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World English Bible

Ecclesiastes 5

1

Keep your foot when you go to the house of God; for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they don't know that they do evil.

2

Don't be rash with your mouth, and don't let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in Heaven, and you on earth: therefore let your words be few.

3

For a dream comes with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.

4

When you vow a vow to God, don't defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you vow.

5

Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

6

Don't allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that is was an error: why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

7

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear you God.

8

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, don't marvel at the matter: for one higher than the high regards; and there are higher than they.

9

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

10

He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

11

When goods increase, they are increased who eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner of it, save the beholding of them with his eyes?

12

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fullness of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner of it to his hurt:

14

and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he has begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15

As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

16

This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he who he labors for the wind?

17

All his days also he eats in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and has sickness and wrath.

18

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him: for this is his portion.

19

Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.

20

For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart.



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