Approaching God with Fear

1Guard your feet when you walk to the house of God; and drawing near to listen is above giving the sacrifice of fools, for there are none of them knowing they do evil. 2Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart hurry to bring out a word before the face of God; for God is in the heavens, and you are upon the earth—upon thus, let your words be few.

3For as a dream comes with an abundance of business,

so the voice of a fool with an abundance of words.

4When you vow a vow to God, you should not delay to fulfill it, for there is no delight in fools. What you have vowed, you must fulfill. 5Better that you did not vow, than that you vow and not fulfill it.

6Do not give your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the face of the messenger† that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry concerning your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7For in an abundance of dreams, vapors and words abound, but you must fear God.

The Futility of Wealth
(Psalm 49:1–20)

8If you see the oppression of the poor and the robbing of justice and righteousness in a province, you should not be astonished concerning the matter, for one higher is watching over a high one, and higher ones over them. 9And the produce of the land, it is for all: A king is served by the field.

10The one loving silver will not be satisfied with silver, and he who loves increase not with increase. This also is vapor. 11In the multiplying of good those devouring it are multiplied; and what profit is for its owners, but the beholding with his eyes?

12Sweet is the sleep of the one working, whether he eats little or much; but the satsifaction of the rich one will not allow rest for him to sleep.

13There is a sickening evil I have seen under the sun: Riches guarded for their owner, to his harm, 14and that wealth perished in a business of evil, and he begets a son, and there is not anything in his hand.

15As he came forth from the womb of his mother naked, shall he return, to go as he came, and he shall carry nothing for his toil to go in his hand. 16And this also is a sickening evil: Exactly as, he came, so shall he go, and what profit is for him who has toiled for the wind? 17Even all his days he will eat in darkness, and having sorrow abounding, and sickness and anger.

18Behold what I have seen to be good, that which is beautiful: To eat and to drink and to see good in all his toil that he toils under the sun all the days his life that God has given to him, for it is his portion.

19Also every man for whom God has given to him riches and wealth, and given him power to eat from it and to receive his portion and to rejoice in his toil—this, it is a gift of God. 20For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.