1  But I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun; and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.

1  I turned myself to other things, and I saw the false accusations which are carried out under the sun, and the tears of the innocent, and that there was no one to console them; and that they were not able to withstand their violence, being destitute of all help.

2  Wherefore I praised the dead that are already dead more than the living that are yet alive;

2  and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now.

2  And so, I praised the dead more than the living.

3  but better than they both is he that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

3  And happier than both of these, I judged him to be, who has not yet been born, and who has not yet seen the evils which are done under the sun.

4  Again, I considered all labour and all excelling in work, that it is a man's rivalry with his neighbour. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

4  Again, I was contemplating all the labors of men. And I took notice that their endeavors are open to the envy of their neighbor. And so, in this, too, there is emptiness and superfluous anxiety.

4  Then I saw that all the labor and all the work is successful because a man is more zealous than his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5  The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

5  The foolish man folds his hands together, and he consumes his own flesh, saying

5  The fool folds his hands together and suffers hunger.

6  Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind.

6  “A handful with rest is better than both hands filled with labors and with affliction of the soul.”

7  Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

7  So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.

7  While considering this, I also discovered another vanity under the sun.

8  There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches: 'for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul of pleasure?' This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business.

8  He is one, and he does not have a second: no son, no brother. And yet he does not cease to labor, nor are his eyes satisfied with wealth, nor does he reflect, saying: “For whom do I labor and cheat my soul of good things?” In this, too, is emptiness and a most burdensome affliction.

9  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

9  Therefore, it is better for two to be together, than for one to be alone. For they have the advantage of their companionship.

10  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

10  If one falls, he shall be supported by the other. Woe to one who is alone. For when he falls, he has no one to lift him up.

11  Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?

11  Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone?

11  And if two are sleeping, they warm one another. How can one person alone be warmed?

12  And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

12  And if one is too strong for him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13  Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

13  Better is a boy, poor and wise, than a king, old and foolish, who does not know to look ahead for the sake of posterity.

14  For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor.

15  I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.

15  I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one’s place.

15  I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the young men, who shall rise up in their place.

16  There was no end of all the people, even of all them whom he did lead; yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

16  There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

16  The number of people, out of all who existed before these, is boundless. And those who will exist afterwards shall not rejoice in them. But this, too, is emptiness and an affliction of the spirit.

5:2  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.

2  You should not speak anything rashly, nor should your heart be hasty to present a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth. For this reason, let your words be few.

5:3  For a dream cometh through a multitude of business; and a fool's voice through a multitude of words.

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

5:4  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou vowest.

4  Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.

4  If you have vowed anything to God, you should not delay to repay it. And whatever you have vowed, render it. But an unfaithful and foolish promise displeases him.

5:5  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

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

5  It is much better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.

5:6  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?

6  You should not use your mouth so as 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.

6  Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say before God that it was an error, lest God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands.

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

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

7  For in the multitude of dreams and vain things and many words is false worship; but you should worship God.

5:8  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.

8  If you see false accusations against the indigent, and violent judgments, and subverted justice in the government, do not be surprised over this situation. For those in high places have others who are higher, and there are still others, more eminent, over these.

8  If you see the oppression of the poor and violent perversion of judgment and justice in a city, do not marvel at the matter; for he who is higher than the highest is watching; and he who is higher is over them.

5:9  But the profit of a land every way is a king that maketh himself servant to the field.

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

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

10  He who loves money shall not be satisfied with money; and he who loves wealth shall not retain it. This is also vanity.

5:11  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?

11  In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding it with his eyes?

11  Where there are many riches, there will also be many to consume these things. And how does it benefit the one who possesses, except that he discerns the wealth with his own eyes?

5:12  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.

12  The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.

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

13  There is even another most burdensome infirmity, which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept to the harm of the owner.

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

14  And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

14  For they are lost in a most grievous affliction. He has produced a son, who will be in the utmost destitution.

5:15  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.

15  Just as he went forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he return, and he shall take nothing with him from his labors.

5:16  And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?

16  And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

16  It is an utterly miserable infirmity that, in the same manner as he has arrived, so shall he return. How then does it benefit him, since he has labored for the wind?

5:17  All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much vexation and sickness and wrath.

17  Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.

17  All the days of his life he consumes: in darkness, and with many worries, and in distress as well as sadness.

5:18  Behold that which I have seen: it is good, yea, it is comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasure for all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him; for this is his portion.

18  Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.

18  And so, this has seemed good to me: that a person should eat and drink, and should enjoy the fruits of his labor, in which he has toiled under the sun, for the number of the days of his life that God has given him. For this is his portion.

5:19  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour--this is the gift of God.

19  Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

19  And this is a gift from God: that every man to whom God has given wealth and resources, and to whom he has granted the ability to consume these, may enjoy his portion, and may find joy in his labors.

5:20  For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

20  For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.

20  And then he will not fully remember the days of his life, because God occupies his heart with delights.