Ecclesiastes, 5

Sin Wisdom God Prayer Contentment Worship Trust Death Acknowledging Materialism Angels Listening Greed Sickness Blessing Fear Obedience Addiction Honesty Confession Humility Work Anger

The author reflects on the futility of wealth, stating that it can bring trouble, oppression, and cannot prevent death.

Ecclesiastes, 5

20
verses
●
2
min

Bible version

The Futility of Wealth

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Commentary

In Ecclesiastes 5, the Preacher continues to reflect on the vanity of life. He begins by warning against making rash vows to God, as they can be difficult to keep and can lead to punishment. He then goes on to discuss the importance of contentment, noting that it is better to be content with what one has than to be constantly striving for more. He also warns against the dangers of greed, noting that it can lead to a life of sorrow and regret. Finally, he encourages us to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, such as eating and drinking, and to be thankful for what we have. The Preacher's words in this chapter are a reminder that life is fleeting and that we should not take it for granted. He encourages us to be content with what we have and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. He also warns us against the dangers of greed and making rash vows to God. Ultimately, his words are a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of it.

Meet the heroes of Ecclesiastes, 5

God
God
Eve
Eve
Bette
Bette
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FAQ

Assuming a reader with an average reading speed of 300 WPM reads the Ecclesiastes, chapter 5 it would take approximately 2 minutes to finish.

There are 20 verses in Ecclesiastes, chapter 5.