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.

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t 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.

Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything 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 as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of 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 vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

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

It is better that you should not vow, than that you should 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?

Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, 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 there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

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 taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials 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 earth is for all. The king profits 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 shall 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, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his 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 allow 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 grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

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

Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered 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 out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for 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?

This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors 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, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

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.

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

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.

Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to 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 shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.