Ecclesiastes 5:8,13 - Compare All Versions

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If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners

If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt

Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.

There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver.

If you see oppression of the poor  and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation,  because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.

There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. But the good earth doesn’t cheat anyone—even a bad king is honestly served by a field.

Here’s a piece of bad luck I’ve seen happen: A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn’t a cent left to give him. He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He’ll leave in the same condition—with nothing. This is bad luck, for sure—naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke? All for a miserable life spent in the dark?

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth being hoarded by its owner to his detriment.

If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery.

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.