Ecclesiastes 5

1 Do not be hasty with your mouth, and do not let your heart rush to speak before God. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 2 For a dream comes through much distraction, and a fool’s voice comes with many words. 3 Whenever you make a vow to God, do not delay paying it, because he takes no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. 4 It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 5 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not say in God’s presence, “It was a mistake.” Otherwise, God may become angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands. 6 For amid many dreams there are also futile things and many words. Instead, fear God.

7 If you see oppression of the poor and the violent seizure of judgment and righteousness in a country, do not be amazed at the matter. One high official watches over another high official, and still higher ones watch over them. 8 The advantage of the land is in everything; a king belongs to a cultivated field. 9 Whoever loves silver is not satisfied with silver, and who has loved produce amid its abundance? This too is futile. 10 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. What courage comes to its owner except that his eyes see them? 11 A slave’s sleep is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but a rich person’s fullness does not allow him to sleep.

12 There is a grievous affliction I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. 13 That wealth perishes through a troubling distraction. He fathers a son, but there is nothing in his hand. 14 Just as he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will take nothing from his toil to carry in his hand. 15 This too is a grievous affliction: exactly as he came, so he will return. What advantage has he gained by toiling for wind? 16 Indeed, all his days are spent in darkness, mourning, much anger, sickness, and wrath.

17 Look, I have seen what is good and beautiful: to eat, drink, and enjoy good in all the toil at which a person toils under the sun during the number of days God has given him, because this is his portion. 18 Furthermore, whenever God gives a person wealth and possessions and empowers him to eat from them, receive his portion, and rejoice in his toil, this is God’s gift. 19 He will not often remember the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.