Ecclesiastes 5
1 Do not be hasty with your mouth, and do not let your heart rush to say a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few.
2 For a dream comes from much activity, and a fool's voice from many words.
3 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, for he takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you promise.
4 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
5 Do not let your mouth lead your body into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
6 For there are many dreams, empty words, and much talk. But fear God.
7 If you see the poor oppressed and justice and what is right denied in a district, do not be surprised by it. For one who is higher than the high watches, and there are others higher still over them.
8 The benefit of the land is in all this: a king is served by the field.
9 Whoever loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is empty.
10 When possessions increase, so do those who consume them. What benefit does their owner gain, except to look at them with his own eyes?
11 The worker's sleep is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the rich man's abundance does not let him sleep.
12 There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his own harm.
13 That wealth is lost in a bad venture. He fathers a son, and has nothing left in his hands.
14 As he came from his mother's womb, naked he will go back as he came. He will carry nothing from his labor that he can take in his hand.
15 This too is a grievous evil: just as he came, so he will go. What benefit does he gain from working for the wind?
16 All his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
17 Look at what I have seen: it is good and fitting to eat and drink and enjoy the good in all the work a person undertakes under the sun, during the counted days of life God has given him. For that is his share.
18 Also, for every person to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and granted the power to enjoy them, take his share, and rejoice in his work—this is God's gift.
19 For he does not dwell much on the days of his life, since God keeps him occupied with the joy in his heart.
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