The Teacher, Chapter 5

Walk prudently amongst those whom you respect,
and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools,
for they do not know that they do evil.

Do not be rash with your mouth,
And let not your heart utter anything hastily.
Space is infinite and endless,
yet you are merely on earth, and your life a span,
therefore let your words be few.
Our dreams arise out of many cares,
and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.

When you make a vow, do not delay to pay it,
for fools give no pleasure.
So pay what you have vowed:
better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin,
nor claim that it was an error.
For who cares for your excuse? who destroys the work of your hands?
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also many diverse vanities.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, be not surprised at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest seest also; and over them both are others higher still.

The profit of the earth is taken by all: the king himself is served by the field.

He that loveth money shall not be satisfied with it,
nor he that loveth wealth with its increase.
This too is vanity.

When goods increase, so are they that eat them,
and what good is there to the owner,
saving to feast his eyes on them?

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet,
whether he eat little or much:
but the abundance of the rich man will not suffer him to sleep.

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely,
riches hoarded to the harm of their owner.
And those riches perish by evil works:
as he begetteth a son, there will be nothing left in his hand:
as he came naked of his mother's womb, naked shall he return.
He shall take nothing of his labours, but that which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also is a sore evil:
that exactly as he came,
so shall he go:
and what profit hath he,
since he laboured for the wind?

All his days also he eateth in darkness,
and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, for it is his sole reward.

Every man who hath riches and wealth, and can accept his lot and be happy in his labour: this he must do – it is his privilege on earth.

For he shall not dwell unduly on the days of his life;
because he finds occupation in the joy of his heart.