Approaching God with Awe

1Guard your foot, when you step into the house of God, and draw near, so that you may listen. For obedience is much better than the sacrifices of the foolish, who do not know the evil that they are doing. 2You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few. 3Dreams follow many worries, and in many words foolishness will be found.

4If you have vowed anything to God, you should not delay to repay it. And whatever you have vowed, render it. But an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases him. 5And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised. 6You should not use your mouth so as to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no Providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands. 7Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities and innumerable words. Yet truly, you must fear God.

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

8If you see false accusations against the indigent, and violent judgments, and subverted justice in the government, do not be surprised over this situation. For those in high places have others who are higher, and there are still others, more eminent, over these. 9But finally, there is the King who rules over the entire earth, which is subject to him.

10A greedy man will not be satisfied by money. And whoever loves wealth will reap no fruit from it. Therefore, this, too, is emptiness. 11Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes? 12Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he consumes little or much. But the satiation of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.

13There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner. 14For they are lost in a most grievous affliction. He has produced a son, who will be in the utmost destitution. 15Just as he went forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors. 16It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind? 17All the days of his life he consumes: in darkness, and with many worries, and in distress as well as sadness.

18And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion. 19And this is a gift from God: that every man to whom God has given wealth and resources, and to whom he has granted the ability to consume these, may enjoy his portion, and may find joy in his labors. 20And then he will not fully remember the days of his life, because God occupies his heart with delights.