Ecclesiastes 5:5-15

⁵(5-4) Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

⁶(5-5) 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?

⁷(5-6) For through the multitude of dreams and vanities there are also many words; but fear thou God.

⁸(5-7) 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.

⁹(5-8) But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.

¹⁰(5-9) He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase; this also is vanity.

¹¹(5-10) 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?

¹²(5-11) 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.

¹³(5-12) There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt;

¹⁴(5-13) and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

¹⁵(5-14) 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.