Business

Proverbs regarding good business practice and business ethics

The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his delight.
Prov. 11:1 (read whole chapter)
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.
Prov. 16:11 (read whole chapter)
"It's worthless! It's worthless!" says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts.
There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.
Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.
Prov. 20:14-16 (read whole chapter)
The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked.
Prov. 20:23 (read whole chapter)
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.
Prov. 21:6 (read whole chapter)
Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.
If you do not have enough to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you!
Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors.
Prov. 22:26-28 (read whole chapter)
Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,
for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.
Prov. 23:10-11 (read whole chapter)

From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

And a merchant said, Speak to us of Buying and Selling.

And he answered and said:

To you the earth yields her fruit, and you shall not want if you but know how to fill your hands.

It is in exchanging the gifts of the earth that you shall find abundance and be satisfied.

Yet unless the exchange be in love and kindly justice, it will but lead some to greed and others to hunger.

When in the market place you toilers of the sea and fields and vineyards meet the weavers and the potters and the gatherers of spices,—

Invoke then the master spirit of the earth, to come into your midst and sanctify the scales and the reckoning that weighs value against value. And suffer not the barren-handed to take part in your transactions, who would sell their words for your labour.

To such men you should say,

“Come with us to the field, or go with our brothers to the sea and cast your net;

For the land and the sea shall be bountiful to you even as to us.”

And if there come the singers and the dancers and the flute players,—buy of their gifts also.

For they too are gatherers of fruit and frankincense, and that which they bring, though fashioned of dreams, is raiment and food for your soul.

And before you leave the market place, see that no one has gone his way with empty hands.

For the master spirit of the earth shall not sleep peacefully upon the wind till the needs of the least of you are satisfied.