Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 5"

Ecclesiastes 5

Common English Bible CEB

1 Watch your steps when you go to God's house. It's more acceptable to listen than to offer the fools' sacrifice—they have no idea that they're acting wrongly.

2 Don't be quick with your mouth or say anything hastily before God, because God is in heaven, but you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.

3 Remember: Dreams come with many cares, and the voice of fools with many words.

4 When you make a promise to God, fulfill it without delay because God has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you promise.

5 Better not to make a promise than to make a promise without fulfilling it.

6 Don't let your mouth make a sinner of you, and don't say to the messenger: "It was a mistake!" Otherwise, God may become angry at such talk and destroy what you have accomplished.

7 Remember: When dreams multiply, so do pointless thoughts and excessive speech. Therefore, fear God.

8 If you witness the poor being oppressed or the violation of what is just and right in some territory, don't be surprised because a high official watches over another, and yet others stand over them.

9 But the land's yield should be for everyone if the field is cultivated.

10 The money lover isn't satisfied with money; neither is the lover of wealth satisfied with income. This too is pointless.

11 When good things flow, so do those who consume them. But what do owners benefit from such goods, except to feast their eyes on them?

12 Sweet is the worker's sleep, whether there's a lot or little to eat; but the excess of the wealthy won't let them sleep.

13 I have seen a sickening tragedy under the sun: people hoard their wealth to their own detriment.

14 Then that wealth is lost in a bad business venture so that when they have children, they are left with nothing.

15 Just as they came from their mother's womb naked, naked they'll return, ending up just like they started. All their hard work produces nothing—nothing they can take with them.

16 This too is a sickening tragedy: they must pass on just as they arrived. What then do they gain from working so hard for wind?

17 What's more, they constantly eat in darkness, with much aggravation, grief, and anger.

18 This is the one good thing I've seen: it's appropriate for people to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work under the sun during the brief lifetime that God gives them because that's their lot in life.

19 Also, whenever God gives people wealth and riches and enables them to enjoy it, to accept their place in the world and to find pleasure in their hard work—all this is God's gift.

20 Indeed, people shouldn't brood too much over the days of their lives because God gives an answer in their hearts' joy.

New Revised Standard NRS

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil.

2 Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

3 For dreams come with many cares, and a fool's voice with many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow.

5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.

6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words, and destroy the work of your hands?

7 With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.

8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

9 But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.

10 The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

12 Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

13 There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt,

14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.

15 As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands.

16 This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go; and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind?

17 Besides, all their days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.

18 This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot.

19 Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God.

20 For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.