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Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5

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Ecclesiastes 5 NWT - New World TranslationEcclesiastes 5 NWT - New World Translation

Chapter 5 of Ecclesiastes—New World Translation (NWT)

  1. ¶ Guard your feet1 whenever you go to the house of the [true] God; and let there be a drawing near[a] to hear,2 rather than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do,3 for they are not aware of doing what is bad.[b]4
  2. ¶ Do not hurry yourself as regards your mouth; and as for your heart,5 let it not be hasty to bring forth a word before the [true] God.6 For the [true] God is in the heavens7 but you are on the earth. That is why your words should prove to be few.8
  3. For a dream certainly comes in because of abundance of occupation,9 and the voice of a stupid one because of the abundance of words.10
  4. Whenever you vow a vow to God, do not hesitate to pay it,11 for there is no delight in the stupid ones.12 What you vow, pay.13
  5. Better is it that you vow14 not than that you vow and do not pay.15
  6. Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin,[c]16 neither say before the angel[d]17 that it was a mistake.18 Why should the [true] God become indignant on account of your voice and have to wreck the work of your hands?19
  7. For because of abundance [of occupation] there are dreams,20 and there are vanities and words in abundance. But fear the [true] God himself.21
  8. ¶ If you see any oppression of the one of little means and the violent taking away of judgment22 and of righteousness in a jurisdictional district, do not be amazed over the affair,23 for one that is higher than the high one24 is watching,25 and there are those who are high above them.[e]
  9. ¶ Also, the profit of the earth is among them all;26 for a field the king himself has been served.27
  10. ¶ A mere lover of silver will not be satisfied with silver, neither any lover of wealth with income.[f]28 This too is vanity.29
  11. ¶ When good things become many, those eating them certainly become many.30 And what advantage is there to the grand owner of them, except looking [at them] with his eyes?31
  12. ¶ Sweet is the sleep32 of the one serving, regardless of whether it is little or much that he eats; but the plenty belonging to the rich one is not permitting him to sleep.
  13. ¶ There exists a grave calamity that I have seen under the sun: riches being kept for their grand owner[g] to his calamity.33
  14. And those riches have perished34 because of a calamitous occupation, and he has become father to a son when there is nothing at all in his hand.35
  15. ¶ Just as one has come forth from his mother’s belly, naked will one go away again,36 just as one came; and nothing at all can one carry away37 for his hard work, which he can take along with his hand.
  16. ¶ And this too is a grave calamity: exactly as one has come, so one will go away; and what profit is there to the one who keeps working hard for the wind?38
  17. Also, all his days he eats in darkness itself, with a great deal of vexation,39 with sickness on his part and [cause for] indignation.
  18. ¶ Look! The best thing that I myself have seen, which is pretty, is that one should eat and drink and see good for all his hard work40 with which he works hard under the sun for the number of the days of his life that the [true] God has given him, for that is his portion.
  19. Also every man to whom the [true] God has given riches and material possessions,41 he has even empowered him to eat from it42 and to carry off his portion and to rejoice in his hard work.43 This is the gift of God.44
  20. For not often will he remember the days of his life, because the [true] God is preoccupying[h] [him] with the rejoicing of his heart.45

FOOTNOTES

  1. ^ “Let there be a drawing near.” In Heb. this is a verb in the infinitive absolute, indefinite as to time and impersonal.
  2. ^ MTLXXSyVg end chapter 4 here as vs 17.
  3. ^ “Do not allow the word of your mouth to determine the judgment of Gehenna upon your flesh,” T.
  4. ^ “Angel,” MTVg; LXXSy, “God.”
  5. ^ Or, “and there is the Supreme One above them.”
  6. ^ Lit., “and who is setting his love on wealthiness with no income (revenue)?”
  7. ^ “For their grand owner.” Heb., liv·ʽa·lavʹ.
  8. ^ Possibly, “answering,” according to another derivation of the Heb. verb.

REFERENCES

  1. ^ Ps 15:2
  2. ^ De 31:12; Ac 17:11; Jm 1:19
  3. ^ 1Sa 13:12; 15:22; Pr 21:27; Is 1:13; Ho 6:6
  4. ^ Pr 30:20; Je 6:15
  5. ^ Pr 10:13
  6. ^ Nu 30:2, 5; 1Sa 14:24
  7. ^ 2Ch 16:9; Ps 11:4; Mt 6:9
  8. ^ Pr 10:19; Ec 3:7; Mt 6:7
  9. ^ Mt 6:25, 34; Lu 12:18
  10. ^ Pr 10:19; 15:2; Ec 10:14
  11. ^ De 23:21; Ps 50:14; 76:11; Is 19:21; Mt 5:33
  12. ^ Ec 10:12
  13. ^ Nu 30:2; Ps 66:13; 116:18; Jon 2:9
  14. ^ De 23:22
  15. ^ Pr 20:25
  16. ^ Jg 11:35; Jm 1:26
  17. ^ Mt 18:10; Lu 1:18
  18. ^ Le 5:4
  19. ^ Ps 127:1; Hg 1:11; 2Jo 8
  20. ^ Ec 5:3
  21. ^ Ps 33:8; Pr 23:17; Ec 7:18; 12:13; Is 50:10
  22. ^ Pr 17:23; 31:5; Ec 3:16; Jm 5:4
  23. ^ 1Ki 21:19; Ml 3:5
  24. ^ Ex 18:25; 1Sa 22:7; Da 3:2
  25. ^ Ge 41:40; Es 5:11; Da 5:16
  26. ^ Ge 1:29; Ps 104:14; Pr 28:19
  27. ^ 1Sa 8:12; 1Ki 4:7; 21:2; 2Ch 26:10; Sg 8:12
  28. ^ Ec 4:8; Mt 6:24; Lu 12:15; 1Ti 6:10
  29. ^ Ec 2:11
  30. ^ 1Ki 4:22; Ne 5:17, 18; Es 1:5
  31. ^ Jos 7:21; Es 5:11; Pr 23:5; 1Jo 2:16
  32. ^ Ps 4:8; Pr 3:24; Je 31:26; Mt 6:25
  33. ^ Pr 1:19; 11:24, 28; Lu 12:21; Jm 5:3
  34. ^ 1Ki 14:26; Jb 27:17; Ps 39:6; Pr 23:5; Mt 6:19
  35. ^ Ps 109:10
  36. ^ Jb 1:21
  37. ^ Ps 49:17; Lu 12:20; 1Ti 6:7
  38. ^ Ho 8:7; Mt 16:26; Mr 8:36; Jn 6:27
  39. ^ Eph 5:5; 1Ti 6:10
  40. ^ 1Ki 4:20; Ec 2:24; 3:13, 22; Is 65:22
  41. ^ Ge 31:9; De 6:11; 1Ki 3:13; Jb 42:12; 1Ti 6:17
  42. ^ De 8:10; Ec 2:24
  43. ^ Jn 4:36
  44. ^ Ec 3:13; Jm 1:17
  45. ^ De 28:8; Ps 4:7; Is 65:22

Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 in other Bible versions:

Comments

  1. Kiamia DoelKiamia Doel
    Jan 9, 2025 23:00 GMT

    The NWT adds words to the text that are not in the greek Manuscripts to fit it's own doctrinal position for example

    Compare the wording of the NWT and the NKJV at Colossians 1:15-17

    NKJV says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

    NWT says

    15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn OF all creation;16 because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All OTHER things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all OTHER things,and by means of him all OTHER things were made to exist,

    The word “other” is not in the Greek but they add it Why? So they can decieve their followers into thinking that Christ was created by the Father and that he then created other things, that is not what the Greek says.

    1. SmeSme
      Feb 27, 2025 11:17 GMT

      Truth is from God and those that follow him. As for lies? John8:44

      Kiamia, I noticed you used a modern version of kjv to make your point about the nwt.

      Why didn’t you use the original kjv of col1:15?

      Is it because it disproves your point? It proves the opposite of what you wrote?

      Here is kjv col1:15 ¶” Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn OF every creature:“

      Now I appeal to your Christian nature to correct your mistake as God is watching each of us, and let us bless the God of Jesus his father.

      Kjv 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….

  2. YanekYanek
    Dec 24, 2024 22:18 GMT

    Joshua, Jehovah’s Witnesses have never denied the deity of the Messiah in his prehuman existence. While on Earth he was fully 100% human. I do not mean he was a mere human, he was not affected by Adam’s unfaithful behavior, he was sinless.

  3. David yakubuDavid yakubu
    Oct 29, 2022 08:05 GMT

    When i do read some comments and seeing that its the same people that are supposed to be called believers but are talking ill of other denominations, it hurts. Let us all remember that We should judge not

    1. jonas smithjonas smith
      Apr 23, 2023 02:57 GMT

      The bible tells us to test the spirits. Satan disguises himself as angel of light. So yes some denomination are not teaching the truth. You are responsible for judging which ones are not. You have to judge the truth at all times. this is what the bible teaches

  4. THTH
    Apr 7, 2021 00:20 GMT

    The NWT is a very good translation. Dr. Jason David BeDuhn PhD attests to that in his book Truth in Translation. drive.google.com/...5p16melHzg8/view

    1. James LernerJames Lerner
      Jul 20, 2024 09:48 GMT

      The NWT is Satanic filth to its very core.

      The JW Cult is Satanic to its very core.

      Praise Yahweh I will never be a victim of JW brainwashing. If I burn in Hell for eternity or I am ultimately annihilated so be it

      May Yahweh's curse rest on the Watchtower Society and its Satanic leadership

    2. jim mcleodjim mcleod
      Aug 22, 2021 06:16 GMT

      NWT is a false translation that takes away from the deity of Jesus !

  5. SlightlyChaoticSlightlyChaotic
    Jan 30, 2021 16:33 GMT

    Thank you for taking the time to provide this service. I like seeing the NASB on your web page in the same format as I read on paper. On other sites, the text area is smaller, and so I have to keep scrolling down to read and sometimes I lose the context. So I really appreciate the format.

    As far as the NWT, you are certainly free to do whatever you think best with your own web pages. I'd suggest that you make a note anytime you have a translation that is associated with only one denomination or church, for example:
    New World Translation (Jehovah's Witness version).

    In Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares. the main idea seems to be that you can't easily distinguish between God's people and not-God's people on this earth, so our Lord's response is to wait until they are shown to be the kind of people they are inside. But the NWT seems like false teaching to me. So I think the warning passages from Jesus' apostles are more applicable, as in 2 Peter 3:15-16, when he talks about Paul's writings:
    "There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures."
    And we also have the positive exhortations, as in 2 Timothy 2:15:
    "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

    1. BroderickBroderick
      Jan 31, 2021 00:57 GMT

      Your suggestion regarding the denominational flagging is duly noted. But I can’t help but wonder, wouldn’t a Catholic also want “Protestant versions” marked as well?

      As for the parable, I’m pretty sure the slaves were convinced in their own minds that they could tell the tares from the wheat. After all, aren’t they the ones who identified the problem in the first place? But the master obviously thought otherwise.

      Furthermore, even at the time when Jesus himself was walking the earth, not everybody who claimed fellowship actually followed him causing John to inquire at Mark 9:39, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him . . . for he who is not against us is for us.”

  6. Joshua HarderJoshua Harder
    Dec 11, 2020 17:48 GMT

    Hello, question.. why have you included the NWT with other legitimate bible translations? Or why have you not atleast included a warning to readers? Don't you fear that someone could be influenced by the Watchtower's intentional heresies? Thank you.

    1. KevinKevin
      Jul 11, 2021 17:45 GMT

      en.m.wikipedia.org/..._Holy_Scriptures

      See the section critical review

    2. ChrisChris
      Jan 8, 2021 07:15 GMT

      Please site these intentional heresies. I am well versed in the watch tower outline and agree they are in many ways incorrect but i also bet i can point many out from EVERY established or main denomination. There is much to learn from them all as one who drinks milk?

      Judge not lest ye be judged, that is not to pass judgement on you either brother.

      I debate with scripture. I don't hold it to be true that Michael is Y'Shua HaMeshiach but I also firmly hold it to be true that our G-d and Heavenly Father are not the word encarnate and only begotten son.

      I love not seeing "lord" which i relate to baal. I feel the catholic church is a satanic establishment and I am aware a freemason started the hovies but there are evil in high places and our fight is also with principalities.

      What i'm saying is that in my darkest hours, those two were some of if not the only ones who would bring a Bible and eucharist and pray with me.

      We all fall short of the glory of G-d.

      Don't forget the NWT was recognized as the most accurate translation on Jeopardy.

      Lastly, this is different I noted than the NWT i have read and am very familiar with. Pull up the watchtower page and compare. I truly look forward to getting this one!

  7. julietjuliet
    Aug 17, 2022 09:36 GMT

    the sky is blue

  8. mercymercy
    Aug 12, 2022 21:23 GMT

    i am Mercy, the sky is blue what else do you need

    1. mercymercy
      Aug 12, 2022 21:25 GMT

      i am so sorry, it was a big mistake

  9. God is able to do all thingsGod is able to do all things
    May 17, 2021 17:59 GMT

    Jesus how much love calling yo name

  10. EmpiralEmpiral
    Jul 4, 2025 19:06 GMT

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