Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
The Message
7 But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk
There’s always this rock foundation: Fear God!
A Salary of Smoke
8-9 Don’t be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There’s no end to it, and nothing can be done about it. But the good earth doesn’t cheat anyone—even a bad king is honestly served by a field.
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Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
New International Version
7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(A)
Riches Are Meaningless
8 If you see the poor oppressed(B) 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.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
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