Eccl.5.1
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Eccl.5.1
Watch your step when you enter God's house. Enter to learn. That's far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good.
Eccl.5.1
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.
Eccl.5.1
Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.
Eccl.5.1
As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don't be a fool who doesn't realize that mindless offerings to God are evil.
Eccl.5.2
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
Eccl.5.2
Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God's in charge, not you--the less you speak, the better.
Eccl.5.2
Do 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.
Eccl.5.2
Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
Eccl.5.2
And don't make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few.
Eccl.5.3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
Eccl.5.3
Over-work makes for restless sleep. Over-talk shows you up as a fool.
Eccl.5.3
As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
Eccl.5.3
For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words.
Eccl.5.3
Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth.
Eccl.5.4
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
Eccl.5.4
When you tell God you'll do something, do it--now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it.
Eccl.5.4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
Eccl.5.4
When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed--
Eccl.5.4
So when you make a promise to God, don't delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.
Eccl.5.5
Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Eccl.5.5
Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.
Eccl.5.5
It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
Eccl.5.5
Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Eccl.5.5
It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don't follow through on.
Eccl.5.6
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
Eccl.5.6
Don't let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won't get by with "Sorry, I didn't mean it." Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation?
Eccl.5.6
Do 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?
Eccl.5.6
Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
Eccl.5.6
In such cases, your mouth is making you sin. And don't defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
Eccl.5.7
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Eccl.5.7
But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk There's always this rock foundation: Fear God!
Eccl.5.7
Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
Eccl.5.7
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Eccl.5.7
Dreaming all the time instead of working is foolishness. And there is ruin in a flood of empty words. Fear God instead.
Eccl.5.8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
Eccl.5.8
Don't be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There's no end to it, and nothing can be done about it.
Eccl.5.8
If 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.
Eccl.5.8
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.
Eccl.5.8
If you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and justice being miscarried throughout the land, don't be surprised! For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice only get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
Eccl.5.9
Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
Eccl.5.9
But the good earth doesn't cheat anyone--even a bad king is honestly served by a field.
Eccl.5.9
The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
Eccl.5.9
Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.
Eccl.5.9
Even the king milks the land for his own profit!
Eccl.5.10
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
Eccl.5.10
The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke.
Eccl.5.10
Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
Eccl.5.10
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
Eccl.5.10
Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness!
Eccl.5.11
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
Eccl.5.11
The more loot you get, the more looters show up. And what fun is that--to be robbed in broad daylight?
Eccl.5.11
As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?
Eccl.5.11
When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?
Eccl.5.11
The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth--except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!
Eccl.5.12
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Eccl.5.12
Hard and honest work earns a good night's sleep, Whether supper is beans or steak. But a rich man's belly gives him insomnia.
Eccl.5.12
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.
Eccl.5.12
The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
Eccl.5.12
People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich are always worrying and seldom get a good night's sleep.
Eccl.5.13
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
Eccl.5.13
Here's a piece of bad luck I've seen happen: A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him
Eccl.5.13
I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
Eccl.5.13
There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
Eccl.5.13
There is another serious problem I have seen in the world. Riches are sometimes hoarded to the harm of the saver,
Eccl.5.14
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
Eccl.5.14
And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn't a cent left to give him.
Eccl.5.14
or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.
Eccl.5.14
But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
Eccl.5.14
or they are put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one's children.
Eccl.5.15
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
Eccl.5.15
He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He'll leave in the same condition--with nothing.
Eccl.5.15
Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
Eccl.5.15
As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.
Eccl.5.15
People who live only for wealth come to the end of their lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born.
Eccl.5.16
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
Eccl.5.16
This is bad luck, for sure--naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke?
Eccl.5.16
This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
Eccl.5.16
And this also is a severe evil-- Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
Eccl.5.16
And this, too, is a very serious problem. As people come into this world, so they depart. All their hard work is for nothing. They have been working for the wind, and everything will be swept away.
Eccl.5.17
All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
Eccl.5.17
All for a miserable life spent in the dark?
Eccl.5.17
All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
Eccl.5.17
All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
Eccl.5.17
Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud--frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
Eccl.5.18
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
Eccl.5.18
After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot.
Eccl.5.18
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him-for this is his lot.
Eccl.5.18
Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
Eccl.5.18
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work--whatever they do under the sun--for however long God lets them live.
Eccl.5.19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
Eccl.5.19
Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!
Eccl.5.19
Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God.
Eccl.5.19
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.
Eccl.5.19
And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God.
Eccl.5.20
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Eccl.5.20
God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live.
Eccl.5.20
He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Eccl.5.20
For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Eccl.5.20
People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.
