Ecclesiastes 5

1 Watch thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be near to hearken [to his will], more than to give the sacrifice of fools; for they consider not that they do evil [to themselves].

Keep your foot, whenever you go to the house of God; and [when you are] near to hear, let your sacrifice [be] better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil.

2 Suffer not thy mouth to be rash, and let thy heart not be hasty to utter any word before God; for God is in the heavens, and thou art upon the earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Be not hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few.

3 For a dream cometh through being much employed [with something], and the voice of a fool cometh with a multitude of words.

For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words.

4 When thou makest a vow unto God, do not delay to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in such fools: that which thou hast vowed must thou pay.

Whenever you shall vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools: pay you therefore whatever you shall have vowed.

5 It is better that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.

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

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy body to sin; and say thou not before the messenger, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry because of thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

Suffer not your mouth to lead your flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at your voice, and destroy the works of your hands.

7 For in the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but rather fear thou God.

For [there is evil] in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear you God.

8 If thou see the oppression of the poor, and violence done to justice and righteousness in a province, do not feel astounded at the matter; for one that is high watcheth over the high; and over them, the highest Power.

If you should see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgement and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for [there is] a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.

9 But the advantage of a land in all things is, a king who is subject to the country.

Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king [is dependent on] the tilled field.

10 He that loveth money will never be satisfied with money; nor he that loveth abundance, with any increase. Also this is vanity.

He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity.

11 When prosperity increaseth, those that consume it [likewise] increase: and what advantage is there to its owner, saving to see [it] with his eyes?

In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding [it] with his eyes?

12 Sweet is the sleep of the laboring man, whether he eat little or much; but the overabundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely, ] riches reserved for their owner to his own hurt.

There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, [namely], wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.

14 And these riches are lost through an unfortunate event; and he begetteth a son, and hath not the least in his hand:

And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and [the man] begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth out of his mother's womb, naked will he return to go as he came; and not the least will he carry off for his toil, which he might take away with him.

As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go [with him] in his hand.

16 And also this is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so must he go: and what profit hath he that hath toiled for the wind?

And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

17 All his days also had he to eat in darkness, and hath had much vexation and wrath with his sickness.

Yes, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

18 Behold, what I have truly seen as a good thing, that it is fitting to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all one's toil that he taketh under the sun the number of the days of his life, which God hath given him; for this is his portion.

Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, [all] the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

19 Also every man to whom God hath given riches and property, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his toil— this is the gift of God.

Yes, and [as for] every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

20 Let him then remember, that the days of his life are not many, that God hath answered him with the joy of his heart.

For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.