Ecclesiastes 5

1 Keep thy foot when thou go to the house of God, for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they know not that they do evil.

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few.

Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

3 For a dream comes with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.

For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

4 When thou vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou vow.

When you vow a vow to God, do not defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

5 Better is it that thou should not vow, than that thou should vow and not pay.

It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

6 Do not allow thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say thou before the agent, that is was an error. Why should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

Do not allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Do not protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words. But fear thou God.

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

8 If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For a man higher than the high is observing, and there are higher men than they.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, do not marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

9 Moreover the abundance of the land is for all. The king himself is served by the field.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, they are increased who eat them. And what advantage is there to the owner of it, except the beholding of them with his eyes?

When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the fullness of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches were kept by the owner of it to his hurt.

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

14 And those riches perish in a bad venture. And if he has begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he that he labored for the wind?

This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

17 All his days also he eats in gloom, and he is greatly troubled, and has depression and anger.

All his days are in darkness and mourning, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be fitting is for a man to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor in which he labors under the sun all the days of his life which God has given him, for this is his portion.

Look, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.

Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.

20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart.

For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.