Ecclesiastes 5 קֹהֶלֶת

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

¹אַל־תְּבַהֵ֨ל עַל־פִּ֜יךָ וְלִבְּךָ֧ אַל־יְמַהֵ֛ר לְהוֹצִ֥יא דָבָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים בַּשָּׁמַ֨יִם֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַֽל־כֵּ֛ן יִהְי֥וּ דְבָרֶ֖יךָ מְעַטִּֽים׃

al-tevahel al-pikha velibbekha al-yemaher lehotzi davar lifne ha'elohim ki ha'elohim bashamayim ve'atta al-ha'aretz al-ken yihyu devarekha me'attim

Be 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.

²כִּ֛י בָּ֥א הַחֲל֖וֹם בְּרֹ֣ב עִנְיָ֑ן וְק֥וֹל כְּסִ֖יל בְּרֹ֥ב דְּבָרִֽים׃

ki ba hachalom berov inyan vekol kesil berov devarim

For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; And a fool’s voice through a multitude of words.

³כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם׃

ka'asher tiddor neder lelohim al-te'acher leshallemo ki en chefetz bakkesilim et asher-tiddor shallem

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

⁴ט֖וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תִדֹּ֑ר מִשֶׁתִּדּ֖וֹר וְלֹ֥א תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

tov asher lo-tiddor mishettiddor velo teshallem

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

⁵אַל־תִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־פִּ֨יךָ֙ לַחֲטִ֣יא אֶת־בְּשָׂרֶ֔ךָ וְאַל־תֹּאמַר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י שְׁגָגָ֖ה הִ֑יא לָ֣מָּה יִקְצֹ֤ף הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־קוֹלֶ֔ךָ וְחִבֵּ֖ל אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדֶֽיךָ׃

al-titten et-pikha lachati et-besarekha ve'al-tomar lifne hammal'akh ki shegaga hi lamma yiktzof ha'elohim al-kolekha vechibbel et-ma'ase yadekha

Suffer 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?

⁶כִּ֣י בְרֹ֤ב חֲלֹמוֹת֙ וַהֲבָלִ֔ים וּדְבָרִ֖ים הַרְבֵּ֑ה כִּ֥י אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרָֽא׃

ki verov chalomot vahavalim udevarim harbe ki et-ha'elohim yera

For through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou God.

⁷אִם־עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְגֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָצֶ֨דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַמְּדִינָ֔ה אַל־תִּתְמַ֖הּ עַל־הַחֵ֑פֶץ כִּ֣י גָבֹ֜הַּ מֵעַ֤ל גָּבֹ֨הַ֙ שֹׁמֵ֔ר וּגְבֹהִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

im-oshek rash vegezel mishpat vatzedek tir'e vammedina al-titmah al-hachefetz ki gavoah me'al gavoah shomer ugevohim alehem

If 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.

⁸וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל היא [ה֑וּא] מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃

veyitron eretz bakkol hu melekh lesade ne'evad

But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.

⁹אֹהֵ֥ב כֶּ֨סֶף֙ לֹא־יִשְׂבַּ֣ע כֶּ֔סֶף וּמִֽי־אֹהֵ֥ב בֶּהָמ֖וֹן לֹ֣א תְבוּאָ֑ה גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

ohev kesef lo-yisba' kesef umi-ohev behamon lo tevu'a gam-ze havel

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

¹⁰בִּרְבוֹת֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה רַבּ֖וּ אוֹכְלֶ֑יהָ וּמַה־כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ לִבְעָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֖י אִם־ראית [רְא֥וּת] עֵינָֽיו׃

birvot hattova rabbu okhleha uma-kishron liv'aleha ki im-reut enav

When 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?

¹¹מְתוּקָה֙ שְׁנַ֣ת הָעֹבֵ֔ד אִם־מְעַ֥ט וְאִם־הַרְבֵּ֖ה יֹאכֵ֑ל וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ מַנִּ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ לִישֽׁוֹן׃

metuka shenat ha'oved im-me'at ve'im-harbe yokhel vehassava' le'ashir enennu manniach lo lishon

Sweet 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.

¹²יֵ֚שׁ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֹ֛שֶׁר שָׁמ֥וּר לִבְעָלָ֖יו לְרָעָתֽוֹ׃

yesh ra'a chola ra'iti tachat hashamesh osher shamur liv'alav lera'ato

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt;

¹³וְאָבַ֛ד הָעֹ֥שֶׁר הַה֖וּא בְּעִנְיַ֣ן רָ֑ע וְהוֹלִ֣יד בֵּ֔ן וְאֵ֥ין בְּיָד֖וֹ מְאֽוּמָה׃

ve'avad ha'osher hahu be'inyan ra' veholid ben ve'en beyado meuma

and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁴כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָצָא֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמּ֔וֹ עָר֛וֹם יָשׁ֥וּב לָלֶ֖כֶת כְּשֶׁבָּ֑א וּמְא֨וּמָה֙ לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א בַעֲמָל֔וֹ שֶׁיֹּלֵ֖ךְ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

ka'asher yatza mibbeten immo arom yashuv lalekhet keshebba umeuma lo-yissa va'amalo sheyyolekh beyado

As 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.

¹⁵וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כָּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃

vegam-zo ra'a chola kal-ummat shebba ken yelekh uma-yitron lo sheyya'amol laruach

And 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?

¹⁶גַּ֥ם כָּל־יָמָ֖יו בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֹאכֵ֑ל וְכָעַ֥ס הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְחָלְי֥וֹ וָקָֽצֶף׃

gam kal-yamav bachoshekh yokhel vekha'as harbe vechalyo vakatzef

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

¹⁷הִנֵּ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֗נִי ט֣וֹב אֲשֶׁר־יָפֶ֣ה לֶֽאֶכוֹל־וְ֠לִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִרְא֨וֹת טוֹבָ֜ה בְּכָל־עֲמָל֣וֹ ׀ שֶׁיַּעֲמֹ֣ל תַּֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ מִסְפַּ֧ר יְמֵי־חיו [חַיָּ֛יו] אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־ה֥וּא חֶלְקֽוֹ׃

hinne asher-ra'iti ani tov asher-yafe le'ekhol-velishtot velirot tova bekhal-amalo sheyya'amol tachat-hashemesh mispar yeme-chayyav asher-natan-lo ha'elohim ki-hu chelko

Behold 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.

¹⁸גַּ֣ם כָּֽל־הָאָדָ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־ל֣וֹ הָאֱלֹהִים֩ עֹ֨שֶׁר וּנְכָסִ֜ים וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֤ל מִמֶּ֨נּוּ֙ וְלָשֵׂ֣את אֶת־חֶלְק֔וֹ וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ זֹ֕ה מַתַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃

gam kal-ha'adam asher natan-lo ha'elohim osher unekhasim vehishlito le'ekhol mimmennu velaset et-chelko velismoach ba'amalo zo mattat elohim hi

Every 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.

¹⁹כִּ֚י לֹ֣א הַרְבֵּ֔ה יִזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו כִּ֧י הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַעֲנֶ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ׃

ki lo harbe yizkor et-yeme chayyav ki ha'elohim ma'ane besimchat libbo

For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

World Messianic Bible (English numbering)

¹Guard 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.

²Don’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.

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

⁴When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

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

⁶Don’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?

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

⁸If 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.

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

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

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

¹²The 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.

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

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

¹⁵As 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.

¹⁶This 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?

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

¹⁸Behold, 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.

¹⁹Every 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.

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

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Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (ketiv shown with the qere in brackets). JPS 1917 and the Hebrew use Hebrew verse numbers; the English column uses English numbering, which sometimes differs by a verse.

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Ecclesiastes 5 קֹהֶלֶת

Hebrew · transliteration · JPS 1917

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