Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

6 There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then,

7 saith he, do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

8 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

9 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

10 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm

11 alone?

12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

14 For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

15 I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.

16 There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

17 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

18 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

19 For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool’s voice with a multitude of words.

20 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house ofGod, and draw near to hear, rather than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything beforeGod: forGod is in the heavens, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice through a multitude of words.

4 When thou vowest a vow untoGod, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an inadvertence. Wherefore shouldGod be wroth at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams are vanities; so with many words: but fearGod.

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter; for a higher than the high is watching, and there are higher than they.

9 Moreover the earth is every way profitable: the king [himself] is dependent upon the field.

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

12 The sleep of the labourer is sweet, whether he have eaten little or much; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt;

14 or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go away again as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind?

17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much vexation, and sickness, and irritation.

18 Behold what I have seen good and comely: [it is] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith [man] laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life whichGod hath given him: for that is his portion.

19 Every man also to whomGod hath given riches and wealth, and power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour: that is a gift ofGod.

20 For he will not much remember the days of his life, becauseGod answereth [him] with the joy of his heart.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

2 For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words.

3 Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.

4 [It is] better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

5 Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands.

6 For [there is evil] in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

7 If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for [there is] a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.

8 Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king [is dependent on] the tilled field.

9 He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity.

10 In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding [it] with his eyes?

11 The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.

12 There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, [namely], wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.

13 And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and [the man] begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

14 As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go [with him] in his hand.

15 And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

16 Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

17 Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, [all] the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

18 Yea, and [as for] every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

19 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Ne temere quid loquaris, neque cor tuum sit velox ad proferendum sermonem coram Deo. Deus enim in cælo, et tu super terram: idcirco sint pauci sermones tui.

2 Multas curas sequuntur somnia, et in multis sermonibus invenietur stultitia.

3 Si quid vovisti Deo, ne moreris reddere: displicet enim ei infidelis et stulta promissio. sed quodcumque voveris, redde:

4 multoque melius est non vovere, quam post votum promissa non reddere.

5 Ne dederis os tuum ut peccare facias carnem tuam: neque dicas coram angelo: Non est providentia: ne forte iratus Deus contra sermones tuos, dissipet cuncta opera manuum tuarum.

6 Ubi multa sunt somnia, plurimæ sunt vanitates, et sermones innumeri: tu vero Deum time.

7 Si videris calumnias egenorum, et violenta iudicia, et subverti iustitiam in provincia, non mireris super hoc negotio: quia excelso excelsior est alius, et super hos quoque eminentiores sunt alii,

8 et insuper universæ terræ rex imperat servienti.

9 Avarus non implebitur pecunia: et qui amat divitias, fructum non capiet ex eis: et hoc ergo vanitas.

10 Ubi multæ sunt opes, multi et qui comedunt eas. Et quid prodest possessori, nisi quod cernit divitias oculis suis?

11 Dulcis est somnus operanti, sive parum, sive multum comedat: saturitas autem divitis non sinit eum dormire.

12 Est et alia infirmitas pessima, quam vidi sub sole: divitiæ conservatæ in malum domini sui.

13 Pereunt enim in afflictione pessima: generavit filium, qui in summa egestate erit.

14 Sicut egressus est nudus de utero matris suæ, sic revertetur, et nihil auferet secum de labore suo.

15 Miserabilis prorsus infirmitas: quo modo venit, sic revertetur. Quid ergo prodest ei quod laboravit in ventum?

16 Cunctis diebus vitæ suæ comedit in tenebris et in curis multis, et in ærumna atque tristitia.

17 Hoc itaque visum est mihi bonum ut comedat quis, et bibat, et fruatur lætitia ex labore suo, quo laboravit ipse sub sole numero dierum vitæ suæ, quos dedit ei Deus, et hæc est pars illius.

18 Et omni homini, cui dedit Deus divitias, atque substantiam, potestatemque ei tribuit ut comedat ex eis, et fruatur parte sua, et lætetur de labore suo: hoc est donum Dei.

19 Non enim satis recordabitur dierum vitæ suæ, eo quod Deus occupet deliciis cor eius.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 Guard 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.

2 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.

3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

4 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.

5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.

6 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?

7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words; but you must fear God.

8 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.

9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.

11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.

14 Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came out of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

16 This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

17 All his days he also eats in darkness, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

18 Behold, 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 labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.

20 For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life, because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

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 <FI>is<Fi> 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 <FI>are<Fi> 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 <FI>with<Fi> silver, nor he who is in love with stores <FI>with<Fi> increase. Even this <FI>is<Fi> vanity.

11 In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit <FI>is<Fi> to its possessor except the sight of his eyes?

12 Sweet <FI>is<Fi> 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 <FI>is<Fi> a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage <FI>is<Fi> 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: <FI>It is<Fi> 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 <FI> is<Fi> 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.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).