Ecclesiastes 5

1 Guard your steps [be careful, watch your way] when you go to the house of God [the temple, the place of worship]. Draw near to listen [hear and obey, give attention] rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools [mindless, foolish sacrifices, meaningless offerings], who do not know [are unaware, ignorant] that they do wrong [evil, sinful things]. word study 2 Do not be [rash, unwise] quick to speak, and do not be hasty [quick] in your heart [mind, spirit] to utter a word [anything, a promise] before God [in heaven, the all-powerful One]. After all, God is in heaven [the spiritual realm, above all] and you are on earth [the physical world, below]. So let your words [voice, speech] be few [limited, restrained]. word study 3 As a dream [coming from an abundance of business, through many cares] comes through many cares, so the speech [voice, words] of a fool [one who is stupid and silly, a foolish person] comes with many words [a multitude of words]. word study 4 When you make a vow [promise, solemn oath] to God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], do not delay [defer, put off] in fulfilling [completing, paying] it, because He takes no pleasure [has no delight, is not pleased] in fools [the foolish, those who act unwisely]. Fulfill [pay, complete] your vow [promise, commitment]. word study 5 It is better [more desirable, preferable] not to vow [make a promise, take an oath] than to make a vow [promise, pledge] and not fulfill [keep, complete] it [the promise, obligation]. word study 6 Do not let your mouth cause [cause you to sin, lead you into error] your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger [or priest, one who speaks on God’s behalf] that your vow [promise, oath] was a mistake [an error, a wrong decision]. Why should God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] be angry [wroth, displeased] with your words [voice, what you say] and destroy [put an end to, ruin] the work of your hands [the results of your labor, what you have accomplished]? word study 7 For as many dreams [and questions of meaning] bring futility [vanities, things of no purpose], so do many words [and diverse ideas]. Therefore, fear [revere, have awe for] God [the supreme Creator]. word study 8 If you see the oppression [cruel treatment, violent perversion] of the poor [those in need, the disadvantaged] and the denial [violent taking away, perversion] of justice [righteous judgment, fairness] and righteousness [moral integrity, uprightness] in the province [land, country, region], do not be astonished [marvel not, surprised] at the matter; for one official [authority, ruler] is watched [eyed, supervised] by a superior [one higher, a higher authority], and others higher still [higher ones, those in greater authority] are over them. word study 9 The produce [crops, income, revenue] of the earth [land, material world] is taken [received, gathered] by all [everyone, the whole population]; the king [ruler, monarch] himself [personally, as an individual] profits [benefits, gains] from the fields [agricultural land, cultivated ground]. word study 10 He who loves [is passionately devoted to] money is never satisfied [content, at peace] by money, and he who loves [pursues, cherishes] wealth is never satisfied [fulfilled, complete] by income [gain, profit]. This too [all these things, this reality] is futile [vanity, meaningless, without purpose]. word study 11 When good things increase [increase and abound], so do those who consume [eat and devour] them; what then is the profit [benefit and advantage] to the owner, except to behold [see and gaze upon] them with his eyes [with a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment]? word study 12 The sleep [rest, slumber] of the worker [laboring man, one who toils] is sweet [pleasant, delightful], whether he eats [consumes, takes in] little [a small amount] or much [a large quantity], but the abundance [fullness, wealth] of the rich [wealthy, affluent] man permits [allows, enables] him no sleep [rest, peaceful slumber]. word study 13 There is a grievous [sore, painful] evil [bad, morally harmful] I have seen [observed, witnessed] under the sun: wealth [riches, abundance] hoarded [kept, saved] to the harm [hurt, downfall] of its owner [possessor, master], word study 14 or wealth [lost through misfortune, by evil travail] lost in a failed venture [bad investments, evil adventure], so when that man has a son [begotten a child] there is nothing [no inheritance, anything] to pass on [to give, bequeath]. word study 15 As a man [naked, without possessions] came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked [without anything, empty-handed] as he arrived. He takes nothing [no reward, no profit] for his labor [toil, hard work] to carry in his hands [to take away, to possess]. word study 16 This too [also, even] is a grievous [sore, painful] evil: Exactly as a man is born [comes into the world], so he will depart [go, leave]. What does he gain [profit, benefit] as he toils [labors, works] for the wind [in vain, without lasting result]? word study 17 Moreover, all [the entirety of] his days he eats [consumes, devours] in darkness [shadow, gloom], with much [abundant, plentiful] sorrow [grief, sadness], sickness [disease, infirmity], and anger [wrath, indignation]. word study 18 Here is what I have seen to be [truly] good and [morally] fitting: to eat [and enjoy nourishment] and drink, and to find [genuine] satisfaction in all the labor [hard work, toil] one does under the sun [in this earthly life] during the few days of life [limited time, mortal existence] that God [Elohim, the supreme Giver] has given him—for this is his [assigned] lot [portion, inheritance]. word study 19 Furthermore, God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] has given riches [wealth, possessions] and wealth [material possessions, abundance] to every man, and He has enabled [given power to, allowed] him to enjoy [take pleasure in, delight in] them, to accept [be content with, receive] his lot [portion, circumstance], and to rejoice [be joyful, have gladness] in his labor [work, toil]. This is a gift [blessing, gracious bestowal] from God. word study 20 For a man [person] seldom [rarely, infrequently] considers [thinks about, reflects on] the days of his life, because God [the Lord] keeps him occupied [busy, preoccupied] with the joy [delight, happiness] of his heart. word study