Ecclesiastes 5:1-12

New International Version

Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 ^[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

²Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.^(A)
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.^(B)
³A dream^(C) comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.^(D)

⁴When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.^(E) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.^(F) ⁵It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.^(G) ⁶Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.^(H)

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸If you see the poor oppressed^(I) 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. ⁹The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.

¹¹As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?

¹²The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.^(J)

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