Don't Be Surprised

Ecclesiastes 5:8: When you see the poor oppressed and justice and rights denied, don't be surprised. Remember, there are higher officials watching over each other, which often leads to these situations.

Ecclesiastes 5:9: Ultimately, the produce of the land benefits everyone, including the king, who relies on what the fields yield.

The passage suggests that corruption and injustice are inevitable in human governance systems, and one should not be surprised by their occurrence. It also points out that despite social hierarchies, everyone, from the lowest to the highest, depends on the same basic resources for survival.