Quoting matthew vi. 24 (AV) Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Mammon is the Aramaic word for ‘riches’, taken by medieval writers as the proper name of the devil of covetousness. Now used generally of wealth regarded as an evil influence.
No person may serue god eternall and also the Mammonde of iniquite: whiche is golde and syluer and other richesse.
[1531 W. Bonde Pilgrimage of Perfection (rev. ed.) iii. vii.]
Lady Lufton‥would say of Miss Dunstable that it was impossible to serve both God and Mammon.
[1860 Trollope Framley Parsonage II. i.]
The city and the country repel each other like oil and water. And like God and Mammon, they can't be served at the same time by the same person.
[1982 P. Mcginley Goosefoot v.]
Related to: money
Bibliography of major proverb collections and works cited from modern editions is available here.
