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.

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

For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with 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 promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay!

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

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

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 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 abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou 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 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.

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

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

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 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 I n the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit to its possessor except the sight of 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 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 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 painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil.

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 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 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 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.

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

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

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 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.

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 doth not much remember the days of his life, for God is answering through 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.