Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Proverbs 31:1-31

The sayings of King Lemuel — inspired teachings his mother taught him.

Listen, son of my womb and the answer to my prayers!

Do not waste your manhood on women, on those who ruin leaders.

It is not for rulers, Lemuel— to drink wine or crave alcoholic beverages

Such may get drunk and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Let beer be for those who are dying, wine for those who are in despair! [The real opiate of common people]

Let them drink and forget their poverty and misery.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves --- the destitute.

Speak up and judge honestly; defending the rights of the poor and needy.

A wife of noble character where can she be? She is worth way more than jewels.

Her husband is totally confident in her and lacks nothing.

She brings him good, not harm for as long as he lives.

She selects wool and flax and Is industrious.

She is like the merchant ships, doing what she needs to nourish her family .

She gets up while it is still night; she provides nourishment for her family and for her female servants.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a garden.

She begins her work vigorously; her arms have strengthened for her tasks.

She learns what is profitable, and her lamp is clean and trimmed.

In her hand she spins wool.

She opens her arms to the poor, extending her hands to the needy.

When it's cold, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are obviously well clothed.

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen of rich hue.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the respected of the land.

She weaves linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is a picture of strength and dignity; she can laugh at the future.

She speaks with wisdom, and with faithful instruction.

She inspects the affairs of her household and does not sit idol upon her butt.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband praises her saying, “Many women do noble deeds, but you surpass them all.”

Charm is beguiling, and beauty is leaves with age; but a woman who regards the Lord is to be praised.

Honor her for all that she accomplishes. Let her works bring her praise among the town counsel.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:

2 `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?

3 Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.

4 Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.

5 Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.

6 Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,

7 He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'

10 A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.

11 The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.

12 She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.

13 She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.

14 She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.

15 Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.

16 She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.

17 She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.

18 She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.

19 Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.

20 Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.

22 Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.

23 Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.

24 Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.

25 Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.

26 Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.

27 She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.

28 Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,

29 `Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'

30 The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.

31 Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!

[_ludwigm]

I think it is simply majestic plural.
Several prominent epithets of the Bible describe the Jewish God in plural terms: Elohim, Adonai, and El Shaddai. Many Christian scholars, including the likes of Augustine of Hippo, have seen the use of the plural and grammatically singular verb forms as support for the doctrine of the Trinity. Judaism rejects the notion of the Trinity and argues instead that these cases are merely examples of the majestic plural.

I do not accept the "majestic plural" in the biblical case

Now we are quits. I do not accept your interpretation.

... Matt Slick ...

Please... don't kid me...

Augustine of Hippo vs. Matt Slick ?


This?

CARM's position is simple. If a Roman Catholic believes in the official Roman Catholic teaching on salvation, then he is not a Christian since the official RCC position is contrary to Scripture. Therefore, as a whole, Roman Catholics need to be evangelized.

He and you are laughtworty. As a whole.

[_LittleNipper]

I do not accept the "majestic plural" in the biblical case

Now we are quits. I do not accept your interpretation.

... Matt Slick ...

Please... don't kid me...

Augustine of Hippo vs. Matt Slick ?


This?

CARM's position is simple. If a Roman Catholic believes in the official Roman Catholic teaching on salvation, then he is not a Christian since the official RCC position is contrary to Scripture. Therefore, as a whole, Roman Catholics need to be evangelized.

He and you are laughtworty. As a whole.

First off mr. ludwigm, you profess to be an atheist. Frankly, I don't see why you bother discussing TRINITY vs. multiple gods vs. One GOD. Unless you are seeking the face of God and attempting to sort out the truth, then you really shouldn't even care. I pray that you are actually seeking after GOD and not just amusing yourself at everyone else's expense.

Honestly, the Bible is very clear. NO ONE IS SAVED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP IN A CHURCH/ORGANIZATION. People who imagine that since their parents were Jewish and they celebrated a bar mitzvah they are set for eternity, no matter their considerations of God or not, are just as mistaken (note the story Jesus told of Lazarus and the rich man). The Roman Catholic who imagines that since a Priest performs a "Christening" and or "Last Rites" over him then God is content --------- is in for a big unhappy surprise! And this goes for the Mormon who did his little mission duty and got married in the "temple" and did this and did that.

The Christian response is GOD saves through faith in Christ and it's all about a PERSONAL relationship with God by means of the Holy Spirit. There in NOTHING anyone can do that will impress GOD. The Holy Spirit motivates the individual to either move towards GOD or rebel. Once an individual rejects God it becomes harder and harder for that person to be saved, until it is too late. Deathbed conversions are few and far between.

You sir reject the Word of God. I see no reason you don't ask yourself ----- "What do I have to lose?"

[_LittleNipper]

This is what I call words to the agnostic ---from one who experienced it all. I find this to be one of my most favorite books of the Bible.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Words of teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem

Pointless! Pointless! — the teacher exclaims — Utterly meaningless! Nothing matters!

What does a person acquire from all his work at which he toils daily?

Generations come, generations go, but the earth still hangs around.

The sun rises, the sun sets; then the night quickly yields to dawn once more.

The wind blows southward, then it turns northerly; the wind blows every which way and keeps returning to its rounds.

All the rivers flow to the sea, yet the sea looks the same; to that place where the rivers flow --- they keep flowing.

Everything is tiring, more than anyone can tell; the eye is not satisfied by seeing, the ear needs to hear more.

What happens happened before. What's been done will be done again ----- there is nothing new around here.

Is there something of which is said,“See, look here's something new”? It existed already in ages long past.

No one remembers the people of long ago; and future generations will not be remembered by those who come after them.

I, the teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I diligently applied myself to research out and investigate everything done under heaven. What a bothersome task God has given humanity to keep us busy!

I have seen all the activities that are done daily, and it’s all pointless, feeding on hot air.

What's screwed up cannot be uncorrupted; what doesn't exist cannot be counted.

I said to myself, “Hey, I have acquired a lot of wisdom, more than anyone ruling in Jerusalem before me.” Yes, I experienced a great deal of wisdom and knowledge.

Yet when I applied myself to understanding wisdom and knowledge, as well as stupidity and folly, I came to see that this too was merely hot air.

For in much wisdom comes much grief; the more things learned, the more realization of hopelessness.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity.

3 What advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun?

4 A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing.

5 Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.

6 Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned.

7 All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go.

8 All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing.

9 What [is] that which hath been? it [is] that which is, and what [is] that which hath been done? it [is] that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun.

10 There is a thing of which [one] saith: `See this, it [is] new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us!

11 There is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last.

12 I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

14 I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit!

15 A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered.

16 I -- I spake with my heart, saying, `I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit;

18 for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.'

[_LittleNipper]

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26

I thought to myself, “Come on, I will try myself with pleasure and enjoying fine things”; but this too made no sense.

Of laughter I said, “Such stupidity,” and of pleasure, “What’s its purpose?”

I searched my imagination for how to gratify my body with wine and, with my mind still guiding me with wisdom, how to pursue foolishness; my point was to figure out what was the best thing for humans to do during the short time they have this side of heaven to live.

I labored on a grand scale — building myself palaces, planting vineyards, and made myself gardens and parks; in them I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

I designed pools from which to water the trees springing up in the forest.

I bought male and female servants, and I had my home-born slaves as well. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than anyone before me in Jerusalem.

I amassed silver and gold, the wealth of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female entertainers, things that provide sensual delight, and a good many concubines.

So I grew great, surpassing all who preceded me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, remained undiminished.

I denied my eyes nothing they desired. I withheld no pleasure from myself; for I took pleasure in all my tasks, and this was my reward for all my work.

Then I reviewed at all that my hands had accomplished and at the work I had toiled at; and I saw that it was all pointless and hot air, and that there was nothing to be gained on this planet.

So I decided to look more discerningly at wisdom, stupidity and foolishness; for what can the man who inherits the throne do, except what has already been accomplished?

I realize that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness.

The wise man is observant, but the fool travels in darkness. Though the same fate awaits them both.

So I reasoned to myself, “If the same thing happens to the fool as to me, then what did I gain by being wise?” and I concluded, “This too is pointless.

For the wise man, like the fool, will soon be forgotten, everything of long ago has been forgotten. The wise man and so the fool, must die.”

So I came to hate life, because the activities done daily were loathsome to me, since everything is pointless and batting at the wind.

I hated all the things for which I had worked daily, because I realized that I would have to forfeit them to he who will comes after me.

Who knows whether he will be a wise or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the things I labored for and which demonstrated how wise I am under the sun. Pointless!

Thus I came to despair over all the things I had worked for daily.

Here is a man whose work is done with wisdom, knowledge and skill; yet he has to forfeit it to someone who has done nothing. This is not only pointless, but evil.

For what does a person gain from all his efforts and ambitions pervading what he does daily?

His entire life is one of pain, and his work is full of stress; even at night his mind is unsettled. This too is pointless.

So there is nothing more for a man to do than eat, drink and let himself enjoy the results of his work. But I also realized that this is from God’s hand.

For who will eat and who will enjoy except me?

To the man who is righteous from God’s viewpoint He gives wisdom, knowledge and joy; but to the unsaved He gives the task of collecting and accumulating objects to leave behind to him who is righteous from God’s viewpoint. This is pointless and batting at the wind...


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 I said in my heart, `Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it [is] vanity.

2 Of laughter I said, `Foolish!' and of mirth, `What [is] this it is doing?'

3 I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where [is] this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives.

4 I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards.

5 I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit.

6 I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees.

7 I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem.

8 I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives.

9 And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me.

10 And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour,

11 and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!

12 And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what [is] the man who cometh after the king? that which [is] already -- they have done it!

13 And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness.

14 The wise! -- his eyes [are] in his head, and the fool in darkness is walking, and I also knew that one event happeneth with them all;

15 and I said in my heart, `As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this [is] vanity:

16 That there is no remembrance to the wise -- with the fool -- to the age, for that which [is] already, [in] the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool!

17 And I have hated life, for sad to me [is] the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

18 And I have hated all my labour that I labour at under the sun, because I leave it to a man who is after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he is wise or foolish? yet he doth rule over all my labour that I have laboured at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! this also [is] vanity.

20 And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this [is] vanity and a great evil.

22 For what hath been to a man by all his labour, and by the thought of his heart that he laboured at under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail sadness; even at night his heart hath not lain down; this also [is] vanity.

24 There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it [is] from the hand of God.

25 For who eateth and who hasteth out more than I?

26 For to a man who [is] good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

[_LittleNipper]

Let's not forget -------- the song that everyone of the 60's heard and listened too ----- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4

And yes my hair was like this only a little shaggier ---- hated the bowl cut!

[_ludwigm]

Let's not forget -------- the song that everyone of the 60's heard and listened too ----- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4

And yes my hair was like this only a little shaggier ---- hated the bowl cut!

This is Ecclesiastes 3.

[_LittleNipper]

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to construct,

A time to cry and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

A time to toss stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

A time to rip up and a time to stitch, a time to remain quiet and a time to speak up,

A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his industry?

I have seen the job God has given humanity to keep us busy.

He has made everything fit the its timing; also, He has provided humans with an awareness of forever; but in such a way that they can’t fully understand, from beginning to end, what exactly GOD accomplishes.

I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live.

Still, the fact that everyone can eat, drink and enjoy the good that results from all his efforts, is a gift of God.

I know that whatever God does lasts eternally; there is nothing to add or subtract from GOD's accomplishments; and God has done it so that people will regard Him.

That which exists already; and that which will be has already been, but God nvestigates what people chase after.

Another thing I observed daily. In the very same place as justice & righteousness, existed wickedness;

I thought, “Both the righteous and the wicked God will judge, because there is a right time for every intention and action.”

Considering people, I thought, “God is testing them, so that they note that by themselves they are mere animals.

After all, the same things that happen to people occurs to animals. Just as the one dies, so does the other. Yes, their breath is the same; so that humans are not better than animals; since nothing matters, anyway.

They all end up the same; they all come from dust, and they all return to dust.

Who knows if the spirit of a human being goes upward and the spirit of an animal goes downward into the earth?”

So I concluded that there is nothing better for a person to do than take joy in what he does. This is his allotted portion; for who can allow him to see what will occur afterwards?


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 To everything -- a season, and a time to every delight under the heavens:

2 A time to bring forth, And a time to die. A time to plant, And a time to eradicate the planted.

3 A time to slay, And a time to heal, A time to break down, And a time to build up.

4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh. A time to mourn, And a time to skip.

5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to heap up stones. A time to embrace, And a time to be far from embracing.

6 A time to seek, And a time to destroy. A time to keep, And a time to cast away.

7 A time to rend, And a time to sew. A time to be silent, And a time to speak.

8 A time to love, And a time to hate. A time of war, And a time of peace.

9 What advantage hath the doer in that which he is labouring at?

10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it.

11 The whole He hath made beautiful in its season; also, that knowledge He hath put in their heart without which man findeth not out the work that God hath done from the beginning even unto the end.

12 I have known that there is no good for them except to rejoice and to do good during their life,

13 yea, even every man who eateth and hath drunk and seen good by all his labour, it [is] a gift of God.

14 I have known that all that God doth is to the age, to it nothing is to be added, and from it nothing is to be withdrawn; and God hath wrought that they do fear before Him.

15 What is that which hath been? already it is, and that which [is] to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is pursued.

16 And again, I have seen under the sun the place of judgment -- there [is] the wicked; and the place of righteousness -- there [is] the wicked.

17 I said in my heart, `The righteous and the wicked doth God judge, for a time [is] to every matter and for every work there.'

18 I said in my heart concerning the matter of the sons of man that God might cleanse them, so as to see that they themselves [are] beasts.

19 For an event [is to] the sons of man, and an event [is to] the beasts, even one event [is] to them; as the death of this, so [is] the death of that; and one spirit [is] to all, and the advantage of man above the beast is nothing, for the whole [is] vanity.

20 The whole are going unto one place, the whole have been from the dust, and the whole are turning back unto the dust.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth?

22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it [is] his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?

[_LittleNipper]

Ecclesiastes 4:1-16

But I looked away and considered all the kinds of oppression being carried out daily.

I saw the tears of those oppressed, and no one cared. Power was with their oppressors.

So I considered the dead happier, because their lives were over, rather than the living, who must still live their lives.

But happier than either is the one who has not yet been born, because he has not yet witnessed the evil abominations happening daily.

Next I realized that all effort and achievement stem from one person’s envy of another. This too is futility and batting at the wind.

Fools fold their arms and undermine their own health.

Better an armload with calm and peace than both arms full of effort and hot air.

Then I turned my attention to something else under the sun that is pointless: the situation in which a lonely individual without a friend, neither son or brother, keeps on working endlessly but never has enough wealth. “For whom” (he might question), “am I working so hard and denying myself pleasure?” This also is illogical ---- rather sad state of affairs.

Two are better than one, in that their cooperative efforts yield this advantage: if one of them falls, the other will help his co-worker up — woe to him who is alone when he falls and has no one to assist him.

Again, if a couple sleep together, they keep each other warm; but how can one person be warm alone?

Moreover, an attacker may defeat someone who is alone, but two can resist him ------------- a three-strand braded cord is not easily broken.

Better a young person who is poor but wise than a ruler who is old but foolish, no longer willing to heed advice.

True, he might have risen from prison to be king; yet, while ruling, he became impoverished.

I observed that all who live and walk daily took the side of the youth aforementioned who would usurp the king, and no limit was set as the number of his subjects.

Nevertheless, those who come in the future will not regard him highly. This too is vanity and batting at the wind.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And I have turned, and I see all the oppressions that are done under the sun, and lo, the tear of the oppressed, and they have no comforter; and at the hand of their oppressors [is] power, and they have no comforter.

2 And I am praising the dead who have already died above the living who are yet alive.

3 And better than both of them [is] he who hath not yet been, in that he hath not seen the evil work that hath been done under the sun.

4 And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool is clasping his hands, and eating his own flesh:

6 `Better [is] a handful [with] quietness, than two handfuls [with] labour and vexation of spirit.'

7 And I have turned, and I see a vain thing under the sun:

8 There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

9 The two [are] better than the one, in that they have a good reward by their labour.

10 For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but wo to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!

11 Also, if two lie down, then they have heat, but how hath one heat?

12 And if the one strengthen himself, the two stand against him; and the threefold cord is not hastily broken.

13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more.

14 For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

15 I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;

16 there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

[_LittleNipper]

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2

Guard your steps when you visit God's temple. Go and listen closely rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not realize they are mistaken.

Do not be quick to speak, do not be hasty in your heart to swear before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth. Be a person of few words.

Dreams come when there are many concerns, and many words mark the speech of a fool.

When you make a vow to God, fulfill it without delay. He has no pleasure in fools.

It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not keep it.

Do not let your words lead you to 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?

Much dreaming and many words are pointless; therefore, regard God.

If you see the poor oppressed in a somewhere, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at these things; for one ruler is viewed by a greater one, and over them both are others still higher.

The produce from the land is taken by everyone; the king himself profits from the fields.

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. All this is pointless.

As goods increase, so do those who desire them. And what benefit are such to those possessing them except to admire them?

The sleep of a laborer is deep, whether they eat little or a lot, but as for the rich, their possessions bring them worry.

I have witnessed grievous evil daily: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through misfortune, so that to any children there is no inheritance left.

Everyone arrives naked at birth, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing with all their endeavors that they can carry away in their hands.

This also is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they leave, and what do they gain, since they toil to the wind?

Throughout life they eat in darkness, with great frustration, pain and anger.

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for an individual to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their daily labor during the few moments of life God has allotted to them.

Additionally, when God gives someone wealth, possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be content in their job—this is a gift of God.

They seldom reflect on the shortness of their life, because God keeps them occupied with a happy heart.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.

2 Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

3 For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

4 When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.

5 Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger, that `it [is] an error,' why is God wroth because of thy voice, and hath destroyed the work of thy hands?

7 For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

8 If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

9 And the abundance of a land is for all. A king for a field is served.

10 Whoso is loving silver is not satisfied [with] silver, nor he who is in love with stores [with] increase. Even this [is] vanity.

11 In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit [is] to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

12 Sweet [is] the sleep of the labourer whether he eat little or much; and the sufficiency of the wealthy is not suffering him to sleep.

13 There is a painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil.

14 And that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand!

15 As he came out from the belly of his mother, naked he turneth back to go as he came, and he taketh not away anything of his labour, that doth go in his hand.

16 And this also [is] a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage [is] to him who laboureth for wind?

17 Also all his days in darkness he consumeth, and sadness, and wrath, and sickness abound.

18 Lo, that which I have seen: [It is] good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it [is] his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God.

20 For he doth not much remember the days of his life, for God is answering through the joy of his heart.