Torment and grieve

Meaning

Tormenting and grieving describe what the pursuit of temporal honour, riches and pleasure does to the seeker’s heart, senses and mind. The passage condemns prolonged costly striving directed towards the wrong end, not every difficult effort or every possession of wealth. It immediately says wealth is not evil in itself, citing its status as a divine gift, and locates the fault in shameful misuse. English “tormenting and grieving” preserves the inward cost alongside monetary loss. The argument redirects the reader towards the true good rather than merely promising a more efficient way to acquire the same worldly rewards.