Ecclesiastes 5 :: Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Fear God

[fn]Guard^H8104 your steps^H7272 as you go^H1980 to the house^H1004 of God^H430 and draw^H7126 near^H7126 to listen^H8085 rather^H4480 than^H4480 to offer^H5414 the sacrifice^H2077 of fools^H3684; for they do not know^H3045 they are doing^H6213 evil^H7451.

Ecc 5:2

Ecc 5:2 [fn]Do not be hasty with your mouth or [fn]impulsive in your heart to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven but you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

Ecc 5:3

Ecc 5:3For the dream comes through abundant endeavor and the voice of a fool through abundant words.

Ecc 5:4

When^H834 you make^H5087 a vow^H5088 to God^H430, do not be late^H309 in paying^H7999 it; for He takes no^H369 delight^H2656 in fools^H3684. Pay^H7999 what^H834 you vow^H5087!

Ecc 5:5

Ecc 5:5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Ecc 5:6

Ecc 5:6Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and wreak destruction on the work of your hands?

Ecc 5:7

Ecc 5:7For in many dreams and vanities are many words. Rather, [fn]fear God.

The Vanity of Riches

Ecc 5:8

If^H518 you see^H7200 oppression^H6233 of the poor^H7326 and robbery^H1498 of justice^H4941 and righteousness^H6664 in the province^H4082, do not be^H8539 astonished^H8539 over the [fn]matter^H2656; for a lofty^H1364 one keeps^H8104 watch^H8104 over^H4480^H5921 another lofty^H1364 one, and there are loftier^H1364 ones^H1364 over^H5921 them.

Ecc 5:9

Ecc 5:9But the advantage of the land in everything is this—a king committed to a cultivated field.

Ecc 5:10

He who loves^H157 money^H3701 will not be^H7646 satisfied^H7646 with money^H3701, nor^H3808 he who^H4310 loves^H157 abundance^H1995 with its produce^H8393. This^H2088 too^H1571 is [fn]vanity^H1892.

Ecc 5:11

Ecc 5:11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the success to their masters except to look on with their eyes?

Ecc 5:12

Ecc 5:12The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the satisfaction of the rich man does not [fn]allow him to sleep.

Ecc 5:13

There^H3426 is^H3426 a sickening^H2470 evil^H7451 which I have seen^H7200 under^H8478 the sun^H8121: riches^H6239 being [fn]hoarded^H8104 by their master^H1167 to his own evil^H7451 demise.

Ecc 5:14

Ecc 5:14And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him.

Ecc 5:15

Ecc 5:15As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will carry nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can bring in his hand.

Ecc 5:16

Ecc 5:16This also is a sickening evil—exactly as a man came, so will he go. So what is the advantage to him who labors for the wind?

Ecc 5:17

Ecc 5:17Also, all his days he eats in darkness with much vexation, and his sickness and anger.

Ecc 5:18

Here^H2009 is what^H834 I have seen^H7200 to be good^H2896, which is [fn]beautiful^H3303: to eat^H398, to drink^H8354, and to see^H7200 good^H2896 in all^H3605 one’s labor^H5999 in which^H7945 he labors^H5998 under^H8478 the sun^H8121 during the few^H4557 days^H3117 of his life^H2416 which^H834 God^H430 has given^H5414 him; for this^H1931 is his portion^H2506.

Ecc 5:19

Ecc 5:19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to take up his portion and be glad in his labor; this is the gift of God.

Ecc 5:20