Dependence on long-distance trade also meant that the great empires of the Middle East were built both literally and figuratively on shifting sand.

对长途贸易的依赖也意味着，伟大的中东帝国无论是实际上还是象征意义上，都是建立在流沙之上的。

youdao

He refers to the story from the Sermon on the Mount about how houses built on sand fall, while those built on rock remain standing.

他引用的是“登山宝训”的故事，里面说，建在沙上的房子会倒，建在岩石上的房子依然屹立。

youdao

He is one of a stubborn bunch of pessimists who believe that share prices are overvalued and the economic recovery is built on sand.

他是冥顽不灵的悲观论者之一，觉得股价估值过高，认为经济复苏的根基不够坚实。

youdao

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

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