1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house ofGodH430; for todrawלְהוֹצִ֥יאle.ho.Tzi'H3318nigh to hear isbetterH5921thanH5921togiveיִהְי֥וּyih.YuH1961the sacrifice of fools: for they knownotאַל־'al-H408that theydoאַל־'al-H408evil.
2BenotH3588rash with thy month, and letnotH3588thine heart be hasty to utteranyH3588thingH1697before God; for God is in heaven, and thouuponבָּ֥אba'H935earth: therefore let thywordsH1697be few.
3For a dream cometh with a multitude of business; and afool’sH3684voice with a multitude of words.
5BetterH3027is it that thou shouldestnotאַל־'al-H408vowH3027,thanעַל־'al-H5921that thou shouldestvowH3027andnotוְאַל־ve.'al-H408payתִּתֵּ֤ןti.TenH5414.
6SuffernotH3588thy mouth tocauseH1697thy flesh to sin; neithersayH1697thoubeforeהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430the angel, that it was an error: wherefore shouldGodהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430be angry at thy voice, and destroy theworkH1697of thine hands?
7For thus it cometh to passthroughH5921the multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.
8Ifה֑וּאhi'H1931thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent takingawayבַּכֹּ֣לba.KolH3605of judgment and justice in a province, marvelnotאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776at the matter: for one higherthanH4428the high regardeth; and there be higherthanH4428they.
9MoreoverH1571the profit of the earth is forallH1571: the kinghimselfH3808is served by the field.
10He that loveth silver shallnotH518be satisfied with silver;norH518he that lovethabundanceH7235withincreaseH7235: this also is vanity.
11When goodsincreaseבִּרְבוֹת֙bir.VotH7235, they areincreasedהַרְבֵּ֖הhar.BehH7235thateatH398them: and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?
12The sleep of a labouringmanלִבְעָלָ֖יוliv.'a.LavH1167is sweet,whetherרָאִ֖יתִיra.'I.tiH7200he eat little or much: but the fulness of therichעֹ֛שֶׁר'O.sherH6239will not suffer him to sleep.
13There is a grievousevilH7451,whichהַה֖וּאha.Hu'H1931I have seenunderבְּיָד֖וֹbe.ya.DoH3027the sun, namely,richesH6239kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:
14andthoseH834riches perish by evil adventure; andifH834he hath begotten a son, there isnothingלֹא־lo'-H3808in hishandH3027.
15As hecameH935forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall hegoH935again as hecameH935, and shalltakeH935nothingH3605for his labour,whichלָרֽוּחַ׃la.Ru.achH7307he maycarryH935awayH3605in his hand.
16And this also is a grievous evil, that inallH3605points as he came,soוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571shall he go: andwhatגַּ֥םgamH1571profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?
17AllH3605hisdaysH3117also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed and hath sickness and wrath.
18Behold, thatwhichH834I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one toeatH398and to drink, and to enjoy good inallכָּֽל־kal-H3605his labour,whereinH834he labourethunderמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙mi.Me.nuH4480the sun,allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the days of his lifewhichH834GodH430hathgivenH5414him: for this is hisportionH2506.
19Everyיְמֵ֣יye.MeiH3117man also to whomGodH430hath given riches andwealthלֹ֣אlo'H3808, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and totakeיִזְכֹּ֖רyiz.KorH2142his portion, and torejoiceבְּשִׂמְחַ֥תbe.sim.ChatH8057in his labour; this is the gift ofGodH430.
20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Commentaries