Ecclesiastes 5
5
1Do not be quick with your mouth nor hasty in your heart to utter a word in God’s presence. For God is in heaven, and you are on the earth— therefore, let your words be few.
2As a dream comes with excessive burdens so a fool’s voice with too many words.
3When you swear a vow to God, don’t delay in fulfilling it. For He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
4It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay.
5Don’t let your mouth lead your flesh to sin, and don’t say before the messenger, “It was a mistake!” Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
6Many dreams and many words are meaningless. Therefore, fear God!
Bureaucratic Oppression
7If you see the oppression of the poor or perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the matter. For one authority watches over another authority, and higher ones are over them.
8Though the profit of the land is taken by all, a king is served by the fields.
Futility of Wealth
9A lover of money never has enough money, and a lover of wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is futile.
10When goods increase, so do those who consume them. So what advantage are they to the owner except he sees it with his eyes?
11The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much— but the excess of the rich permits him no sleep.
12There is a grievous wrong that I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded by its owner to his own hurt,
13or wealth lost in a bad investment, and when he fathers a son, there is nothing in his hand.
14As he came from his mother’s womb, naked he will return as he came. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
15This too is a grievous wrong. Just as he came, so will he go, so what does he gain, from his toiling for the wind?
16So, all his days he eats in darkness, and he has much grief, sickness, and humiliation.
17Behold, this is what I myself have seen. It is beneficial and good for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy all of his toil that he labors under the sun during the few days of his life that God has given him—for this is his reward.
18Additionally, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, and empowers him to eat from it, to receive his share, and to rejoice in his labor—this is a gift of God.
19For he will not often consider the days of his life, since God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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.
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.