Ecclesiastes 5

Fear God

1 Walk a prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather b than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. 2 Do not be c rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
Therefore let your words d be few. 3 For a dream comes through much activity,
And e a fool's voice is known by his many words.

4 f When you make a vow to God, do not delay to g pay it;
For He has no pleasure in fools.
Pay what you have vowed - 5 h Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your i mouth cause your flesh to sin, j nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your 1 excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But k fear God.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

8 If you l see the oppression of the poor, and the violent 2 perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for m high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;
Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.
This also is vanity. 11 When goods increase,
They increase who eat them;
So what profit have the owners
Except to see them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,
Whether he eats little or much;
But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

13 n There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:
Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. 14 But those riches perish through 3 misfortune;
When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 o As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return,
To go as he came;
And he shall take nothing from his labor
Which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a severe evil -
Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.
And p what profit has he q who has labored for the wind? 17 All his days r he also eats in darkness,
And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen: s It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; t for it is his 4 heritage. 19 As for u every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his 5 heritage and rejoice in his labor - this is the v gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 3:5
    Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
    Isaiah 1:12
    When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts?
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 15:22
    So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
    Psalms 50:8
    I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me.
    Proverbs 15:8
    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
    Proverbs 21:27
    The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!
    Hosea 6:6
    For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:25
    It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
  4. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:19
    In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
    Matthew 6:7
    And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 10:19
    In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 30:2
    If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.
    Deuteronomy 23:21 - 23
    When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you.
    Psalms 50:14
    Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.
    Psalms 76:11
    Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.
  7. Cross References
    Psalms 66:13
    I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows.
    Psalms 66:14
    Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:25
    It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
    Acts 5:4
    "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
  9. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:2
    You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
  10. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:10
    For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.
  11. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 12:13
    Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
  12. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 3:16
    Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.
  13. Cross References
    Psalms 12:5
    "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the safety for which he yearns."
    Psalms 58:11
    So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.
    Psalms 82:1
    God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
  14. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:1
    There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
    Ecclesiastes 6:2
    A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.
  15. Cross References
    Job 1:21
    And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.
    Psalms 49:17
    For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
    1 Timothy 6:7
    For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
  16. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 1:3
    What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?
  17. Cross References
    Proverbs 11:29
    He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind, And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 127:2
    It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.
  19. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:24
    Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
    Ecclesiastes 3:12
    I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.
    Ecclesiastes 3:13
    And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God.
    1 Timothy 6:17
    Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
  20. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:10
    Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.
    Ecclesiastes 3:22
    So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
  21. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 6:2
    A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.
  22. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 2:24
    Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
    Ecclesiastes 3:13
    And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of God.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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