Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

Ecclesiastes 5:1-9

[1] Keep  thy foot  to the house  of God,  and be more ready  to hear,  than to give  the sacrifice  of fools:  for they consider  not that they do  evil.  [2] Be not rash  with thy mouth,  and let not thine heart  be hasty  to utter  any thing  before  God:  is in heaven,  and thou upon earth:  therefore let thy words  be few.  [3] For a dream  cometh  through the multitude  of business;  and a fool's  voice  is known by multitude  of words.  [4] When thou vowest  a vow  unto God,  defer  not to pay  it; for he hath no pleasure  in fools:  pay  that which thou hast vowed.  [5] Better  is it that thou shouldest not vow,  and not pay.  [6] Suffer  not thy mouth  to cause thy flesh  to sin;  neither say  thou before  the angel,  that it was an error:  wherefore should God  be angry  at thy voice,  and destroy  the work  of thine hands?  [7] For in the multitude  of dreams  and many  words  there are also divers vanities:  but fear  thou God.  [8] If thou seest  the oppression  of the poor,  and violent  perverting of judgment  and justice  in a province,  marvel  not at the matter:  for he that is higher  regardeth;  and there be higher  than they.  [9] Moreover the profit  of the earth  is for all: the king  himself is served  by the field. 

What does Ecclesiastes 5:1-9 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This section emphasizes the folly of trying to find ultimate satisfaction in one"s work. Solomon focused on a variety of situations that involve the fruits of labor: money and what it can buy, fame, and pleasure.