Ecclesiastes 5
5
Caution in God’s Presence
1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, # 1Sm 15:22; Mt 5:23-24 for they ignorantly do wrong. 2 # Ec 5:1 in HbDo not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. # Pr 10:19; Mt 6:7 3For dreams result from much work and a fool’s voice from many words. # Jb 11:2 4When you make a vow to God, # Nm 30:2; Dt 6:13; 23:21-22; Pr 20:25 don’t delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. # Pr 20:25; Mt 5:33-37; Ac 5:4; Jms 5:12 6Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, # Jdg 11:30-31,34 and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. # Nm 15:25 Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. # Ec 6:11 Therefore, fear God.
The Realities of Wealth
8If you see oppression of the poor # Ec 4:1 and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, # 1Pt 4:12 because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. 9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field. # Or An advantage for the land in every respect is a king for a cultivated field ; Hb obscure # Pr 27:23-27
10The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. 11When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? 12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.
13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. # Ec 6:1-2 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. 15As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; # Jb 1:21 he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. 16This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain # Ec 1:3 who struggles for the wind? # Pr 11:29 17What is more, he eats in darkness all his days, # Ps 127:2 with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
18Here is what I have seen to be good: # Ec 2:24 it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. # Ec 2:10 19God has also given riches and wealth to every man, # 2Ch 1:12 and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. # Ec 6:2 This is a gift of God, # Ec 3:13 20for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
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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. People who do this don’t even know they are doing wrong.
2Think before you speak.
Be careful about what you promise 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.
So 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 foolish people. Give God what you promised. 5It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it. 6So don’t let your words cause you to sin. Also, 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. He will destroy everything you have worked for. 7Many empty promises are like many foolish dreams. They mean nothing. You should honor God.
Officers Cheat Each Other
8In some countries you will see poor people treated badly. They are not treated fairly or given their rights. Don’t be surprised! One officer is cheated by a higher officer. They in turn are 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
10The person who loves money
will never have all the money he wants.
The person who loves wealth
will not be satisfied when he gets it.
This is also useless.
11The more wealth a person has,
the more friends he has to help him spend it.
So what does he really gain?
He gains nothing except to look at his riches.
12A man who works hard sleeps in peace.
It is not important if he has little or much to eat.
But a rich person worries about his wealth.
He cannot sleep.
13I have seen something unfair here on earth:
A person suffers harm from saving up his money.
14Then he loses it all in a bad deal.
So he has nothing
to give to his son.
15A person comes into this world with nothing.
And when he dies, he leaves with nothing.
In spite of all his hard work,
he leaves exactly as he came.
16This, too, is unfair:
He leaves exactly as he came.
So what does he gain from chasing the wind?
17All he gets are days filled with sadness and sorrow.
He ends up sick, defeated and angry.
Enjoy Your Life’s Work
18I have seen what is best for a person to do here on earth. He should eat and drink and enjoy his work. This is because the life God has given him on earth is short. 19God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them. He also gives them the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work. 20Such people do not worry much about how short life is. This is because God keeps them busy with the things they love to do.
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