Ecclesiastes

Speak nothing carelessly. Let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.

Dreams follow many worries, and in many words, foolishness will be found.

If you have vowed anything to God, you should not delay to repay it. And whatever you have vowed, you must comply with it. A disloyal and foolish promise displeases him.

And it is much better not to make a vow, than, after a vow, not to fulfill what was promised.

You should not give your mouth to cause your flesh to sin. And you should not say, in the sight of an Angel, “There is no providence.” For God, being angry at your words, may scatter all the works of your hands.

Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities and innumerable words. Yet truly, you must fear God.

If you see the false accusations of the indigent, and violent judgments, and subverted justice, do not be surprised over this matter. For what is above high, is another high, and there are yet others, more eminent, over these.

But finally, the King who rules over the whole earth is the servant of agriculture.

A greedy man will not be satisfied by money, and whoever loves wealth will reap no fruit from it. Therefore, this, too, is emptiness.

Where there are many riches, there are also many to consume them. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he sees the riches with his eyes?

Sleep is sweet to one who works, whether he eats little or much. But the satiety of a wealthy man will not permit him to sleep.

There is another very burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: riches kept to the harm of the one who possesses them.

For they are lost in a grievous affliction. For he has produced a son, who will be in every need.

Just as he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and he will take nothing with him from his labor.

A most miserable infirmity: just as he has arrived, so shall he return. So what does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?

All the days of his life, he eats in darkness, and in many worries, and in misery and sadness.

Therefore, this seems good and beneficial to me: to eat and drink, and to be filled with the good things of his labor, with which he labors under the sun, during the number of the days of his life, which God has given to him. For this is his portion.

And any man to whom God has given wealth, as well as resources and the power to enjoy these things, should accept his portion, and he should rejoice in his labors. And this is a gift from God.

For he will not call to mind the days of his life very much, because God occupies his heart with delights.