| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 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. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. |
| 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. | 2Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. |
| 3Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much. | 3For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. |
| 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 vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. |
| 5it's better that you don't promise than that you do promise and not follow through. | 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. |
| 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? | 6Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? |
| 7In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God. | 7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear. |
| 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 in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. |
| 9Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field. | 9But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields. |
| 10Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless. | 10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. |
| 11When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them? | 11When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? |
| 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. | 12Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep. |
| 13I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him, | 13There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, |
| 14and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him. | 14and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. |
| 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. | 15As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. |
| 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 also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? |
| 17Furthermore, all his days he lives in darkness with great sorrow, anger, and affliction. | 17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness 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. | 18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his 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. | 19Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the 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. | 20For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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