Ecclesiastes 5

1Watch your step when you go to the house of God. Coming near to listen is better than offering a sacrifice as fools do, for they do not know that they are doing wrong.

2Do not speak rashly, and do not let your heart be quick to say anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so keep your words few. 3As dreams come when there is much to do, so a fool’s voice comes with many words. 4When you make a vow to God, do not put off paying it, for he takes no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not pay it. 6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not tell the messenger, “It was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7For when dreams and words are many, they are only a breath. Instead, fear God. 8If you see the poor oppressed in a province, and justice and right taken away by force, do not be surprised at it. One official watches over another, and still higher ones are over them both. 9Yet, for all that, a land gains from having a king who cares for its farmed fields. 10Whoever loves money never has enough money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with what comes in. This too is a breath. 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them. And what does their owner get from them, except to look at them? 12Workers sleep sweetly, whether they eat little or much, but the rich have so much that they cannot sleep. 13I have seen a painful misfortune under the sun: wealth hoarded by its owner to the owner’s own harm. 14Then that wealth is lost through some bad venture, and when he has a son, he has nothing left to give him. 15As he came from his mother’s womb, so he must go back, naked as he came. He will take nothing from all his hard work that he can carry in his hand. 16This too is a painful misfortune: just as he came, so he must go. And what does he gain from toiling for the wind? 17All his days he eats in darkness, with much vexation, sickness and anger. 18This is what I have seen to be good and fitting: for people to eat and drink and enjoy all their hard work under the sun during the few days of life God has given them, for that is their share. 19And whenever God grants people riches and property, and lets them eat from it, take up their share and be glad in their hard work, that is God’s gift. 20Such people will not dwell much on the days of their lives, because God keeps them busy with gladness of heart.