.

But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.

The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.

After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.

Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king[ himself] is served by the field.

The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use. You allow them to produce food from the earth—wine to make them glad, olive oil to soothe their skin, and bread to give them strength.

The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.

A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away.

Then God said,“ Look! I have given you every seed bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground— everything that has life.” And that is what happened.

And to the man he said,“ Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains.By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”

Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment.The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use.He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.

Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the king’s lands.Shimei from Ramah was in charge of the king’s vineyards. Zabdi from Shepham was responsible for the grapes and the supplies of wine.Baal hanan from Geder was in charge of the king’s olive groves and sycamore fig trees in the foothills of Judah. Joash was responsible for the supplies of olive oil.Shitrai from Sharon was in charge of the cattle on the Sharon Plain. Shaphat son of Adlai was responsible for the cattle in the valleys.Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels. Jehdeiah from Meronoth was in charge of the donkeys.Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the king’s flocks of sheep and goats. All these officials were overseers of King David’s property.

Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds,for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in,your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field.And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.

Solomon also had twelve district governors who were over all Israel. They were responsible for providing food for the king’s household. Each of them arranged provisions for one month of the year.These are the names of the twelve governors: Ben hur, in the hill country of Ephraim.Ben deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth shemesh, and Elon bethhanan.Ben hesed, in Arubboth, including Socoh and all the land of Hepher.Ben abinadab, in all of Naphoth dor.( He was married to Taphath, one of Solomon’s daughters.)Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, all of Beth shan near Zarethan below Jezreel, and all the territory from Beth shan to Abel meholah and over to Jokmeam.Ben geber, in Ramoth gilead, including the Towns of Jair( named for Jair of the tribe of Manasseh) in Gilead, and in the Argob region of Bashan, including sixty large fortified towns with bronze bars on their gates.Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim.Ahimaaz, in Naphtali.( He was married to Basemath, another of Solomon’s daughters.)Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and in Aloth.Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar.Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin.Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, including the territories of King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. There was also one governor over the land of Judah.The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink.Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime.The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal;also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry.

“ As for me, I will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to meet with us. Settle in the towns you have taken, and live off the land. Harvest the grapes and summer fruits and olives, and store them away.”When the Judeans in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and the other nearby countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few people in Judah and that Gedaliah was the governor,they began to return to Judah from the places to which they had fled. They stopped at Mizpah to meet with Gedaliah and then went into the Judean countryside to gather a great harvest of grapes and other crops.