Ecclesiastes 5:3
New International Version
A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

New Living Translation
Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.

English Standard Version
For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

Berean Standard Bible
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

King James Bible
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

New King James Version
For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

New American Standard Bible
For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.

NASB 1995
For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

NASB 1977
For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the dream comes through abundant endeavor and the voice of a fool through abundant words.

Amplified Bible
For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.

Christian Standard Bible
Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For dreams result from much work and a fool’s voice from many words.

American Standard Version
For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Because a dream comes in a multitude of business, and the voice of a fool in a multitude of words

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words.

Contemporary English Version
If you keep thinking about something, you will dream about it. If you talk too much, you will say the wrong thing.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly.

English Revised Version
For a dream cometh with a multitude of business; and a fool's voice with a multitude of words.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Daydreaming comes when there are too many worries. Careless speaking comes when there are too many words.

Good News Translation
The more you worry, the more likely you are to have bad dreams, and the more you talk, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

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

JPS Tanakh 1917
For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; And a fool's voice through a multitude of words.

Literal Standard Version
For the dream has come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

Majority Standard Bible
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

New American Bible
As dreams come along with many cares, so a fool’s voice along with a multitude of words.

NET Bible
Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.

New Revised Standard Version
For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s voice with many words.

New Heart English Bible
For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

Webster's Bible Translation
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by a multitude of words.

World English Bible
For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

Young's Literal Translation
For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Approaching God with Awe
2Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few. 3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words. 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.…

Cross References
Job 11:2
"Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

Ecclesiastes 10:14
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?


Treasury of Scripture

For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

a fool's

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself…

Proverbs 10:19
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

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Ecclesiastes 5
1. vanities in divine service
8. in murmuring against oppression
9. and in riches
18. Joy in riches is the gift of God.














Verse 3. - The first clause illustrates the second, the mark of comparison being simply the copula, mere juxtaposition being deemed sufficient to denote the similitude, as in Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 17:3; Proverbs 27:21. For a dream cometh through (in consequence of) the multitude of business. The verse is meant to confirm the injunction against vain babbling in prayer. Cares and anxieties in business or other matters occasion disturbed sleep, murder the dreamless repose of the healthy laborer, and produce all kinds of sick fancies and imaginations. Septuagint, "A dream cometh in abundance of trial (πειρασμοῦ);" Vulgate, Multas curas sequuntur somnia. And a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. The verb should be supplied from the first clause, and not a new one introduced, as in the Authorized Version, "And the voice of a fool (cometh) in consequence of many words." As surely as excess of business produces fevered dreams, so excess of words, especially in addresses to God, produces a fool's voice, i.e. foolish speech. St. Gregory points out the many ways in which the mind is affected by images from dreams. "Sometimes," he says, "dreams are engendered of fullness or emptiness of the belly, sometimes of illusion, sometimes of illusion and thought combined, sometimes of revelation, while sometimes they are engendered of imagination, thought, and revelation together" ('Moral.,' 8:42).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As
כִּ֛י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a dream
הַחֲל֖וֹם (ha·ḥă·lō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

comes
בָּ֥א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

through many
בְּרֹ֣ב (bə·rōḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

cares,
עִנְיָ֑ן (‘in·yān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6045: Ado, employment, an affair

so the speech
וְק֥וֹל (wə·qō·wl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of a fool
כְּסִ֖יל (kə·sîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

[comes] with many
בְּרֹ֥ב (bə·rōḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

words.
דְּבָרִֽים׃ (də·ḇā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause


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OT Poetry: Ecclesiastes 5:3 For as a dream comes (Ecclesiast. Ec Ecc Eccles.)
Ecclesiastes 5:2
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