Ecclesiastes 5

1 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.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

2 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.

Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

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

As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

4 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.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.

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

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

6 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.

Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?

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

For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

8 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.

If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.

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

The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

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

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

11 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?

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

12 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.

The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

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

There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

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

or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

15 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.

As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.

16 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?

This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

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

Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

18 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.

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

19 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.

Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

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

For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.