| Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) |
New International Version (NIV) |
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1 Watch your step when you go to the house of God. Offering to listen is better than fools offering sacrifices, because they don't discern whether or not they are doing evil.
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1 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.
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2 Don't speak impulsively - don't be in a hurry to give voice to your words before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few.
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2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
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3 For nightmares come from worrying too much; and a fool, when he speaks, chatters too much.
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3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
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4 If you make a vow to God, don't delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge your vow!
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4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
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5 Better not to make a vow than to make a vow and not discharge it.
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5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
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6 Don't let your words make you guilty, and don't tell the temple official that you made the vow by mistake. Why give God reason to be angry at what you say and destroy what you have accomplished?
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6 Do 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?
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7 For [this is what happens when there are too] many dreams, aimless activities and words. Instead, just fear God!
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7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
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8 If you see the poor oppressed, rights violated and justice perverted in the province, don't be surprised; for a high official has one higher watching him, and there are others above them.
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8 If you see the poor oppressed 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.
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9 But the greatest advantage to the country is when the king makes himself a servant to the land.
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9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
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10 The lover of money never has enough money; the lover of luxury never has enough income. This too is pointless.
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10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.
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11 When the quantity of goods increases, so does the number of parasites consuming them; so the only advantage to the owner is that he gets to watch them do it.
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11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?
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12 The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the overfullness of the rich won't let them sleep at all.
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12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep.
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13 Here is a gross evil which I have seen under the sun: the owner of wealth hoards it to his own hurt.
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13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
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14 Due to some misfortune, the wealth turns to loss; and then if he has fathered a son, he has nothing to leave him.
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14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him.
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15 Just as he came from his mother's womb, so he will go back naked as he came, and for his efforts he will take nothing that he can carry away in his hand.
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15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
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16 This too is a gross evil, that in every respect as he came, so will he go; thus what profit does he have after toiling to earn the wind?
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16 This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind?
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17 All his life he eats in darkness, in frustration, in sickness and in anger.
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17 All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
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18 This is what I have seen to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work that he engages in under the sun for all the days of his life that God has given him, for this is his allotted portion.
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18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot.
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19 Also, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, along with the power to enjoy it, so that he takes his allotted portion and finds pleasure in his work - this is a gift of God;
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19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work--this is a gift of God.
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20 for he will not brood over the fact that his life is short, since God keeps him occupied with what will bring him joy.
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20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
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| Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (The Complete Jewish Bible Online) |
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |
