| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. | 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. |
| 2Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. | 2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. |
| 3For dreams result from much work and a fool's voice from many words. | 3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words. |
| 4When you make a vow to God, don't delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. | 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. |
| 5Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. | 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. |
| 6Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? | 6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? |
| 7For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. | 7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. |
| 8If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don't be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. | 8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. |
| 9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field. | 9The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. |
| 10The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. | 10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. |
| 11When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? | 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? |
| 12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep. | 12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. |
| 13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. | 13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, |
| 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. | 14or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on. |
| 15As he came from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. | 15As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. |
| 16This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles for the wind? | 16This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? |
| 17What is more, he eats in darkness all his days, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger. | 17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger. |
| 18Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. | 18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. |
| 19God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, | 19Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. |
| 20for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart. | 20For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart. |
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