| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. | 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 to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so 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 dreams result from much work and a fool's voice from many words. | 3Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much. |
| 4When you make a vow to God, don't delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill 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— |
| 5Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. | 5it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through. |
| 6Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words 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 many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, 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 perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don't be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect 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. |
| 9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field. | 9Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field. |
| 10The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile. | 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, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes? | 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 worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no 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 sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. | 13I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him, |
| 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. | 14and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him. |
| 15As he came from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands. | 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 too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles 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? |
| 17What is more, he eats in darkness all his days, with much sorrow, 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: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that 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. |
| 19God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a 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 does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy 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. |
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