| New American Standard Bible 1995 | International Standard Version |
| 1Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. | 1 Watch your step whenever you visit God's house, and come more ready to listen than to offer a fool's sacrifice, since fools never think they're doing evil. |
| 2Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. | 2 Don't be impulsive with your mouth nor be in a hurry to talk in God's presence. Since God is in heaven and you're on earth, keep your speech short. |
| 3For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words. | 3Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much. |
| 4When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! | 4When you make a promise to God, don't fail to keep it, since he isn't pleased with fools. Keep what you promise— |
| 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. | 5it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through. |
| 6Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? | 6Never let your mouth cause you to sin and don't proclaim in the presence of the angel, "My promise was a mistake," for why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy what you've undertaken? |
| 7For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God. | 7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God. |
| 8If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. | 8Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them. |
| 9After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land. | 9Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field. |
| 10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. | 10Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless. |
| 11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? | 11When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them? |
| 12The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep. | 12Sweet is the sleep of a working man, whether he eats a little or a lot, but the excess wealth of the rich will not allow him to rest. |
| 13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. | 13I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him, |
| 14When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. | 14and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him. |
| 15As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. | 15Just as he came naked from his mother's womb, he will leave as naked as he came; he will receive no profit from his efforts— he cannot carry away even a handful. |
| 16This also is a grievous evil-- exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? | 16This is also a painful tragedy: However a person comes, he also departs; so what does he gain as he labors after the wind? |
| 17Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger. | 17Furthermore, all his days he lives in darkness with great sorrow, anger, and affliction. |
| 18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. | 18Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment. |
| 19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. | 19Furthermore, for every person to whom God has given wealth, riches, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept this allotment, and to rejoice in his work—this is a gift from God. |
| 20For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart. | 20For he will not brood much over the days of his life, since God will keep him occupied with the joys of his heart. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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