God has a specific commandment for economic life: “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). A person, and a nation, must earn bread through honest work. This is the order of God (see Proverbs 8:19; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6–12). If this order is broken, nothing good can come of it: “Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit."
One sees this in the lives of individuals and nations. Think, for example, of colonial nations who used to steal gold, silver, and even slaves from Africa and South America. In the end, these treasures did not benefit them. These treasures made their leaders rich for a time, but in the end caused economic problems and even wars.
On the other hand, “righteousness delivers from death.” Honest work can save a family and even a whole nation from destruction.
2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.