Ecclesiastes 5

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

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.

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.

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.

3 For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool’s voice with a multitude of words.

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

4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

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

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

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

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

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?

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, and in many words. But fear thou God.

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

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.

9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field.

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

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth 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 that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

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?

12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

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.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:

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

14 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

And those riches perish in a bad venture. And if he has begotten 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 hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

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?

17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.

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

18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

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.

19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, 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 answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.

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