Fulfill 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 fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill 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 laborer 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 labor 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.
Simama Katika Kicho Cha Mungu
15:1 Za 89:7; Kut 3:5; Hos 6:6Linda hatua zako uendapo katika nyumba ya Mungu. Karibia usikilize kuliko kutoa dhabihu ya wapumbavu, ambao hawajui kuwa wanafanya kosa.
25:2 Amu 11:35; Ay 6:24; Mit 10:19; 20:25Usiwe mwepesi kuzungumza,
usiwe na haraka katika moyo wako
kuzungumza lolote mbele za Mungu.
Mungu yuko mbinguni
nawe uko duniani,
kwa hiyo maneno yako
na yawe machache.
35:3 Ay 20:8; Mhu 10:14Kama vile ndoto huja
wakati kuna shughuli nyingi,
ndivyo yalivyo mazungumzo ya mpumbavu
wakati kuna maneno mengi.
45:4 Mwa 28:20; Kum 23:21; Hes 30:2; Za 76:11; 119:60; Amu 11:35Wakati unapomwekea Mungu nadhiri, usikawie kuitimiza. Yeye hafurahii wapumbavu; timiza nadhiri yako. 55:5 Yon 2:9; Mdo 5:4; Hes 30:2-4Ni afadhali usiweke nadhiri kuliko kuiweka na usiitimize. 6Usiruhusu kinywa chako kukuingiza dhambini. Tena usijitetee mbele ya huyo mjumbe wa hekaluni, ukisema, “Niliweka nadhiri kwa makosa.” Kwa nini Mungu akasirike kwa ajili ya yale unayosema na kuiharibu kazi ya mikono yako? 75:7 Kum 10:12; Mhu 3:14; 12:13Kuota ndoto kwingi na maneno mengi ni ubatili. Kwa hiyo simama katika kicho cha Mungu.
Utajiri Ni Ubatili
85:8 Mhu 3:16; 4:1; Za 12:5Kama ukiona maskini wanaonewa katika nchi, hukumu na haki vikipotoshwa, usishangazwe na mambo hayo, kwa maana afisa mmoja anaangaliwa na aliye juu yake zaidi na juu ya hao wawili kuna wengine walio juu zaidi yao. 9Mafanikio ya nchi ni kwa ajili ya wote, hata mfalme mwenyewe hufaidi kutoka mashambani.
10Yeyote apendaye fedha kamwe
hatosheki na fedha;
yeyote apendaye utajiri kamwe
hatosheki na kipato chake.
Hili nalo pia ni ubatili.
11Mali ikiongezeka, ndivyo walaji
wanavyoongezeka.
Hii nayo inamfaidia nini mwenye mali
isipokuwa ni kushibisha macho yake?
125:12 Ay 20:20Usingizi wa kibarua ni mtamu,
awe amekula kidogo au kingi,
lakini wingi wa mali
humnyima tajiri usingizi.
135:13 Mhu 6:1-2Nimeshaona uovu mzito chini ya jua:
Utajiri uliolimbikizwa kwa kujinyima
na kuleta madhara kwa mwenye mali,
14au utajiri uliopotea kwa bahati mbaya,
hivyo kwamba wakati akiwa na mwana
hakuna chochote kilichobaki kwa ajili yake.
155:15 Za 49:17; 1Tim 6:7; Ay 1:21; Mhu 1:3Mtu hutoka tumboni mwa mama yake uchi,
naye jinsi alivyokuja vivyo hivyo huondoka.
Hachukui chochote kutokana na kazi yake
ambacho anaweza kukibeba mkononi mwake.
165:16 Mit 11:29; Mhu 1:3Hili nalo ni baya la kusikitisha:
Kama vile mtu ajavyo, vivyo hivyo huondoka,
naye anapata faida gani,
maadamu hutaabika kwa ajili ya upepo?
17Siku zake zote hula gizani,
pamoja na fadhaa kubwa,
mateso na hasira.
185:18 Mhu 2:3, 10, 14, 24Ndipo nikatambua kwamba ni vyema na sahihi kwa mtu kula na kunywa na kutosheka katika kazi yake ngumu chini ya jua katika siku chache za maisha yake Mungu alizompa, kwa maana hili ndilo fungu lake. 195:19 1Nya 29:12; 2Nya 1:12; Ay 31:2; Mhu 2:24; 6:2Zaidi ya yote, Mungu anapompa mtu yeyote utajiri na milki, humwezesha kuvifurahia, kukubali fungu lake na kuwa na furaha katika kazi yake, hii ni karama ya Mungu. 205:20 Kum 12:7, 18; Kut 23:25Mara chache mtu huzifikiri siku za maisha yake, kwa sababu Mungu humfanya ashikwe na furaha ya moyoni.
