Ecclesiastes 5

Ecclesiastes 5:1

AMP: Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil. [Gen 35:1-4; Ex 3:5]

ASV: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

BSB: Guard 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.

DARBY: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and draw near to hear, rather than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

DRA: Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

KJV: Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

AMP: Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

ASV: Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

BSB: Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

DARBY: Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in the heavens, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.

DRA: Dreams follow many cares: and in many words shall be found folly.

KJV: Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:3

AMP: For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of the fool through many words.

ASV: For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool`s voice with a multitude of words.

BSB: As a dream comes through many cares,so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

DARBY: For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice through a multitude of words.

DRA: If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: but whatsoever thou hast vowed, pay it.

KJV: For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

Ecclesiastes 5:4

AMP: When you make a vow or a pledge to God, do not put off paying it; for God takes no pleasure in fools [who thoughtlessly mock Him]. Pay what you vow. [Ps 50:14; 66:13, 14; 76:11]

ASV: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

BSB: When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.

DARBY: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

DRA: And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to perform the things promised.

KJV: When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

Ecclesiastes 5:5

AMP: It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. [Prov 20:25; Acts 5:4]

ASV: Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

BSB: It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

DARBY: Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

DRA: Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin: and say not before the angel: There is no providence: lest God be angry at thy words, and destroy all the works of thy hands.

KJV: Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Ecclesiastes 5:6

AMP: Do not allow your speech to cause you to sin, and do not say before the messenger (priest) of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of your voice (words) and destroy the work of your hands? [Mal 2:7]

ASV: Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that is was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

BSB: Do 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?

DARBY: Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an inadvertence. Wherefore should God be wroth at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

DRA: Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and words without number: but do thou fear God.

KJV: Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

Ecclesiastes 5:7

AMP: For in a multitude of dreams and in a flood of words there is worthlessness. Rather [reverently] fear God [and worship Him with awe-filled respect, knowing who He is].

ASV: For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.

BSB: For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

DARBY: For in the multitude of dreams are vanities; so with many words: but fear God.

DRA: If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder not at this matter: for he that is high hath another higher, and there are others still higher than these:

KJV: For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Ecclesiastes 5:8

AMP: If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].

ASV: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

BSB: If 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.

DARBY: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.

DRA: Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject to him.

KJV: If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Ecclesiastes 5:9

AMP: After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.

ASV: Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field.

BSB: The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

DARBY: Moreover the earth is every way profitable: the king [himself] is dependent upon the field.

DRA: A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money: and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them: so this also is vanity.

KJV: Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

AMP: He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).

ASV: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.

BSB: He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

DARBY: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This also is vanity.

DRA: Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. And what doth it profit the owner, but that he seeth the riches with his eyes?

KJV: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:11

AMP: When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes?

ASV: When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

BSB: When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

DARBY: When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

DRA: Sleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat lttle or much: but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

KJV: When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

Ecclesiastes 5:12

AMP: The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach (greed) of the rich [who hungers for even more] will not let him sleep.

ASV: The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

BSB: The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

DARBY: The sleep of the labourer is sweet, whether he have eaten little or much; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep.

DRA: There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen under the sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner.

KJV: The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:13

AMP: There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept and hoarded by their owner to his own misery.

ASV: There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:

BSB: There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

DARBY: There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt;

DRA: For they are lost with very great affliction: he hath begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want.

KJV: There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

Ecclesiastes 5:14

AMP: For when those riches are lost in bad investments and he becomes the father of a son, then there is nothing in his hand [for the support of the child].

ASV: and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

BSB: or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

DARBY: or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

DRA: As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour.

KJV: But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Ecclesiastes 5:15

AMP: As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came; and he will take away nothing from all his labor that he can carry in his hand. [Job 1:21; 1 Tim 6:7]

ASV: As he came forth from his mother`s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

BSB: As 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.

DARBY: As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go away again as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

DRA: A most deplorable evil: as he came, so shall he return. What then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind?

KJV: As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

Ecclesiastes 5:16

AMP: This also is a grievous evil—exactly as he was born, so he shall die. So what advantage has he who labors for the wind? [1 Tim 6:6]

ASV: And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?

BSB: This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

DARBY: And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind?

DRA: All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in many cares, and in misery, and sorrow.

KJV: And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:17

AMP: All of his life he also eats in darkness [cheerlessly, without sweetness and light], with great frustration, sickness, and anger.

ASV: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.

BSB: Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

DARBY: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much vexation, and sickness, and irritation.

DRA: This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour, wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of his life, which God hath given him: and this is his portion.

KJV: All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Ecclesiastes 5:18

AMP: Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward. [1 Tim 6:17]

ASV: Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.

BSB: Here 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.

DARBY: Behold what I have seen good and comely: [it is] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith [man] laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for that is his portion.

DRA: And every man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to enjoy his portion, and to rejoice of his labour: this is the gift of God.

KJV: Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

AMP: Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him].

ASV: Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.

BSB: Furthermore, 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.

DARBY: Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour: that is a gift of God.

DRA: For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God entertaineth his heart with delight,

KJV: Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:20

AMP: For he will not often consider the [troubled] days of his life, because God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him].

ASV: For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.

BSB: For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

DARBY: For he will not much remember the days of his life, because God answereth [him] with the joy of his heart.

KJV: For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.