Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 NASB20 - Bible AI

¹[50]Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil.

²[51]Do not be quick with your mouth or [52]impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

³For the dream comes through much [53]effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.

⁴When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!

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

⁶Do not let your [54]speech cause [55]you 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 destroy the work of your hands?

⁷For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, [56]fear God.

⁸If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the [57]sight; for one [58]official watches over another [59]official, and there are higher [60]officials over them.

⁹After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.

The Foolishness of Riches

¹⁰One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.

¹¹When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to [61]look at them?

¹²The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the [62]full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.

¹³There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth being [63]hoarded by its owner to his detriment.

¹⁴When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing [64]to support him.

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

¹⁶This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person [65]is born, so will he [66]die. What then is the advantage for him who labors for the wind?

¹⁷All his life he also eats in darkness with great irritation, sickness, and anger.

¹⁸Here is what I have seen to be good and [67]fitting: to eat, to drink, and [68]enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few [69]years of his life which God has given him; for this is his [70]reward.

¹⁹Furthermore, as for every person to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also given him the opportunity to [71]enjoy them and to receive his [72]reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

²⁰For he will not often call to mind the [73]years of his life, because God keeps [74]him busy with the joy of his heart.