1 W alk 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.

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 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.

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 a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his 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 delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—

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 B etter not to vow than to 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 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?

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

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 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.

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

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

10 H e who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also 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 goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?

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 a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit 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 severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for 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 B ut those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 A s 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.

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 A nd 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?

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 A ll his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and 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: 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.

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 A s 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.

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 dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy 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.