Ecclesiastes, chapter 5. Guard your steps when you go
to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better
than to offer the sacrifice of fools. For they do not know that
they are doing evil. 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 let your
words be few. For a dream comes with much business,
and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to
God, do not delay paying it, for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should
not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your
mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger
that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your
voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when dreams increase
and words grow many, there is vanity. But God is the one you
must fear. If you see in a province the
oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness,
Do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched
by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. But this
is gain for a land in every way, a king committed to cultivated
fields. He who loves money will not be
satisfied with money. nor he who loves wealth with
his income, this also is vanity. When goods increase, they increase
who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them
with his eyes? Sweet is the sleep of a laborer,
whether he eats a little or much, but the full stomach of the rich
will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that
I have seen under the sun. Riches were kept by their owner
to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but
he has nothing in his hand. As 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. This, also,
is a grievous evil. Just as he came, so shall he
go. And what gain is there to him
who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats
in darkness, in much vexation, and sickness, and anger. Behold, what I have seen to be
good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment 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 lot. everyone
also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to
enjoy them and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil. This is the gift of God. for he will not much remember
the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with joy
in his heart.