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].

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do 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.

Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t 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 cometh through being much employed [with something], and the voice of a fool cometh 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 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.

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

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?

Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t 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 and vanities there are also many words; but rather 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 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 see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them.

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

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the 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 who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is 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?

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

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

14 And these riches are lost through an unfortunate event; and he begetteth a son, and hath not the least 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 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 out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away 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?

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

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

All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness 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, 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 labour, in which he labours under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this 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.

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 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 often reflect on the days of his life, because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.