Vows, Wealth, and Contentment
Ecclesiastes 5
The Preacher warns against hasty words and unpaid vows made before the Lord, and observes that officials oppress the poor under a chain of higher powers while love of money never brings satisfaction. He concludes that it is good for a man to eat, drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labor, since the very power to do so is a gift of the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomsonbe thou not rash with thy mouth; nor let thy heart be hasty to utter a word in the presence of God. Because God is in the heaven above, and thou art on the earth, let thy words therefore be few.
BrentonBe 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.
GreekΜὴ σπεῦδε ἐπὶ στόματί σου, καὶ καρδία σου μὴ ταχυνάτω τοῦ ἐξενέγκαι λόγον πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω, καὶ σὺ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς· διὰ τοῦτο ἔστωσαν οἱ λόγοι σου ὀλίγοι.
KJVBe not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
JPSBe not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.
2
ThomsonBecause a dream cometh by much temptation, and a fool’s voice with many words;
BrentonFor through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words.
GreekὍτι παραγίνεται ἐνύπνιον ἐν πλήθει πειρασμοῦ, καὶ φωνὴ ἄφρονος ἐν πλήθει λόγων.
KJVFor a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
JPSFor a dream cometh through a multitude of business; And a fool’s voice through a multitude of words.
3
Thomsonwhen thou vowest a vow to God delay not the performance of it. For in fools there is no fixed will. Pay thou therefore what thou vowest.
BrentonWhenever 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.
GreekΚαθὼς εὔξῃ εὐχὴν τῷ Θεῷ, μὴ χρονίσῃς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι αὐτήν· ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι θέλημα ἐν ἄφροσι· σὺ οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξῃ, ἀπόδος.
KJVWhen thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
JPSWhen thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.
4
ThomsonIt is better not to vow, than to vow and not perform.
BrentonIt is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
GreekἈγαθὸν τὸ μὴ εὔξασθαί σε, ἢ τὸ εὔξασθαί σε καὶ μὴ ἀποδοῦναι.
KJVBetter is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
JPSBetter is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
5
ThomsonSuffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say in the presence of God, It was an inadvertence, that God may not be provoked to wrath by thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands,
BrentonSuffer 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.
GreekΜὴ δῷς τὸ στόμα σου τοῦ ἐξαμαρτῆσαι τὴν σάρκα σου, καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἄγνοιά ἐστιν· ἵνα μὴ ὀργισθῇ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ φωνῇ σου, καὶ διαφθείρῃ τὰ ποιήματα χειρῶν σου.
KJVSuffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
JPSSuffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt, neither say thou before the messenger, that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
6
Thomsonbecause it was with a multitude of dreams and vanities, and many words that thou fearest God.
BrentonFor there is evil in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.
GreekὍτι ἐν πλήθει ἐνυπνίων καὶ ματαιοτήτων καὶ λόγων πολλῶν, ὅτι σὺ τὸν Θεὸν φοβοῦ.
KJVFor in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
JPSFor through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou God.
7
ThomsonIf thou seest a frivolous accusation of a poor man, and a rigorous exaction of judgment and justice in a country, marvel not at the matter. Because there is a high one over a high one to watch, and high ones are for these things,
BrentonIf 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.
GreekἘὰν συκοφαντίαν πένητος καὶ ἁρπαγὴν κρίματος καὶ δικαιοσύνης ἴδῃς ἐν χώρᾳ, μὴ θαυμάσῃς ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι· ὅτι ὑψηλὸς ἐπάνω ὑψηλοῦ φυλάξαι, καὶ ὑψηλοὶ ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς.
KJVIf thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
JPSIf thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of justice and righteousness in the state, marvel not at the matter; for one higher than the high watcheth, and there are higher than they.
8
Thomson—
BrentonAlso the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field.
GreekΚαὶ περίσσεια γῆς ἐπὶ παντί ἐστι, βασιλεὺς τοῦ ἀγροῦ εἰργασμένου.
KJVMoreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
JPSBut the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.
9
ThomsonA lover of silver cannot be satisfied with silver; but did anyone ever love what the abundance of this produceth? Surely this is vanity.
BrentonHe that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity.
GreekἈγαπῶν ἀργύριον οὐ πλησθήσεται ἀργυρίου· καὶ τίς ἠγάπησεν ἐν πλήθει αὐτῶν γέννημα; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
KJVHe that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
JPSHe that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.
10
ThomsonBy an abundance of wealth they who consume it are multiplied. And what is the mighty advantage of the owner from it? That he hath the first sight of it with his eyes?
BrentonIn 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?
GreekἘν πλήθει ἀγαθωσύνης ἐπληθύνθησαν ἔσθοντες αὐτήν· καὶ τί ἀνδρεία τῷ παρʼ αὐτῆς; ὅτι ἀρχὴ τοῦ ὁρᾷν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ.
KJVWhen goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
JPSWhen goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?
11
ThomsonThe sleep of the slave is sweet whether he eateth little or much. But the fullness of the rich suffereth him not to sleep.
BrentonThe 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.
GreekΓλυκὺς ὕπνος τοῦ δούλου εἰ ὀλίγον καὶ εἰ πολὺ φάγεται, καὶ τῷ ἐμπλησθέντι τοῦ πλουτῆσαι, οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφίων αὐτὸν τοῦ ὑπνῶσαι.
KJVThe sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
JPSSweet is the sleep of a labouring man, whether he eat little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
12
ThomsonThere is a weakness which I have seen under the sun—riches kept by one for his descendant to his own hurt.
BrentonThere is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.
GreekἜστιν ἀῤῥωστία ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, πλοῦτον φυλασσόμενον τῷ παρʼ αὐτοῦ εἰς κακίαν αὐτῷ,
KJVThere is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
JPSThere is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt;
13
ThomsonYet these riches acquired with grievous vexation shall perish, and he hath begotten a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
BrentonAnd that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
Greekκαὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ πλοῦτος ἐκεῖνος ἐν περισπασμῷ πονηρῷ, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱὸν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐδέν.
KJVBut those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
JPSand those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.
14
ThomsonAs he came naked out of his mother’s womb, he shall turn about and go as he came. He shall take nothing by his labour to go with him in his hand.
BrentonAs 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.
GreekΚαθὼς ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ γαστρὸς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ γυμνὸς, ἐπιστρέψει τοῦ πορευθῆναι ὡς ἥκει, καὶ οὐδὲν οὐ λήψεται ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα πορευθῇ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
KJVAs he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
JPSAs he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
15
ThomsonSurely this is a grievous weakness; for as he came, so he must depart. What then is his lasting advantage, for which he laboureth in vain;
BrentonAnd 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?
GreekΚαί γε τοῦτο πονηρὰ ἀῤῥωστία· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεγένετο, οὕτως καὶ ἀπελεύσεται· καὶ τίς ἡ περίσσεια αὐτοῦ ᾗ μοχθεῖ εἰς ἄνεμον;
KJVAnd this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?
JPSAnd this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?
16
Thomsonand for which all his days are in darkness and mourning, and much grief and weakness and repining?
BrentonYea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.
GreekΚαί γε πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἐν σκότει, καὶ ἐν πένθει, καὶ θυμῷ πολλῷ, καὶ ἀῤῥωστίᾳ, καὶ χόλῳ.
KJVAll his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
JPSAll his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much vexation and sickness and wrath. .
17
ThomsonBehold I have seen a good which is comely, namely to eat and drink, and to have a good enjoyment in all the labour with which one toileth under the sun, the number of the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion.
BrentonBehold, 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.
GreekἸδοὺ, εἶδον ἐγὼ ἀγαθὸν, ὅ ἐστι καλὸν, τοῦ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἀγαθωσύνην ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ ἐὰν μοχθῇ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτοῦ ὧν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι αὐτὸ μερὶς αὐτοῦ.
KJVBehold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
JPSBehold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion.
18
ThomsonAnd every man indeed to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, hath by means of his being made glad in his labour, this further gift of God,
BrentonYea, 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.
GreekΚαί γε πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ᾧ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ ἐξουσίασεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ λαβεῖν τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῦ· εὐφρανθῆναι ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο δόμα Θεοῦ ἐστιν.
KJVEvery man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
JPSEvery man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour—this is the gift of God.
19
Thomsonthat he will not much remember the days of his life, because God occupieth him with the joy of his heart.
BrentonFor he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.
GreekὍτι οὐ πολλὰ μνησθήσεται τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς περισπᾷ αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καρδίας αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
JPSFor let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for God answereth him in the joy of his heart.