Ecclesiastes 5:1-11 ▼

1 Keep your feet when you go to 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 Do not cause your mouth to hurry, and do not let your heart hurry to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and you on the earth, therefore let your words be few.

3 For the dream has come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which you vow—complete.

5 Better that you do not vow, than that you vow and do not complete.

6 Do not permit your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger that it [is] ignorance. Why is God angry because of your voice and has destroyed the work of your hands?

7 For in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear God.

8 If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness you see in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

9 And the abundance of a land is for all. A king for a field is served.

10 Whoever is loving silver is not satisfied [with] silver, nor he who is in love with stores [with] increase. Even this [is] vanity.

11 In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit [is] to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?