3 As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words. 4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 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? 7 For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. 8 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. 9 The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. 10 He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. 11 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? 12 The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14 or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.
Ecclesiastes 5:3–14
Semantically similar passages
Ecclesiastes 10:13–15
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. 14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him? 15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Ecclesiastes 6:10–12
10 Whatever exists was named long ago, and what happens to a man is foreknown; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he. 11 For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which…
Ecclesiastes 6:6–8
6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place? 7 All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied. 8 What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to th…
Proverbs 14:22–24
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
Proverbs 23:3–5
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. 5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Ecclesiastes 6:1–2
1 There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind: 2 God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is f…
Proverbs 21:16–18
16 The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich. 18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
Ecclesiastes 2:20–22
20 So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil. 22 For what…
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