Old Testament · Poetry and wisdom

Ecclesiastes chapter 5

Watch your step when you go to the . Come ready to listen rather than to offer the mindless that fools bring — they don’t even realize they’re doing harm.Don’t be hasty with your mouth, and don’t let your rush to say anything before God. God is in the heavens and you are on the earth — so let your words be few.Just as too many worries bring bad dreams, too many words bring the babbling of a fool.When you make a to God, don’t drag your feet in keeping it. He takes no pleasure in fools — so follow through on what you vow.Better not to vow at all than to vow and not follow through.Don’t let your mouth lead your whole self into . And don’t tell the , “It was a mistake.” Why give God a reason to be angry at what you say and tear down everything you’ve built?When dreams pile up, so do pointless words. Instead — God.If you see the poor being crushed and and being stripped away in your region, don’t be shocked. Every official is watched by a higher one, and above them all stand even higher powers.But the of the land is for everyone — even the king depends on the field.Whoever loves money never has enough. Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with what comes in. This too is .When goods increase, so do the people consuming them. What do owners really gain except getting to watch it all go?The sleep of a is sweet, whether they eat little or much. But the abundance of the rich won’t let them sleep at all.There is a sickening tragedy I’ve seen : wealth hoarded by its owner to their own ruin.That wealth is lost through some bad venture, and when a child is born to them, there is nothing left to pass on.Naked they came from their mother’s womb, and naked they will return. They can carry nothing from their labor — not a single thing their hands can take with them.This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as they came, so they will go. What do they gain from ?All their days they eat in , with great frustration, sickness, and bitterness.Here is what I’ve seen to be genuinely good: it is fitting to eat, drink, and find in all the work you do under the sun during the few days of life God gives you — because that is your .And when God gives anyone wealth and possessions and the ability to enjoy them — to accept their portion and find joy in their work — this is a from God.They won’t dwell too much on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with the in their .