1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.3 A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.5 It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.15 Everyone comes naked from their mother's womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them —for this is their lot.19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil —this is a gift of God.20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

1 [Ne temere quid loquaris,neque cor tuum sit velox ad proferendum sermonem coram Deo.Deus enim in clo, et tu super terram ;idcirco sint pauci sermones tui.2 Multas curas sequuntur somnia,et in multis sermonibus invenietur stultitia.3 Si quid vovisti Deo,ne moreris reddere :displicet enim ei infidelis et stulta promissio,sed quodcumque voveris redde :4 multoque melius est non vovere,quam post votum promissa non reddere.5 Ne dederis os tuum ut peccare facias carnem tuam,neque dicas coram angelo :Non est providentia :ne forte iratus Deus contra sermones tuosdissipet cuncta opera manuum tuarum.6 Ubi multa sunt somnia,plurim sunt vanitates, et sermones innumeri ;tu vero Deum time.]7 [Si videris calumnias egenorum, et violenta judicia,et subverti justitiam in provincia,non mireris super hoc negotio :quia excelso excelsior est alius,et super hos quoque eminentiores sunt alii ;8 et insuper univers terr rex imperat servienti.9 Avarus non implebitur pecunia,et qui amat divitias fructum non capiet ex eis ;et hoc ergo vanitas.10 Ubi mult sunt opes,multi et qui comedunt eas.Et quid prodest possessori,nisi quod cernit divitias oculis suis ?11 Dulcis est somnus operanti,sive parum sive multum comedat ;saturitas autem divitis non sinit eum dormire.]12 [Est et alia infirmitas pessima quam vidi sub sole :diviti conservat in malum domini sui.13 Pereunt enim in afflictione pessima :generavit filium qui in summa egestate erit.14 Sicut egressus est nudus de utero matris su, sic revertetur,et nihil auferet secum de labore suo.15 Miserabilis prorsus infirmitas :quomodo venit, sic revertetur.Quid ergo prodest ei quod laboravit in ventum ?16 cunctis diebus vit su comedit in tenebris,et in curis multis, et in rumna atque tristitia.]17 [Hoc itaque visum est mihi bonum,ut comedat quis et bibat,et fruatur ltitia ex labore suoquo laboravit ipse sub sole,numero dierum vit suquos dedit ei Deus ;et hc est pars illius.18 Et omni homini cui dedit Deus divitias atque substantiam,potestatemque ei tribuit ut comedat ex eis,et fruatur parte sua, et ltetur de labore suo :hoc est donum Dei.19 Non enim satis recordabitur dierum vit su,eo quod Deus occupet deliciis cor ejus.]