Ecclesiastes 5Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Bureaucratic Oppression

⁷ If you see the oppression of the poor or perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the matter. For one authority watches over another authority, and higher ones are over them. ⁸ Though the profit of the land is taken by all, a king is served by the fields.

Futility of Wealth

¹² There is a grievous wrong that I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded by its owner to his own hurt, ¹³ or wealth lost in a bad investment, and when he fathers a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁷ Behold, this is what I myself have seen. It is beneficial and good for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy all of his toil that he labors under the sun during the few days of his life that God has given him—for this is his reward. ¹⁸ Additionally, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, and empowers him to eat from it, to receive his share, and to rejoice in his labor—this is a gift of God. ¹⁹ For he will not often consider the days of his life, since God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.