Ecclesiastes 4; Ecclesiastes 5; Ecclesiastes 6

1 I looked and saw how much people were suffering on this earth. I saw the tears of those who are suffering. They don't have anyone to comfort them. Power is on the side of those who beat them down. Those who are suffering don't have anyone to comfort them.

2 Then I announced that those who have already died are happier than those who are still alive.

3 But someone who hasn't been born yet is better off than the dead or the living. That's because he hasn't seen the evil things that are done on earth.

4 I also saw that man works hard and accomplishes a lot. But he does it only because he wants what his neighbor has. That doesn't have any meaning either. It's like chasing the wind.

5 A foolish person folds his hands and doesn't work. And that destroys him.

6 One handful with peace and quiet is better than two handfuls with hard work. Working too hard is like chasing the wind.

7 Again I saw something on earth that didn't mean anything.

8 A man lived all by himself. He didn't have any sons or brothers. His hard work never ended. But he wasn't happy with what he had. "Who am I working so hard for?" he asked. "Why don't I get the things I enjoy?" That doesn't have any meaning either. In fact, it's a very bad deal!

9 Two people are better than one. They can help each other in everything they do.

10 Suppose someone falls down. Then his friend can help him up. But suppose the man who falls down doesn't have anyone to help him up. Then feel sorry for him!

11 Or suppose two people lie down together. Then they'll keep warm. But how can one person keep warm alone?

12 One person could be overpowered. But two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn't easily broken.

13 A poor but wise young man is better off than an old but foolish king. That king doesn't pay attention to a warning anymore.

14 The young man might have come from prison to become king. Or he might have been born poor within the kingdom but still became king.

15 I saw that everyone was following the young man who had become the new king.

16 At first, all of the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren't pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn't have any meaning either. It's like chasing the wind.

1 Be careful what you say when you go to God's house. Go there to listen. Don't be like foolish people when you offer your sacrifice. They do what is wrong and don't even know it.

2 Don't be too quick to speak. Don't be in a hurry to say anything to God. He is in heaven. You are on earth. So use only a few words when you speak.

3 Dreams come to people when they worry a lot. When foolish people talk, they use too many words.

4 When you make a promise to God, don't wait too long to carry it out. He isn't pleased with foolish people. So do what you have promised.

5 It is better to make no promise at all than to make a promise and not keep it.

6 Don't let your mouth cause you to sin. Don't object to the temple messenger. Don't say, "My promise was a mistake." Why should God be angry with what you say? Why should he destroy what you have done?

7 Dreaming too much and talking too much are meaningless. So have respect for God.

8 Suppose you see poor people being mistreated somewhere. And what is being done to them isn't right or fair. Don't be surprised by that. One official is watched by a higher one. Others who are even higher are watching both of them.

9 All of them take what the land produces. And the king himself takes his share from the fields.

10 Anyone who loves money never has enough. Anyone who loves wealth is never satisfied with what he gets. That doesn't have any meaning either.

11 As more and more goods are made, more and more people use them up. So how can those goods benefit their owner? All he can do is look at them with longing.

12 The sleep of a worker is sweet. It doesn't matter whether he eats a little or a lot. But the wealth of a rich man keeps him awake at night.

13 I've seen something very evil on earth. It's when wealth is stored up and then brings harm to its owner.

14 It's also when wealth is lost because of an unwise business deal. Then there won't be anything left for the owner's son.

15 A man is born naked. He comes into the world with nothing. And he goes out of it with nothing. He doesn't get anything from his work that he can take with him.

16 Here's something else that is very evil. A man is born, and a man dies. And what does he get for his work? Nothing. It's like working for the wind.

17 All his life he eats in darkness. His life is full of trouble, suffering and anger.

18 I realized that it's good and proper for a man to eat and drink. It's good for him to be satisfied with his hard work on this earth. That's what he should do during the few days of life God has given him. That's what God made him for.

19 Sometimes God gives a man wealth and possessions. He makes it possible for him to enjoy them. He helps him accept the life he has given him. He helps him to be happy in his work. All of those things are gifts from God.

20 A man like that doesn't have to think about how his life is going. That's because God fills his heart with joy.

1 I've seen another evil thing on this earth. And it's a heavy load on men.

2 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor. He has everything his heart longs for. But God doesn't let him enjoy those things. Instead, strangers enjoy them. That doesn't have any meaning. It's a very evil thing.

3 A man might have a hundred children. He might live a long time. But suppose he can't enjoy his wealth. And suppose he isn't buried in the proper way. Then it doesn't matter how long he lives. I'm telling you that a baby that is born dead is better off than he is.

4 That kind of birth doesn't have any meaning. The baby dies in darkness and leaves this world. And in darkness it is forgotten.

5 It didn't even see the sun. It didn't know anything at all. But it has more rest than that man does.

6 And that's true even if he lives for 2,000 years but doesn't get to enjoy his wealth. All people die and go to the grave, don't they?

7 Man eats up everything he works to get. But he is never satisfied.

8 What advantage does a wise man have over someone who is foolish? What does a poor man gain by knowing how to act toward others?

9 Being satisfied with what you have is better than always wanting more. That doesn't have any meaning either. It's like chasing the wind.

10 God has already planned what now exists. He has already decided what man is. A man can't argue with the One who is stronger than he is.

11 The more words people use, the less meaning there is. And that doesn't help anyone.

12 Who knows what's good for a man? He lives for only a few meaningless days. He passes through life like a shadow. Who can tell him what will happen on earth after he is gone?