1 K eep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.

Guard 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.

2 C ause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

Do 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.

3 F or the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

4 W hen thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.

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

5 B etter that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.

It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

6 S uffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger, that `it an error,' why is God wroth because of thy voice, and hath destroyed the work of thy hands?

Do 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?

7 F or, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

8 I f oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones over them.

If 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.

9 A nd the abundance of a land is for all. A king for a field is served.

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

10 W hoso is loving silver is not satisfied silver, nor he who is in love with stores increase. Even this vanity.

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

11 I n the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

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

12 S weet the sleep of the labourer whether he eat little or much; and the sufficiency of the wealthy is not suffering him to sleep.

The 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.

13 T here is a painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil.

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

14 A nd that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand!

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

15 A s he came out from the belly of his mother, naked he turneth back to go as he came, and he taketh not away anything of his labour, that doth go in his hand.

As 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.

16 A nd this also a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage to him who laboureth for wind?

This 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?

17 A lso all his days in darkness he consumeth, and sadness, and wrath, and sickness abound.

Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

18 L o, that which I have seen: good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it his portion.

Here 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.

19 E very man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.

Furthermore, 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.

20 F or he doth not much remember the days of his life, for God is answering through the joy of his heart.

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