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 Message Bible MSG

1 Watch your step when you enter God's house. Enter to learn. That's far better than mindlessly offering a sacrifice, Doing more harm than good.

2 Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God's in charge, not you - the less you speak, the better.

3 Over-work makes for restless sleep. Over-talk shows you up as a fool.

4 When you tell God you'll do something, do it - now. God takes no pleasure in foolish gabble. Vow it, then do it.

5 Far better not to vow in the first place than to vow and not pay up.

6 Don't let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won't get by with "Sorry, I didn't mean it." Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation?

7 But against all illusion and fantasy and empty talk There's always this rock foundation: Fear God!

8 Don't be too upset when you see the poor kicked around, and justice and right violated all over the place. Exploitation filters down from one petty official to another. There's no end to it, and nothing can be done about it.

9 But the good earth doesn't cheat anyone - even a bad king is honestly served by a field.

10 The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, Nor the one who loves wealth with big profits. More smoke.

11 The more loot you get, the more looters show up. And what fun is that - to be robbed in broad daylight?

12 Hard and honest work earns a good night's sleep, Whether supper is beans or steak. But a rich man's belly gives him insomnia.

13 Here's a piece of bad luck I've seen happen: A man hoards far more wealth than is good for him

14 And then loses it all in a bad business deal. He fathered a child but hasn't a cent left to give him.

15 He arrived naked from the womb of his mother; He'll leave in the same condition - with nothing.

16 This is bad luck, for sure - naked he came, naked he went. So what was the point of working for a salary of smoke?

17 All for a miserable life spent in the dark?

18 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot.

19 Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!

20 God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live.