1 G uard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.

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.

2 D o not be hasty in word or 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.

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.

3 F or the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

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

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—

5 I t is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

6 D o not let your speech cause 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?

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?

7 F or in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God. The Vanity of Gain and Honor

8 I f you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

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.

9 A fter all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land. The Folly of Riches

Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

10 H e who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

11 W hen good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?

When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?

12 T he sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

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.

13 T here is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.

There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

14 W hen those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.

But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

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

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.

16 T his also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?

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?

17 T hroughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

18 H ere is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

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.

19 F urthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

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.

20 F or he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.