4 Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun.^(A) Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. ² So I commended the dead,^(B) who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. ³ But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed,^(C) who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

The Loneliness of Wealth

⁴ I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another.^(D) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^[a](E)

⁷ Again, I saw futility under the sun: ⁸ There is a person without a companion,^[b] without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches.^(I) “Who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself of good things?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. ¹⁰ For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?^{(J) 12} And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

¹³ Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.^{(K) 14} For he came from prison to be king,^(L) even though he was born poor in his kingdom. ¹⁵ I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow^[c] a second youth who succeeds him. ¹⁶ There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^(M)

Caution in God’s Presence

5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do,^(N) for they ignorantly do wrong. ² Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.^{(O) 3} Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.^{(P) 4} When you make a vow to God,^(Q) don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. ⁵ Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it.^{(R) 6} Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you,^(S) and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake.^(T) Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For many dreams bring futility; so do many words.^(U) Therefore, fear God.

The Realities of Wealth

⁸ If you see oppression of the poor^(V) and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation,^(W) 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.^[d](X)

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.^{(Y) 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;^(Z) 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^(AA) who struggles for the wind?^{(AB) 17} What is more, he eats in darkness all his days,^(AC) with much frustration, sickness, and anger.

¹⁸ Here is what I have seen to be good:^(AD) 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.^{(AE) 19} Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth,^(AF) he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor.^(AG) This is a gift of God,^{(AH) 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,^(AI) and it weighs heavily on humanity:^{[e] 2} God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor^(AJ) so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself,^(AK) 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,^[f] if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial,^(AL) I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.^{(AM) 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?^(AO) 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.^(AP) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^[h](AQ)

¹⁰ Whatever exists was given its name long ago,^[i](AR) and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he.^{(AS) 11} For when there are many words, they increase futility.^(AT) 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?^(AU) Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?

Psalm 125

Israel’s Stability

A song of ascents.

Be Strong in Grace

2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace^(A) that is in Christ Jesus. ² What you have heard from me^(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful^(C) men^[a] who will be able to teach others also.

³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.^{(D) 4} No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. ⁵ Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.^{(E) 7} Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead^(F) and descended from David, according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰ This is why I endure^(G) all things for the elect:^(H) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^{(I) 11} This saying is trustworthy:^(J)

An Approved Worker

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and charge them before God^[b] not to fight about words.^(M) This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.^{(N) 16} Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,^{(O) 17} and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus^(P) and Philetus are among them. ¹⁸ They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,^(Q) and are ruining the faith of some.^{(R) 19} Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription:^(S) The Lord knows those who are his,^[c](T) and let everyone who calls on the name^(U) of^[d] the Lord turn away from wickedness.^(V)

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,^(W) but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable^[e] use and some for dishonorable.^{[f](X) 21} So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,^[g] he will be a special^[h] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.^(Y)

²² Flee^(Z) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,^(AA) along with those who call on the Lord^(AB) from a pure heart. ²³ But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ The Lord’s^(AC) servant must not quarrel,^(AD) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,^[i] and patient, ²⁵ instructing his opponents with gentleness.^(AE) Perhaps God will grant them repentance^(AF) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,^(AG) who has taken them captive to do his will.^(AH)