The Fruit of One’s Labor Can Be Destroyed by Rash Vows
5:11
Be careful2
what you do3
when you go to the temple4
of God;
Draw near to listen5
rather than to offer a sacrifice6
like fools.7
For they do not realize that they are doing wrong.
5:2 Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up
a matter before God,
For God is in heaven and you are on earth!
Therefore, let your words be few.
5:3 Just as dreams come when there are many cares,8
so9
the rash vow10
of a fool occurs when there are many words.
5:4 When you make a vow11
to God, do not delay in paying it.12
For God takes no pleasure in fools:
Pay what you vow!
5:5 It is better for you not to vow
than to vow and not pay it.
5:6 Do not let your mouth cause you13
to sin;
And do not tell the temple messenger,14
“My vow was a mistake!”15
Why make God angry at you16
so that he would destroy the work of your hands?!?”
5:7 Just as there is futility in many dreams,
so also in many words.17
Therefore, fear God!
The Fruit of One’s Labor Can Be Lost through Extortion by Corrupt Officials
5:8 If you see the extortion18
of the poor,
or the perversion19
of justice and righteousness in the government,20
do not be astonished by the matter.
For the high official is watched by a higher official,
and there are higher ones over them!21
5:9 The produce of the land is seized by all of them,
even the king is served22
by the fields.23
The Enjoyment of the Fruit of One’s Labor May Be Prevented by One’s
Own Covetousness
5:10 The one who loves money24
will never be satisfied with money,25
he who loves wealth26
will never be satisfied with his income.
This also is futile.
5:11 When a person’s prosperity27
increases, so also those who consume it increase;
so what do its owners gain from it, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?28
5:12 The sleep of the laborer is pleasant—whether he eats little
or much;
but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.
The Enjoyment of the Fruit of One’s Labor Can Be Prevented by Miserly
Materialism
5:13 Here is29
a depressing misfortune30
on earth31
that I have seen:
Wealth hoarded by their owner to his own misery.
5:14 Then that wealth was lost through bad luck;32
although he fathered a son, he does not have anything left to give him.33
5:15 Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he again
return as he came;
and he shall take nothing in his hand that he may carry away for his toil.
5:16 This is another depressing misfortune:34
Just as he came, so shall he go.
and what did he gain from toiling for the wind?
5:17 Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life,
and he was greatly suffered with sickness and anger.
The Fruit of One’s Labor Should Be Enjoyed as a Gift from God
5:18 Behold I myself have seen what is the only beneficial and appropriate
thing for man:
to eat and drink,35
and find enjoyment in all his hard work36
on earth37
during the few days of his life which God has given to him;
for this is his reward.38
5:19 To every man to whom God has given wealth, and possessions,
he has also given him the ability39
to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil;
this40
is the gift of God.
5:20 For he does not reflect41
much about the fleeting days of his life
because God keeps him preoccupied42
with joy in his heart.