Ch 5 / 12~3 min
Kohelet

Chapter 5

Fear Elohim, Keep Your Words Before Him

The call to guard your steps when entering Elohim's house and let your words be few before Him mirrors Yeshua's call to sincere, heart-level worship over mere religious show.

  1. Guard Your Steps Before Elohim

    Guard your steps when approaching Elohim. He's not impressed by many words — He wants a listening heart.

  2. 1Guard your steps when you go to Elohim’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.
  3. 2Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before Elohim; for Elohim is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
  4. 3For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.
  5. 4When you vow a vow to Elohim, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.
  6. 5It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
  7. 6Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should Elohim be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
  8. 7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear Elohim.
  9. The Vanity of Wealth

    Wealth promises satisfaction but delivers anxiety. The more you have, the more there is to worry about.

  10. 8If 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.
  11. 9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.
  12. 10He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
  13. 11When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?
  14. 12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
  15. 13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
  16. 14Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.
  17. 15As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
  18. 16This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labours for the wind?
  19. 17All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.
  20. Enjoy the Gift of Elohim

    Here is what is good: to eat, drink, and find enjoyment in your work. Contentment is Elohim's gift.

  21. 18Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, in which he labours under the sun, all the days of his life which Elohim has given him; for this is his portion.
  22. 19Every man also to whom Elohim has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour—this is the gift of Elohim.
  23. 20For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life, because Elohim occupies him with the joy of his heart.
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