Ecclesiastes 5
5
Be Careful About Making Promises
1Be careful when you go to worship at the Temple. It is better to listen than to offer foolish sacrifices without even knowing you are doing wrong.
2Think before you speak,
and be careful about what you say to God.
God is in heaven,
and you are on the earth,
so say only a few words to God.
3The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying,
and too many words come from foolish people.
4If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised. 5It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it. 6Don’t let your words cause you to sin, and don’t say to the priest at the Temple, “I didn’t mean what I promised.” If you do, God will become angry with your words and will destroy everything you have worked for. 7Many useless promises are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should respect God.
Officers Cheat Each Other
8In some places you will see poor people mistreated. Don’t be surprised when they are not treated fairly or given their rights. One officer is cheated by a higher officer who in turn is cheated by even higher officers. 9The wealth of the country is divided up among them all. Even the king makes sure he gets his share of the profits.
Wealth Cannot Buy Happiness
10Whoever loves money
will never have enough money;
Whoever loves wealth
will not be satisfied with it.
This is also useless.
11The more wealth people have,
the more friends they have to help spend it.
So what do people really gain?
They gain nothing except to look at their riches.
12Those who work hard sleep in peace;
it is not important if they eat little or much.
But rich people worry about their wealth
and cannot sleep.
13I have seen real misery here on earth:
Money saved is a curse to its owners.
14They lose it all in a bad deal
and have nothing to give to their children.
15People come into this world with nothing,
and when they die they leave with nothing.
In spite of all their hard work,
they leave just as they came.
16This, too, is real misery:
They leave just as they came.
So what do they gain from chasing the wind?
17All they get are days full of sadness and sorrow,
and they end up sick, defeated, and angry.
Enjoy Your Life’s Work
18I have seen what is best for people here on earth. They should eat and drink and enjoy their work, because the life God has given them on earth is short. 19God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them, as well as the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work. 20They do not worry about how short life is, because God keeps them busy with what they love to do.
Currently Selected:
Ecclesiastes 5: NCV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Ecclesiastes 5
5
Listen to God Rather Than Uttering Rash Vows
1#Ecclesiastes 5:1–20 in the English Bible is 4:17–5:19 in the Hebrew Bible Guard your steps when you go to the house of God;
draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2Do not be rash with your mouth,
and do not let your heart be quick to utter a word before God.
For God is in heaven, and you are on earth;
therefore, let your words be few.
3For a dream comes with many cares,
and the voice of a fool with many words.
4When you make a vow to God,
do not delay in fulfilling it,
for he takes no pleasure#Literally “there is no desire” in fools.
Fulfill what you vow!
5It is better that you not vow
than that you vow and not fulfill it.
6Do not let your mouth lead your flesh into sin,
and do not tell the messenger that it was a mistake.
Why anger God at your words,
so that he destroys the work of your hands?
7For with many dreams come vanities and numerous words.
Therefore, fear God!
Powerful Bureaucrats Exploit the Helpless Poor
8Do not be surprised if you see the poor being oppressed with violence
or do not see justice and righteousness in the province.
For one official is watched by a higher official,
and there are even higher officials over them!
9The produce of the land is exploited by everyone;
even the king profits from the field of the poor!#Literally “for the field is even worked for the king”
There is Never Enough Money to Satisfy
10Whoever loves money is not satisfied with money,
and whoever loves wealth is not satisfied with profit.
This also is vanity!
11When prosperity increases,
those who consume it increase.
So its owner gains nothing,
except to see his wealth before it is spent.#Literally “And what gain has its owner but to see it with his eyes?”
12The sleep of the laborer is pleasant, whether he eats little or much,
but the wealth of the rich man does not allow him to rest.
Hoarding Wealth Can Backfire
13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded#Literally “kept ” by its owner to his harm. 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, he has nothing to leave to him.#Literally “he has nothing in his hand” 15Just as he came from his mother’s womb naked, he will depart#Literally “return to go” just as he came; he will take nothing with him for his toil. 16This also is a grievous illness. Exactly as he came, so he will go. What profit does he gain for all his toil for the wind? 17Also, he eats in darkness all his days; he is frustrated in much sickness and resentment.
If You Have Wealth, Enjoy It as God Enables
18Look! I have discovered what is good and fitting: to eat and to drink and to enjoy#Literally “to see goodness” all the fruit of the toil with which one toils under the sun during the number of the days of his life that God gives to him—for this is his lot.#Or “fate” 19This indeed is a gift of God: everyone to whom God gives wealth and possessions, he also empowers him to enjoy them,#Literally “to eat from it” to accept his lot, and to rejoice in the fruit of his toil. 20For he does not remember the brief days of his life, for God keeps his heart preoccupied with enjoyment of life.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
2010 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software