Sermon Central
Ecclesiastes 5:1-6:12
View Full Chapter
Fulfill Your Vow to God
1
2Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. 4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Riches Are Meaningless 8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
12The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
16This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. 18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
1I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind:
2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. 3A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—
6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
7Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.
8What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
10Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
11The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 12For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?