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Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
21st Century King James Version
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
21st Century King James Version
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for he that is higher than the highest regardeth, 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 that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This is also vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased who eat them; and what good is there to the owners thereof, except the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of the laboring man is sweet whether he eat little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail; and when he begetteth a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil: that in all ways as he came, so shall he go. And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Behold that which I have seen: It is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him; for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given power to eat thereof 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 answereth him in the joy of his heart.
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Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
American Standard Version
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in [a]a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they. 9 [b]Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, 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 fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: 14 and those riches perish by evil [c]adventure; and if he hath 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 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath. 18 Behold, [d]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, wherein he laboreth under the sun, [e]all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, 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 answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Or, the state
- Ecclesiastes 5:9 Or, But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field (or, is a king over the cultivated field)
- Ecclesiastes 5:14 Or, travail
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or, that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one etc.
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Hebrew the number of the days.
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
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)
21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
American Standard Version (ASV)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.