1[1] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. (Ge 28:17; Ex 3:5; 1Sa 15:22; Pr 15:8; Isa 1:12)2[2] Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. (Mt 6:7)3For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. (Job 11:2; Pr 10:19)4When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. (Nu 30:2; De 23:21; Ps 50:14; Ps 66:13; Ps 76:11)5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (Pr 20:25; Ac 5:4)6Let not your mouth lead you[3] into sin, and do not say before the messenger[4] that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? (Nu 15:25; Ec 10:5; 1Co 11:10)7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;[5] but[6] God is the one you must fear. (Ec 12:13)
The Vanity of Wealth and Honor
8If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. (Ps 12:5; Ps 58:11; Ps 82:1; Ec 3:16; Ec 4:1; 1Pe 4:12)9But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.[7]10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.11When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?12Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.13There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, (Ec 6:1)14and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.15As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. (Job 1:21)16This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? (Pr 11:29; Ec 1:3)17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. (Ps 127:2)18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment[8] in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. (Ec 2:10; Ec 2:24)19Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. (2Ch 1:11; Ec 2:24; Ec 3:13; Ec 6:2)20For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
1[1] Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.2Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow.5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil it.6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, ‘My vow was a mistake.’ Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Riches are meaningless
8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.10Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?12The sleep of a labourer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.15Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.16This too is a grievous evil: as everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given them – for this is their lot.19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil – this is a gift of God.20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
1Be careful what you say when you go to God’s house. Go there to listen. Don’t be like foolish people when you offer your sacrifice. They do what is wrong and don’t even know it.2Don’t be too quick to speak. Don’t be in a hurry to say anything to God. God is in heaven. You are on earth. So use only a few words when you speak.3Many worries result in dreams. Many words result in foolish talk.4When you make a promise to God, don’t wait too long to carry it out. He isn’t pleased with foolish people. So do what you have promised.5It is not good to make a promise and not keep it. It is better to make no promise at all.6Don’t let your mouth cause you to sin. Don’t say to the temple messenger, ‘My promise was a mistake.’ Why should God be angry with what you say? Why should he destroy what you have done?7Dreaming too much and talking too much are meaningless. So have respect for God.
Riches are meaningless
8Suppose you see poor people being ill-treated somewhere. And what is being done to them isn’t right or fair. Don’t be surprised by that. One official is watched by a higher one. Officials who are even higher are watching both of them.9All of them take what the land produces. And the king himself takes his share from the fields.10Anyone who loves money never has enough. Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what they get. That doesn’t have any meaning either.11As more and more goods are made, more and more people use them up. So how can those goods benefit their owners? All they can do is look at them with desire.12The sleep of a worker is sweet. It doesn’t matter whether they eat a little or a lot. But the wealth of rich people keeps them awake at night.13I’ve seen something very evil on earth. It’s when wealth is stored up and then brings harm to its owners.14It’s also when wealth is lost because of an unwise business deal. Then there won’t be anything left for the owners’ children.15Everyone is born naked. They come into the world with nothing. And they go out of it with nothing. They don’t get anything from their work that they can take with them.16Here’s something else that is very evil. Everyone is born, and everyone dies. And what do they get for their work? Nothing. It’s like working for the wind.17All their lives they eat in darkness. Their lives are full of trouble, suffering and anger.18I have seen what is good. It is good for a person to eat and drink. It’s good for them to be satisfied with their hard work on this earth. That’s what they should do during the short life God has given them. That’s what God made them for.19Sometimes God gives a person wealth and possessions. God makes it possible for that person to enjoy them. God helps them accept the life he has given them. God helps them to be happy in their work. All these things are gifts from God.20A person like that doesn’t have to think about how their life is going. That’s because God fills their heart with joy.