Parallel Bible results for "ecclesiastes 5"

Ecclesiastes 5

The Complete Jewish Bible CJB

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.

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.

3 For nightmares come from worrying too much; and a fool, when he speaks, chatters too much.

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!

5 Better not to make a vow than to make a vow and not discharge it.

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?

7 For [this is what happens when there are too] many dreams, aimless activities and words. Instead, just fear God!

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.

9 But the greatest advantage to the country is when the king makes himself a servant to the land.

10 The lover of money never has enough money; the lover of luxury never has enough income. This too is pointless.

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.

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.

13 Here is a gross evil which I have seen under the sun: the owner of wealth hoards it to his own hurt.

14 Due to some misfortune, the wealth turns to loss; and then if he has fathered a son, he has nothing to leave him.

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.

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?

17 All his life he eats in darkness, in frustration, in sickness and in anger.

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.

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;

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.

The Bible in Basic English BBE

1 Put your feet down with care when you go to the house of God, for it is better to give ear than to make the burned offerings of the foolish, whose knowledge is only of doing evil.

2 Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great.

3 As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number.

4 When you take an oath before God, put it quickly into effect, because he has no pleasure in the foolish; keep the oath you have taken.

5 It is better not to take an oath than to take an oath and not keep it.

6 Let not your mouth make your flesh do evil. And say not before the angel, It was an error. So that God may not be angry with your words and put an end to the work of your hands.

7 Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.

8 If you see the poor under a cruel yoke, and law and right being violently overturned in a country, be not surprised, because one authority is keeping watch on another and there are higher than they.

9 It is good generally for a country where the land is worked to have a king.

10 He who has a love for silver never has enough silver, or he who has love for wealth, enough profit. This again is to no purpose.

11 When goods are increased, the number of those who take of them is increased; and what profit has the owner but to see them?

12 The sleep of a working man is sweet, if he has little food or much; but to him who is full, sleep will not come.

13 There is a great evil which I have seen under the sun--wealth kept by the owner to be his downfall.

14 And I saw the destruction of his wealth by an evil chance; and when he became the father of a son he had nothing in his hand.

15 As he came from his mother at birth, so does he go again; he gets from his work no reward which he may take away in his hand.

16 And this again is a great evil, that in all points as he came so will he go; and what profit has he in working for the wind?

17 All his days are in the dark, and he has much sorrow, pain, disease, and trouble.

18 This is what I have seen: it is good and fair for a man to take meat and drink and to have joy in all his work under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; that is his reward.

19 Every man to whom God has given money and wealth and the power to have pleasure in it and to do his part and have joy in his work: this is given by God.

20 He will not give much thought to the days of his life; because God lets him be taken up with the joy of his heart.