Fear God

1[†]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[†]Do not be hasty with your mouth or [†]impulsive in your heart to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven but you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 3For the dream comes through abundant endeavor and the voice of a fool through abundant words.

4When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh 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 wreak destruction on the work of your hands? 7For in many dreams and vanities are many words. Rather, [†]fear God.

The Vanity of Riches

8If you see oppression of the poor and robbery of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished over the [†]matter; for a lofty one keeps watch over another lofty one, and there are loftier ones over them. 9But the advantage of the land in everything is this—a king committed to a cultivated field.

10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its produce. This too is [†]vanity. 11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the success to their masters except to look on with their eyes? 12The sleep of the laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the satisfaction of the rich man does not [†]allow him to sleep.

13There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being [†]hoarded by their master to his own evil demise. 14And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him. 15As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will carry nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can bring in his hand. 16This also is a sickening evil—exactly as a man came, so will he go. So what is the advantage to him who labors for the wind? 17Also, all his days he eats in darkness with much vexation, and his sickness and anger.

18Here is what I have seen to be good, which is [†]beautiful: to eat, to drink, and to see good in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. 19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to take up his portion and be glad in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20For he will not remember much the days of his life because God allows [†]him to occupy himself with the gladness of his heart.