Ecclesiastes

Keep your mouth from being rash, and let not your throatathroat Heb. leb, lit. “heart,” sometimes designates the organ of speech; cf. Isa. 33.18; 59.13; Ps. 19.15; 49.4; Job 8.10. be quick to bring forth speech before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; that is why your words should be few.

Just as dreams come with much brooding, so does foolish utterance come with much speech.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. For [God] has no pleasure in fools; what you vow, fulfill.

It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill.

Don’t let your mouth bring you into disfavor, and don’t plead before the messengerbthe messenger Some ancient versions read “God.” that it was an error, but fear God;cbut fear God Moved up from v. 6 for clarity. else God may be angered by your talk and destroy your possessions.

dMeaning of verse uncertain. Emendation yields “Much brooding results in dreams; and much talk in futilities”; cf. v. 2. For much dreaming leads to futility and to superfluous talk.

If you see in a province oppression of the poor and suppression of right and justice, don’t wonder at the fact; for one high official is protected by a higher one, and both of them by still higher ones.

Thus the greatest advantage in all the land is his: he controls a field that is cultivated.eI.e., the high official profits from the labor of others; but meaning of verse uncertain.

A lover of money is never satisfied with money, nor a lover of wealth, with income. That too is futile.

As one’s substance increases, so do those who consume it; what, then, does the success of its owner amount to but feasting the eyes?

Workers’fworkers’ Some ancient versions have “slaves’.” sleep is sweet, whether they have much or little to eat; but the abundance of the rich doesn’t let them sleep.

Here is a grave evil I have observed under the sun: riches hoarded to the detriment of the owners,

in that those riches are lost in some unlucky venture; and if they produce children, they have nothing in hand.

Another grave evil is this: The richgThe rich Heb. “He.” must depart just as they came.hAnother grave evil is this: The rich must depart just as they came Moved up from v. 15 for clarity. As they came out of their mother’s womb, so must they depart at last, naked as they came. They can take nothing of their wealth to carry with them.

So what is the good of their toiling for the wind?

Besides, all their days they eat in darkness,ithey eat in darkness Septuagint reads “are [spent] in darkness and mourning.” with much vexation and grief and anger.

Only this, I have found, is a real good: to eat and drink and get pleasure with all the gains you make under the sun, during the numbered days of life that God has given you; for that is your portion.

Also, whenever people are given riches and property by God, and they are also permitted to enjoy them and to take their portion and get pleasure for their gains—that is a gift of God.

For [such people] will not brood much over the days of their life,jthe days of their life The thought of which is depressing; see v. 16. because God keeps them busy enjoying themselves.