Ecclesiastes 5 ISV NIV Parallel

◄ Ecclesiastes 5 ►

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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.

1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

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.

2Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

3Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much.

3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

4When you make a promise to God, don't fail to keep it, since he isn't pleased with fools. Keep what you promise—

4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.

5it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through.

5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

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?

6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?

7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God.

7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

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.

8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.

9Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field.

9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless.

10Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

11When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them?

11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?

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.

12The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.

13I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him,

13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,

14and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him.

14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

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.

15Everyone comes naked from their mother's womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.

16This is also a painful tragedy: However a person comes, he also departs; so what does he gain as he labors after the wind?

16This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?

17Furthermore, all his days he lives in darkness with great sorrow, anger, and affliction.

17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

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.

18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot.

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.

19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil--this is a gift of God.

20For he will not brood much over the days of his life, since God will keep him occupied with the joys of his heart.

20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

New International Version (NIV)

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