Eclesiastés 5:12-20

12 Dulce es el sueño del trabajador, ora coma mucho ó poco; mas al rico no le deja dormir la hartura.

13 Hay una trabajosa enfermedad que he visto debajo del sol: las riquezas guardadas de sus dueños para su mal;

14 Las cuales se pierden en malas ocupaciones, y á los hijos que engendraron nada les queda en la mano.

15 Como salió del vientre de su madre, desnudo, así se vuelve, tornando como vino; y nada tuvo de su trabajo para llevar en su mano.

16 Este también es un gran mal, que como vino, así haya de volver. ¿Y de qué le aprovechó trabajar al viento?

17 Demás de esto, todos los días de su vida comerá en tinieblas, con mucho enojo y dolor y miseria.

18 He aquí pues el bien que yo he visto: Que lo bueno es comer y beber, y gozar uno del bien de todo su trabajo con que se fatiga debajo del sol, todos los días de su vida que Dios le ha dado; porque esta es su parte.

19 Asimismo, á todo hombre á quien Dios dió riquezas y hacienda, y le dió también facultad para que coma de ellas, y tome su parte, y goce su trabajo; esto es don de Dios.

20 Porque no se acordará mucho de los días de su vida; pues Dios le responderá con alegría de su corazón.

Eclesiastés 5:12-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 5

This chapter contains some rules and directions concerning the worship of God; how persons should behave when they go into the house of God; concerning hearing the word, to which there should be a readiness, and which should be preferred to the sacrifices of fools, Ec 5:1. Concerning prayer to God; which should not be uttered rashly and hastily, and should be expressed in few words; which is urged from the consideration of the majesty of God, and vileness of men; and the folly of much speaking is exposed by the simile of a dream, Ec 5:2,3. Concerning vows, which should not be rashly made; when made, should be kept; nor should excuses be afterwards framed for not performing them, since this might bring the anger of God upon men, to the destruction of the works of their hands, Ec 5:4-6; and, as an antidote against those vanities, which appear in the prayers and vows of some, and dreams of others, the fear of God is proposed, Ec 5:7; and, against any surprise at the oppression of the poor, the majesty, power, and providence of God, and his special regard to his people, are observed, Ec 5:8. And then the wise man enters into a discourse concerning riches; and observes, that the fruits of the earth, and the culture of it, are necessary to all men, and even to the king, Ec 5:9; but dissuades from covetousness, or an over love of riches; because they are unsatisfying, are attended with much trouble, often injurious to the owners of them; at length perish, and their possessors; who, at death, are stripped quite naked of all, after they have spent their days in darkness and distress, Ec 5:10-17; and concludes, therefore, that it is best for a man to enjoy, in a free manner, the good things of this life he is possessed of, and consider them as the gifts of God, and be thankful for them; by which means he will pass through the world more comfortably, and escape the troubles that attend others, Ec 5:18-20.