Fear God, Speak Little
Ecclesiastes 5Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.
Wealth is Emptiness
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter, for one official is eyed by a higher one, and there are officials over them. Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
Whoever loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, and whoever loves abundance will not be satisfied with their income. This also is emptiness. When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with their eyes?
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not allow them to sleep.
There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by owners to their harm. Those riches were lost misfortune, so when they have children, they are empty-handed. Just as one comes from their mother’s womb naked, so will they go again. They will take nothing for their labor that can be carries by hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as one enters, so they will go. And what profit does a person have who labors for the wind? All their days they eats in darkness, with frustrated, sickness, and anger.
Look, here is what I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all their labor under the sun, all the days of their life which God has given them; for this is one’s portion. Every person also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take their portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. For people do not often reflect on the days of their life, because God occupies them with the joy of their heart.