Ecclesiastes 5 - Names of God Bible (NOG)

Don’t Daydream or Speak Carelessly When You Worship

5 [a]Watch your step when you go to the house of Elohim. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are unaware that they are doing something evil.

2 Don’t be in a hurry to talk. Don’t be eager to speak in the presence of Elohim. Since Elohim is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

3 Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries.

Careless speaking comes when there are too many words.

4 When you make a promise to Elohim, don’t be slow to keep it because Elohim doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise. 5 It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a temple messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should Elohim become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished?

7 In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear Elohim.

Corrupt Officials Have Corrupt Officials over Them

8 Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them. 9 Yet, a king is an advantage for a country with cultivated fields.[b]

The Value of Money

10 Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless. 11 As the number of goods increase, so do the number of people who consume them. What do owners gain from all their goods except the opportunity to look at them?

12 The sleep of working people is sweet, whether they eat a little or a lot. But the full stomachs that rich people have will not allow them to sleep.

Economic Ruin

13 There is a painful tragedy that I have seen under the sun: Riches lead to the downfall of those who hoard them. 14 These hoarded riches were then lost in bad business deals. The owners had children, but now they have nothing to give them. 15 They came from their mother’s womb naked. They will leave as naked as they came. They won’t even be able to take a handful of their earnings with them from all their hard work.

16 This also is a painful tragedy: They leave exactly as they came. What advantage do they gain from working so hard for the wind? 17 They spend their entire lives in darkness, in constant frustration, sickness, and resentment.

Conclusion: God Alone Gives Contentment

18 At last I have seen what is good and beautiful: It is to eat and drink and to enjoy the good in all our hard work under the sun during the brief lives Elohim gives us. That is our lot in life. 19 It is a gift from Elohim when Elohim gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, the ability to accept their lot in life, and the ability to rejoice in their own hard work. 20 These people won’t give much thought to their brief lives because Elohim keeps them occupied with the joy in their hearts.

Footnotes

  1. Ecclesiastes 5:1 Ecclesiastes 5:1–20 in English Bibles is Ecclesiastes 4:17–5:19 in the Hebrew Bible.
  2. Ecclesiastes 5:9 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.

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5 Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil. 2 Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, th...
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Ecclesiastes 5 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

5 Thou that enterest into the house of God, keep thy foot, and nigh thou for to hear; for why much better is obedience, than the sacrifice of fools, that know not what evil they do. (Thou who enterest into the House of God, keep thy foot, and draw close to hear; for obedience is much better than the...
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Ecclesiastes 5 - World English Bible (WEB)

5 Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. 2 Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Th...
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Ecclesiastes 5 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Ecclesiastes 5 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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Ecclesiastes 5 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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Ecclesiastes 5 - New Life Version (NLV)

Do What You Promise5 Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning. 2 Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words ...
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Fear God, Keep Your Vows5 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,...
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