| New International Version | Holman Christian Standard 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. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly 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 hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. 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. | 3For dreams result from much work and a fool's voice from 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, don't delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. |
| 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. | 5Better that you do not vow than that you 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 bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it 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 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 oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don't be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them. |
| 9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. | 9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field. |
| 10Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. | 10The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with 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, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at 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 permits him no sleep. |
| 13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, | 13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. |
| 14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. | 14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed. |
| 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 he came from his mother's womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can 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 sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles for the wind? |
| 17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. | 17What is more, he eats in darkness all his days, 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: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. |
| 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. | 19God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, |
| 20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. | 20for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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