1 G uard 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.

Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning.

2 D on’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.

Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few.

3 F or as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words.

4 W hen you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

When you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay!

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

It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it.

6 D on’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?

Do not let your mouth cause you to sin. And do not say to the one sent from God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you said, and destroy the work of your hands?

7 F or in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

For when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear. Money and Honor Are of Little Worth

8 I f 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.

In one part of a land if you see a bad power held over the poor, and what is right and fair and good taken away, do not be surprised by what you see. For one leader watches over another leader, and more important leaders watch over them.

9 M oreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

After all, a country does better with a king in power.

10 H e who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

He who loves money will never have enough money to make him happy. It is the same for the one who loves to get many things. This also is for nothing.

11 W hen goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

When there are more good things, there are also more people to eat them. So what does their owner get except to see 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 allow him to sleep.

The sleep of the working man is pleasing, if he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not let him sleep.

13 T here is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

There is something very wrong which I have seen under the sun: Riches being kept by the owner and he is hurt by them.

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

When those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him.

15 A s 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.

A man comes from his mother without clothing, and he will go as he came. He will take nothing from his work that he can carry in his hand.

16 T his 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?

This also is very wrong: As a man is born, this is the way he will leave. So what does the man get who works for the wind?

17 A ll his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

All his life he eats in darkness with much sorrow, sickness and anger.

18 B ehold, 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.

This is what I have seen to be good and right: to eat and to drink and be happy in all the work one does under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him. For this is his reward.

19 E very 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.

As for every man to whom God has given riches and many good things, He has also given him the power to eat from them, receive his reward and be happy in his work. This is the gift of God.

20 F or he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.

For he will not think much about the years of his life, because God keeps him happy in his heart.