Koheles 5
Koheles (Book of Ecclesiastes), Chapter 5
'"`UNIQ--named-00000000-QINU`"'17 Guard thy foot when thou goest to the house of G-d, and be ready to hearken: it is better than when fools give sacrifices; for they know not that they do evil.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000001-QINU`"'1 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before G-d; for G-d is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000002-QINU`"'2 For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; and a fool's voice through a multitude of words.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000003-QINU`"'3 When thou vowest a vow unto G-d, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000004-QINU`"'4 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000005-QINU`"'5 Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt, neither say thou before the messenger, that it was an error; wherefore should G-d be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
'"`UNIQ--named-00000006-QINU`"'6 For through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou G-d.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000007-QINU`"'7 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of justice and righteousness in the state, marvel not at the matter; for one higher than the high watcheth, and there are higher than they.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000008-QINU`"'8 But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000009-QINU`"'9 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000A-QINU`"'10 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000B-QINU`"'11 Sweet is the sleep of a labouring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000C-QINU`"'12 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt;
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000D-QINU`"'13 and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000E-QINU`"'14 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000F-QINU`"'15 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 laboureth for the wind?
'"`UNIQ--named-00000010-QINU`"'16 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much vexation and sickness and wrath.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000011-QINU`"'17 Behold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which G-d hath given him; for this is his portion.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000012-QINU`"'18 Every man also to whom G-d hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour--this is the gift of G-d.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000013-QINU`"'19 For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for G-d answereth him in the joy of his heart.
See also
References
Portions © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant. Portions © 1998 by Larry Nelson.
