Greed is never satisfied. This proverb uses the image of a leech—a bloodsucking creature known for its constant need—to describe people or desires that always demand more. The leech cries out "Give! Give!" and is never full. In Hebrew, the word for leech is aluqah (עֲלוּקָה), a rare term that literally means "one who clings." It’s a vivid metaphor for anything in life that drains us or others without ever being content.

What’s surprising is how ancient wisdom sees this kind of endless wanting as a problem, not a drive for success. In a culture obsessed with more—more money, more stuff, more experiences—this verse exposes the emptiness at the heart of always chasing the next thing. It suggests that some appetites, once unleashed, can never be satisfied.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re stuck on a treadmill, always reaching for something just out of reach, this proverb names that feeling. It’s a gentle warning: some desires will never say "enough." The challenge is to recognize when something in your life is taking more than it gives, and to find contentment in what you already have instead of always hungering for more.