Ecclesiastes 5
1 custodi pedem tuum ingrediens domum Dei multo enim melior est oboedientia quam stultorum victimae qui nesciunt quid faciant mali
Look well to thy feet, when thou goest to the house of God, and draw nigh to hear, rather than to offer sacrifice as fools. For they consider not that they do evil.
2 ne temere quid loquaris neque cor tuum sit velox ad proferendum sermonem coram Deo Deus enim in caelo et tu super terram idcirco sint pauci sermones tui
Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be swift to utter any thing before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few.
3 multas curas sequuntur somnia et in multis sermonibus invenitur stultitia
For a dream cometh with much bustle, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.
4 si quid vovisti Deo ne moreris reddere displicet enim ei infidelis et stulta promissio sed quodcumque voveris redde
When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 multoque melius est non vovere quam post votum promissa non conplere
Better is it that thou shouldst not vow than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.
6 ne dederis os tuum ut peccare faciat carnem tuam neque dicas coram angelo non est providentia ne forte iratus Deus super sermone tuo dissipet cuncta opera manuum tuarum
Suffer not thy mouth to bring punishment on thy flesh, and say not before the angel, “It was a mistake.” Wherefore should God be angry on account of thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
7 ubi multa sunt somnia plurimae vanitates et sermones innumeri tu vero Deum time
For in a multitude of dreams is a multitude of vanities; so also in a multitude of words; but fear thou God!
8 si videris calumnias egenorum et violenta iudicia et subverti iustitiam in provincia non mireris super hoc negotio quia excelso alius excelsior est et super hos quoque eminentiores sunt alii
If thou seest oppression of the poor, and justice and equity perverted in a province, be not alarmed at the matter. For over the high there is a higher, who watcheth, and there is one higher than they all.
9 et insuper universae terrae rex imperat servienti
An advantage to a land in all respects is a king over cultivated ground.
10 avarus non implebitur pecunia et qui amat divitias fructus non capiet ex eis et hoc ergo vanitas
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; and he that loveth riches shall have no profit from them. This also is vanity.
11 ubi multae sunt opes multi et qui comedant eas et quid prodest possessori nisi quod cernit divitias oculis suis
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage hath the owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes?
12 dulcis est somnus operanti sive parum sive multum comedat saturitas autem divitis non sinit dormire eum
Sweet is the sleep of a laboring man, whether he have eaten little or much; but the repletion of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 est et alia infirmitas pessima quam vidi sub sole divitiae conservatae in malum domini sui
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, — riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt.
14 pereunt enim in adflictione pessima generavit filium qui in summa egestate erit
For those riches perish by some calamity, and, if he have a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 sicut egressus est nudus de utero matris suae sic revertetur et nihil auferet secum de labore suo
As he came forth from his mother's womb naked, so shall he go away again, as he came, and shall take away nothing of his labor which he may carry in his hand.
16 miserabilis prorsus infirmitas quomodo venit sic revertetur quid ergo prodest ei quod laboravit in ventum
This is also a sore evil, that, in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit is there to him who toileth for wind?
17 cunctis diebus vitae suae comedit in tenebris et in curis multis et in aerumna atque tristitia
Also all his days he ate in darkness, and had much grief and anxiety and vexation.
18 hoc itaque mihi visum est bonum ut comedat quis et bibat et fruatur laetitia ex labore suo quod laboravit ipse sub sole numerum dierum vitae suae quos dedit ei Deus et haec est pars illius
Behold, what I have seen is, that it is good and proper for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor which he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.
19 et omni homini cui dedit Deus divitias atque substantiam potestatemque ei tribuit ut comedat ex eis et fruatur parte sua et laetetur de labore suo hoc est donum Dei
To whatever man also God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him to enjoy them, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.
20 non enim satis recordabitur dierum vitae suae eo quod Deus occupet deliciis cor eius
For he will not much remember the days of his life; for God answereth him with the joy of his heart.
