Fear God
1
a1Guard your steps when you go to 2the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to 3offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2
b 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 are on earth. Therefore 4let your words be few.
4
When 6you vow a vow to God, 7do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. 8Pay what you vow.
6
Let not your mouth lead youc into sin, and do not say before 10the messengerd that it was 11a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7
For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;e but 12God is the one you must fear.
The Vanity of Wealth and Honor
8
13If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, 14do not be amazed at the matter, 15for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
11
When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
12
Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
13
16There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,
14
and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
15
17As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
16
This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what 18gain is there to him who 19toils for the wind?
18
Behold, what I have seen to be 21good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoymentg in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his 22lot.
19
Everyone also to whom 23God has given 24wealth and possessions 25and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is 26the gift of God.
20
For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)