New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
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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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 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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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 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
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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 to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
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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 not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
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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 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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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 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
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With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.
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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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 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
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But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.
10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
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The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.
11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
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When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
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Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
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There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.
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and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
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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 too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
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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 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
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Besides, all their days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.
18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
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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 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
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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 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
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For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.