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Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
Legacy Standard Bible
Ecclesiastes 5:8-20
Legacy Standard Bible
The Vanity of Riches
8 If you see (A)oppression of the poor and (B)robbery of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be (C)astonished over the [a]matter; for a lofty one keeps watch over another lofty one, and there are loftier ones over them. 9 But the advantage of the land in everything is this—a king committed to a cultivated field.
10 (D)He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its produce. This too is [b]vanity. 11 (E)When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the success to their masters except to look on with their eyes? 12 The sleep of the laboring man is (F)sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the satisfaction of the rich man does not [c]allow him to sleep.
13 There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: (G)riches being [d]hoarded by their master to his own evil demise. 14 And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him. 15 (H)As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will (I)carry nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can bring in his hand. 16 This also is a sickening evil—exactly as a man came, so will he go. So (J)what is the advantage to him who (K)labors for the wind? 17 Also, all his days (L)he eats in darkness with (M)much vexation, and his sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be (N)good, which is [e]beautiful: to eat, to drink, and to see good in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him; for this is his (O)portion. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom (P)God has given riches and wealth, He has also (Q)empowered him to eat from them and to take up his portion and be glad in his labor; this is the (R)gift of God. 20 For he will not remember much the days of his life because (S)God allows [f]him to occupy himself with the gladness of his heart.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ecclesiastes 5:8 Lit delight
- Ecclesiastes 5:10 Or futility
- Ecclesiastes 5:12 Or grant him rest
- Ecclesiastes 5:13 Lit guarded
- Ecclesiastes 5:18 Or appropriate
- Ecclesiastes 5:20 As in Gr
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)
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American Standard Version (ASV)
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