5:1 Guard 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.
5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil.

5:2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.
5:2 Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

5:3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
5:3 For dreams come with many cares, and a fool's voice with many words.

5:4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow.

5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.

5:6 Let 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?
5:6 Do not let 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 words, and destroy the work of your hands?

5:7 For when dreams increase, empty words grow many: but do you fear God.
5:7 With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.

5:8 If you see in a province the poor oppressed and justice and right violently taken away, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
5:8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

5:9 But in all, a king is an advantage to a land with cultivated fields.
5:9 But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.

5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money; nor he who loves wealth, with gain: this also is vanity.
5:10 The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.

5:11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
5:11 When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

5:12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let him sleep.
5:12 Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,
5:13 There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt,

5:14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture; and he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
5:14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.

5:15 As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil, which he may carry away in his hand.
5:15 As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands.

5:16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go; and what gain has he that he toiled for the wind,
5:16 This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go; and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind?

5:17 and spent all his days in darkness and grief, in much vexation and sickness and resentment?
5:17 Besides, all their days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.

5:18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and to be 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 which God has given him, for this is his lot.
5:18 This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot.

5:19 Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil -- this is the gift of God.
5:19 Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil--this is the gift of God.

5:20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
5:20 For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.