Ecclesiastes 4-5
New American Standard Bible 1995
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 on the side of their oppressors was power, 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 man and his neighbor. This too is [a](F)vanity 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 vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a [b]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 am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a (L)grievous task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if [c]either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not [d]another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they [e]keep warm, but (M)how can one be warm alone? 12 And if [f]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 lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive [g]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 the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who [h]replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is (P)vanity and striving after wind.
Your Attitude Toward God
5 [i](Q)Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the (R)sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 [j]Do not be (S)hasty [k]in word or [l]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 [m]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 should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your [n]speech cause [o]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 [p]emptiness. Rather, [q](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 [r]sight; for one [s]official watches over another [t]official, and there are higher [u]officials over them. 9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
The Folly of Riches
10 (AD)He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is [v]vanity. 11 (AE)When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to [w]look on? 12 The sleep of the working man is (AF)pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the [x]full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: (AG)riches being [y]hoarded by their owner to his hurt. 14 When those riches were lost through [z]a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing [aa]to support him. 15 (AH)As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he 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 grievous evil—exactly as a man [ab]is born, thus will he [ac]die. So (AJ)what is the advantage to him who (AK)toils for the wind? 17 Throughout his life (AL)he also eats in darkness with (AM)great vexation, sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be (AN)good and [ad]fitting: to eat, to drink and [ae]enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few [af]years of his life which God has given him; for this is his [ag](AO)reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom (AP)God has given riches and wealth, He has also (AQ)empowered him to eat from them and to receive his [ah]reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the (AR)gift of God. 20 For he will not often [ai]consider the [aj]years of his life, because (AS)God keeps [ak]him occupied with the gladness of his heart.
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 4:4 Or futility, and so throughout the ch
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 Lit second
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit they fall
- Ecclesiastes 4:10 Lit a second
- Ecclesiastes 4:11 Lit have warmth
- Ecclesiastes 4:12 Lit he
- Ecclesiastes 4:13 Or warning
- Ecclesiastes 4:15 Lit stands in his stead
- Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ch 4:17 in Heb
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Heb
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Lit with your mouth
- Ecclesiastes 5:2 Lit hurry your heart
- Ecclesiastes 5:3 Lit task
- Ecclesiastes 5:6 Lit mouth
- Ecclesiastes 5:6 Lit your body
- Ecclesiastes 5:7 Lit vanity
- Ecclesiastes 5:7 Or revere
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit delight
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit high one
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit high one
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit ones
- Ecclesiastes 5:10 Or futility
- Ecclesiastes 5:11 Lit see with their eyes
- Ecclesiastes 5:12 Lit satiety
- Ecclesiastes 5:13 Lit guarded
- Ecclesiastes 5:14 Lit an evil task
- Ecclesiastes 5:14 Lit in his hand
- Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit comes
- Ecclesiastes 5:16 Lit go
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Lit beautiful
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Lit see good
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or days
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or share
- Ecclesiastes 5:19 Or share
- Ecclesiastes 5:20 Lit remember
- Ecclesiastes 5:20 Or days
- Ecclesiastes 5:20 So with Gr
Psalm 9:1-10
New American Standard Bible 1995
A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God’s Justice.
For the choir director; on [a]Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
9 I will give thanks to the Lord with all (A)my heart;
I will (B)tell of all Your [b]wonders.
2 I will be glad and (C)exult in You;
I will (D)sing praise to Your name, O (E)Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and (F)perish before You.
4 For You have (G)maintained [c]my just cause;
You have sat on the throne [d](H)judging righteously.
5 You have (I)rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have (J)blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 [e]The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very (K)memory of them has perished.
7 But the (L)Lord [f]abides forever;
He has established His (M)throne for judgment,
8 And He will (N)judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9 [g]The Lord also will be a (O)stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10 And [h]those who (P)know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not (Q)forsaken those who seek You.
Footnotes
- Psalm 9:1 I.e. “Death to the Son”
- Psalm 9:1 Or miracles
- Psalm 9:4 Lit my right and my cause
- Psalm 9:4 Or a righteous Judge
- Psalm 9:6 Or O enemy, desolations are finished forever; And their cities You have plucked up
- Psalm 9:7 Or sits as king
- Psalm 9:9 Or Let the Lord also be
- Psalm 9:10 Or let those...name put
Luke 2:39-52
New American Standard Bible 1995
Return to Nazareth
39 When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to (A)their own city of Nazareth. 40 (B)The Child continued to grow and become strong, [a]increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at (C)the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the (D)full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. 46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him (E)were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and (F)His mother said to Him, “[b]Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, (G)Your father and I [c]have been anxiously looking for You.” 49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that (H)I had to be in My Father’s [d]house?” 50 But (I)they did not understand the statement which He [e]had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to (J)Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and (K)His mother (L)treasured all these [f]things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and [g]stature, and in (M)favor with God and men.
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
