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Ecclesiastes 4-6
New American Standard Bible

The Evils of Oppression

4 Then I looked again at all the acts of (A)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had (B)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So (C)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3 But (D)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

4 I have seen that every labor and every (E)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is (F)futility and striving after wind. 5 The fool (G)folds his hands and (H)consumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is (I)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

7 Then I looked again at futility under the sun. 8 There was a man without a [a]dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, (J)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, “And (K)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?” This too is futility, and it is an (L)unhappy task.

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; 10 for if [b]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [c]another to lift him up! 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [d]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [e]one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

13 A (N)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [f]instruction— 14 for he has come (O)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who [g]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is (P)futility and striving after wind.

Your Attitude toward God

5 [h](Q)Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the (R)sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 [i]Do not be (S)quick with your mouth or [j]impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your (T)words be few. 3 For the dream comes through much [k]effort, and the voice of a (U)fool through many words.

4 When you (V)make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. (W)Pay what you vow! 5 It is (X)better that you not vow, than vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your [l]speech cause [m]you to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a (Y)mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, [n](Z)fear God.

8 If you see (AA)oppression of the poor and (AB)denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be (AC)shocked at the [o]sight; for one [p]official watches over another [q]official, and there are higher [r]officials over them. 9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.

The Foolishness of Riches

10 (AD)One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility. 11 (AE)When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to [s]look at them? 12 The sleep of the laborer is (AF)sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the [t]full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: (AG)wealth being [u]hoarded by its owner to his detriment. 14 When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing [v]to support him. 15 (AH)As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will (AI)take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person [w]is born, so will he [x]die. (AJ)What then is the advantage for him who (AK)labors for the wind? 17 All his life (AL)he also eats in darkness with (AM)great irritation, sickness, and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen to be (AN)good and [y]fitting: to eat, to drink, and [z]enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few [aa]years of his life which God has given him; for this is his [ab](AO)reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every person to whom (AP)God has given riches and wealth, He has also (AQ)given him the opportunity to [ac]enjoy them and to receive his [ad]reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the (AR)gift of God. 20 For he will not often call to mind the [ae]years of his life, because (AS)God keeps [af]him busy with the joy of his heart.

The Futility of Life

6 There is an (AT)evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread [ag]among mankind: 2 a person to whom God has (AU)given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul (AV)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to [ah]enjoy these things, but a foreigner [ai]enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many [aj]they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper (AW)burial, then I say, “Better (AX)the miscarriage than he, 4 for a miscarriage comes in futility and goes into darkness; and its name is covered in darkness. 5 It has not even seen the sun nor does it know it; yet [ak]it is better off than that man. 6 Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—(AY)do not all go to one and the same place?”

7 (AZ)All a person’s labor is for his mouth, and yet [al]his appetite is not [am]satisfied. 8 For (BA)what advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes (BB)see is better than what the soul [an]desires. This too is (BC)futility and striving after wind.

10 Whatever (BD)exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he (BE)cannot dispute with the [ao]one who is mightier than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person? 12 For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few [ap]years of his futile life? He will [aq]spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person (BF)what will happen after him under the sun?

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit second
  2. Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
  3. Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit a second
  4. Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
  5. Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
  6. Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or warning
  7. Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit stands in his place
  8. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ch 4:17 in Heb
  9. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Heb
  10. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Lit hurry your heart
  11. Ecclesiastes 5:3 Lit task
  12. Ecclesiastes 5:6 Lit mouth
  13. Ecclesiastes 5:6 Lit your body
  14. Ecclesiastes 5:7 Or revere
  15. Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit delight
  16. Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit high one
  17. Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit high one
  18. Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit ones
  19. Ecclesiastes 5:11 Lit see with their eyes
  20. Ecclesiastes 5:12 Lit satiety
  21. Ecclesiastes 5:13 Lit guarded
  22. Ecclesiastes 5:14 Lit in his hand
  23. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit comes
  24. Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit go
  25. Ecclesiastes 5:18 Lit beautiful
  26. Ecclesiastes 5:18 Lit see good
  27. Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or days
  28. Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or share
  29. Ecclesiastes 5:19 Lit eat from it
  30. Ecclesiastes 5:19 Or share
  31. Ecclesiastes 5:20 Or days
  32. Ecclesiastes 5:20 As in LXX
  33. Ecclesiastes 6:1 Lit upon
  34. Ecclesiastes 6:2 Lit eat from it
  35. Ecclesiastes 6:2 Lit eats it
  36. Ecclesiastes 6:3 Lit the days of his years
  37. Ecclesiastes 6:5 Lit more rest has this one than that
  38. Ecclesiastes 6:7 Lit the soul
  39. Ecclesiastes 6:7 Lit filled
  40. Ecclesiastes 6:9 Lit goes after
  41. Ecclesiastes 6:10 Or Him who
  42. Ecclesiastes 6:12 Lit days
  43. Ecclesiastes 6:12 Lit do
Listen to Ecclesiastes 4-6
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Ecclesiastes 4-6
New International Version

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression(A) that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
    and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
    and they have no comforter.(B)
2 And I declared that the dead,(C)
    who had already died,
are happier than the living,
    who are still alive.(D)
3 But better than both
    is the one who has never been born,(E)
who has not seen the evil
    that is done under the sun.(F)

4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.(G)

5 Fools fold their hands(H)
    and ruin themselves.
6 Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil(I)
    and chasing after the wind.

7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

8 There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content(J) with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement Is Meaningless

13 Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. 14 The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. 15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 [a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.(K)
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.(L)
3 A dream(M) comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.(N)

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.(O) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.(P) 5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.(Q) 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(R)

Riches Are Meaningless

8 If you see the poor oppressed(S) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
    whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
    This too is meaningless.

11 As goods increase,
    so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
    except to feast their eyes on them?

12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
    whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
    permits them no sleep.(T)

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:(U)

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14     or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.(V)
They take nothing from their toil(W)
    that they can carry in their hands.(X)

16 This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?(Y)
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink(Z) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor(AA) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,(AB) and the ability to enjoy them,(AC) to accept their lot(AD) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.(AE) 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.(AF)

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,(AG) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(AH)

3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn(AI) child is better off than he.(AJ) 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?(AK)

7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
    yet their appetite is never satisfied.(AL)
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?(AM)
What do the poor gain
    by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9 Better what the eye sees
    than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind.(AN)

10 Whatever exists has already been named,(AO)
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.
11 The more the words,
    the less the meaning,
    and how does that profit anyone?

12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days(AP) they pass through like a shadow?(AQ) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:1 In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19.
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