| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. | 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. |
| 2Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. | 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. |
| 3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. | 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 to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. | 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. |
| 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. | 5It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. |
| 6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? | 6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? |
| 7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. | 7For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. |
| 8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. | 8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. |
| 9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. | 9The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. |
| 10Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. | 10He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. |
| 11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? | 11When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes? |
| 12The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. | 12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. |
| 13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, | 13There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, |
| 14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. | 14or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on. |
| 15Everyone comes naked from their mother's womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. | 15As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. |
| 16This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? | 16This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? |
| 17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. | 17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger. |
| 18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot. | 18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot. |
| 19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil--this is a gift of God. | 19Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. |
| 20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. | 20For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart. |
|
