敬畏上帝
1你進入上帝的殿時要小心謹慎，近前傾聽勝過愚人獻祭，因為他們不知道自己是在作惡。 2在上帝面前不要冒失開口，不可急於發言，因為祂在天上，你在地上。所以，你要少言寡語。 3事務繁雜，夜裡多夢；多言多語，顯出愚昧。 4你向上帝許願，不可遲遲不還，因為祂不喜歡這樣的愚人。要還所許的願。 5與其許了願不還，倒不如不許。 6不要在言語上犯罪，也不要在祭司5·6 「祭司」希伯來文是「使者」。面前說許錯了願。為什麼用言語惹上帝發怒，以致祂摧毀你手中的工作呢？ 7多夢多言都是虛空。你只要敬畏上帝！
財富虛空
8若你在某地看見窮人受欺壓，公平正義被扭曲，不要震驚，因為官上有官，在眾官之上還有更高的官。 9況且，地的出產滋養萬物，就是君王也需要從田地得到供應。 10貪愛錢財的，金銀不能使他滿足；貪圖富裕的，再多的利益也不能叫他稱心。這也是虛空！ 11財富增加，消費的人也增加，這對財富的主人有什麼益處呢？只是過眼雲煙罷了！ 12勞力的人不管吃多吃少，總是睡得香甜；富人的萬貫家財卻害得他不能成眠。 13我看到日光之下有一件可悲的事：有人積攢財寶，反而害了自己。 14經營不善，便財富盡失，什麼也不能留給兒子。 15人怎樣從母腹空空而來，也必照樣空空而去；勞碌一生，什麼也不能帶走。 16這是多麼可悲啊！人怎樣來，也要怎樣去，為風勞碌有什麼益處呢？ 17他一生活在黑暗中，飽受煩惱、病痛和憤怒的困擾。 18我認為人生最美最善的是，在上帝所賜的短暫歲月中盡情吃喝，享受自己在日光之下勞苦得來的成果。因為這是人當得的。 19上帝不單給人財富，也叫他能吃能喝，享用自己所當得的，並在勞碌中得到快樂，這都是上帝的恩賜。 20他不用擔憂自己壽命的長短，因為上帝使他心裡充滿喜樂。
Fulfil your vow to God
In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:17, and 5:2-20 is numbered 5:1-19. 1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
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 fulfil it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfil your vow. 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfil 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 labourer 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 labour 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.
