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Ecclesiastes 5:8-7:29
Christian Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:8-7:29
Christian Standard Bible
The Realities of Wealth
8 If you see oppression of the poor(A) and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation,(B) because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. 9 The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.[a](C)
10 The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. 11 When 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? 12 The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.
13 There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.(D) 14 That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. 15 As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came;(E) he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. 16 This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain(F) who struggles for the wind?(G) 17 What is more, he eats in darkness all his days,(H) with much frustration, sickness, and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be good:(I) 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.(J) 19 Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth,(K) he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor.(L) This is a gift of God,(M) 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
6 Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun,(N) and it weighs heavily on humanity:[b] 2 God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor(O) so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself,(P) but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. 3 A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives,[c] if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial,(Q) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.(R) 4 For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. 5 Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. 6 And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?
8 What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool?(T) What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others? 9 Better what the eyes see than wandering desire.(U) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.[e](V)
10 Whatever exists was given its name long ago,[f](W) and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he.(X) 11 For when there are many words, they increase futility.(Y) What is the advantage for mankind? 12 For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow?(Z) Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?
Wise Sayings
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(AA)
and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.(AB)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
since that is the end of all mankind,
and the living should take it to heart.(AC)
3 Grief is better than laughter,
for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad.(AD)
4 The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure.
5 It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools,(AE)
6 for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot,(AF)
so is the laughter of the fool.
This too is futile.
7 Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool,(AG)
and a bribe corrupts the mind.(AH)
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.(AI)
9 Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,
for anger abides in the heart of fools.(AJ)
10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?”(AK)
since it is not wise of you to ask this.
11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance
and an advantage to those who see the sun,
12 because wisdom is protection as silver is protection;
but the advantage of knowledge
is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.(AL)
13 Consider the work of God,(AM)
for who can straighten out
what he has made crooked?(AN)
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful,(AO) but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other,(AP) so that no one can discover anything that will come after him.
Avoiding Extremes
15 In my futile life[g] I have seen everything:(AQ) someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness,(AR) and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil.(AS) 16 Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise.(AT) Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time?(AU) 18 It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
19 Wisdom makes the wise person stronger
than ten rulers of a city.(AV)
20 There is certainly no one righteous on the earth
who does good and never sins.(AW)
21 Don’t pay attention[h] to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you,(AX) 22 for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.
What the Teacher Found
23 I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me. 24 What exists is beyond reach and very deep.(AY) Who can discover it? 25 I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom(AZ) and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness. 26 And I find more bitter than death(BA) the woman who is a trap:(BB) her heart a net and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her. 27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation, 28 which my soul continually searches for but does not find: I found one person in a thousand, but none of those was a woman.(BC) 29 Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright,(BD) but they pursued many schemes.”
Ecclesiastes 5:8-7:29
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 5:8-7:29
New International Version
Riches Are Meaningless
8 If you see the poor oppressed(A) 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.(B)
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:(C)
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.(D)
They take nothing from their toil(E)
that they can carry in their hands.(F)
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?(G)
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(H) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor(I) 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,(J) and the ability to enjoy them,(K) to accept their lot(L) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.(M) 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.(N)
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,(O) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.(P)
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(Q) child is better off than he.(R) 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?(S)
7 Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
yet their appetite is never satisfied.(T)
8 What advantage have the wise over fools?(U)
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.(V)
10 Whatever exists has already been named,(W)
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(X) they pass through like a shadow?(Y) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?
Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume,(Z)
and the day of death better than the day of birth.(AA)
2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death(AB) is the destiny(AC) of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
3 Frustration is better than laughter,(AD)
because a sad face is good for the heart.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.(AE)
5 It is better to heed the rebuke(AF) of a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools.
6 Like the crackling of thorns(AG) under the pot,
so is the laughter(AH) of fools.
This too is meaningless.
7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe(AI) corrupts the heart.
8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience(AJ) is better than pride.
9 Do not be quickly provoked(AK) in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.(AL)
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days(AM) better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing(AN)
and benefits those who see the sun.(AO)
12 Wisdom is a shelter
as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13 Consider what God has done:(AP)
Who can straighten
what he has made crooked?(AQ)
14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
as well as the other.(AR)
Therefore, no one can discover
anything about their future.
15 In this meaningless life(AS) of mine I have seen both of these:
the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
and the wicked living long in their wickedness.(AT)
16 Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
17 Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?(AU)
18 It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
Whoever fears God(AV) will avoid all extremes.[a]
20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,(AY)
no one who does what is right and never sins.(AZ)
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you(BA) may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”(BB)—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?(BC)
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things(BD)
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.(BE)
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,(BF)
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare.(BG)
27 “Look,” says the Teacher,[b](BH) “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman(BI) among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
Footnotes
- Ecclesiastes 7:18 Or will follow them both
- Ecclesiastes 7:27 Or the leader of the assembly
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