Berean Interlinear
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 5
                                                            Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        šə·mōr
Guard
Guard
        
        raḡ·lɛ·ḵå̄
your steps
your steps
        
        ka·’ă·šer
when
when
        
        tê·lêḵ
you go
you go
        
        ’el-
to
to
        
        bêṯ
the house
the house
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
of God .
of God .
        
        wə·qā·rō·wḇ
Draw near
Draw near
        
        liš·mō·a‘
to listen
to listen
        
        mit·têṯ
rather than to offer
rather than to offer
        
        zā·ḇaḥ
the sacrifice
the sacrifice
        
        hak·kə·sî·lîm
of fools ,
of fools ,
        
        kî-
who
who
        
        ’ê·nām
do not
do not
        
        yō·wḏ·‘îm
know that
know that
        
        la·‘ă·śō·wṯ
they do
they do
        
        rā‘
wrong .
                            wrong .
                                                            Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’al-
Do not
Do not
        
        tə·ḇa·hêl
be quick
be quick
        
        ‘al-
to
to
        
        pî·ḵā
speak ,
speak ,
        
        ’al-
and do not
and do not
        
        yə·ma·hêr
be hasty
be hasty
        
        wə·lib·bə·ḵā
in your heart
in your heart
        
        lə·hō·w·ṣî
to utter
to utter
        
        ḏā·ḇār
a word
a word
        
        lip̄·nê
before
before
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God .
God .
        
        kî
After all ,
After all ,
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
God
        
        baš·šā·ma·yim
is in heaven
is in heaven
        
        wə·’at·tāh
and you
and you
        
        ‘al-
are on
are on
        
        hā·’ā·reṣ
earth .
earth .
        
        ‘al-
So
So
        
        kên
. . .
. . .
        
        ḏə·ḇā·re·ḵā
let your words
let your words
        
        yih·yū
be
be
        
        mə·‘aṭ·ṭîm
few .
                            few .
                                                            As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
                                                    
                        
                    
                                                            When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ka·’ă·šer
When
When
        
        tid·dōr
you make
you make
        
        ne·ḏer
a vow
a vow
        
        lê·lō·hîm
to God ,
to God ,
        
        ’al-
do not
do not
        
        tə·’a·ḥêr
delay
delay
        
        lə·šal·lə·mōw
in fulfilling it ,
in fulfilling it ,
        
        kî
because
because
        
        ’ên
He takes no
He takes no
        
        ḥê·p̄eṣ
pleasure
pleasure
        
        bak·kə·sî·lîm
in fools .
in fools .
        
        ’êṯ
-
-
        
        šal·lêm
Fulfill
Fulfill
        
        ’ă·šer-
-
-
        
        tid·dōr
your vow .
                            your vow .
                                                            It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ṭō·wḇ
It is better
It is better
        
        ’ă·šer
-
-
        
        lō-
not
not
        
        ṯid·dōr
to vow
to vow
        
        mi·šɛt·tid·dōr
than to make a vow
than to make a vow
        
        wə·lō
and not
and not
        
        ṯə·šal·lêm
fulfill it .
                            fulfill it .
                                                            Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’al-
Do not
Do not
        
        tit·tên
let
let
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        pî·ḵā
your mouth
your mouth
        
        bə·śā·re·ḵā
{cause} your flesh
{cause} your flesh
        
        la·ḥă·ṭî
to sin
to sin
        
        ’eṯ-
- ,
- ,
        
        wə·’al-
and do not
and do not
        
        tō·mar
tell
tell
        
        lip̄·nê
. . .
. . .
        
        ham·mal·’āḵ
the messenger
the messenger
        
        kî
that
that
        
        hî
[your vow]
[your vow]
        
        šə·ḡā·ḡāh
was a mistake .
was a mistake .
        
        lām·māh
Why
Why
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
should God
should God
        
        yiq·ṣōp̄
be angry
be angry
        
        ‘al-
with
with
        
        qō·w·le·ḵā
your words
your words
        
        wə·ḥib·bêl
and destroy
and destroy
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        ma·‘ă·śêh
the work
the work
        
        yā·ḏe·ḵā
of your hands ?
                            of your hands ?
                                                            For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        kî
For as
For as
        
        ḇə·rōḇ
many
many
        
        ḥă·lō·mō·wṯ
dreams
dreams
        
        wa·hă·ḇā·lîm
bring futility ,
bring futility ,
        
        har·bêh
so do many
so do many
        
        ū·ḏə·ḇā·rîm
words .
words .
        
        kî
Therefore ,
Therefore ,
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        yə·rā
fear
fear
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God .
                            God .
                                                            If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’im-
If
If
        
        tir·’eh
you see
you see
        
        ‘ō·šeq
the oppression
the oppression
        
        rāš
of the poor
of the poor
        
        wə·ḡê·zel
and the denial
and the denial
        
        miš·pāṭ
of justice
of justice
        
        wā·ṣe·ḏeq
and righteousness
and righteousness
        
        ḇam·mə·ḏî·nāh
in the province ,
in the province ,
        
        ’al-
do not
do not
        
        tiṯ·mah
be astonished
be astonished
        
        ‘al-
at
at
        
        ha·ḥê·p̄eṣ
the matter ;
the matter ;
        
        kî
for
for
        
        ḡā·ḇō·ah
one official
one official
        
        mê·‘al
. . .
. . .
        
        šō·mêr
is watched by
is watched by
        
        gå̄·ḇō·ha
a superior ,
a superior ,
        
        ū·ḡə·ḇō·hîm
and others higher still
and others higher still
        
        ‘ă·lê·hem
are over them .
                            are over them .
                                                            The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
                                                    
                        
                    
                                                            He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ’ō·hêḇ
He who loves
He who loves
        
        ke·sep̄
money
money
        
        lō-
is never
is never
        
        yiś·ba‘
satisfied
satisfied
        
        ke·sep̄
by money ,
by money ,
        
        ū·mî-
and he who
and he who
        
        ’ō·hêḇ
loves
loves
        
        be·hā·mō·wn
wealth
wealth
        
        lō
is never
is never
        
        ṯə·ḇū·’āh
[satisfied] by income .
[satisfied] by income .
        
        zeh
This
This
        
        gam-
too
too
        
        hā·ḇel
is futile .
                            is futile .
                                                            When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        haṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāh
When good things
When good things
        
        bir·ḇō·wṯ
increase ,
increase ,
        
        rab·bū
so do
so do
        
        ’ō·wḵ·le·hā
those who consume them ;
those who consume them ;
        
        ū·mah-
what then
what then
        
        kiš·rō·wn
is the profit
is the profit
        
        liḇ·‘ā·le·hā
to the owner ,
to the owner ,
        
        kî
except
except
        
        ’im-
. . .
. . .
        
        rə·ʾī·yaṯ
to behold them
to behold them
        
        ‘ê·nāw
with his eyes ?
                            with his eyes ?
                                                            The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        šə·naṯ
The sleep
The sleep
        
        hā·‘ō·ḇêḏ
of the worker
of the worker
        
        mə·ṯū·qāh
is sweet ,
is sweet ,
        
        ’im-
whether
whether
        
        yō·ḵêl
he eats
he eats
        
        mə·‘aṭ
little
little
        
        wə·’im-
or
or
        
        har·bêh
much ,
much ,
        
        wə·haś·śā·ḇā‘
but the abundance
but the abundance
        
        le·‘ā·šîr
of the rich man
of the rich man
        
        man·nî·aḥ
permits
permits
        
        lōw
him
him
        
        ’ê·nen·nū
no
no
        
        lî·šō·wn
sleep .
                            sleep .
                                                            There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        yêš
There is
There is
        
        ḥō·w·lāh
a grievous
a grievous
        
        rā·‘āh
evil
evil
        
        rā·’î·ṯî
I have seen
I have seen
        
        ta·ḥaṯ
under
under
        
        haš·šā·meš
the sun :
the sun :
        
        ‘ō·šer
wealth
wealth
        
        šā·mūr
hoarded
hoarded
        
        lə·rā·‘ā·ṯōw
to the harm
to the harm
        
        liḇ·‘ā·lāw
of its owner ,
                            of its owner ,
                                                            or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        ha·hū
or
or
        
        hā·‘ō·šer
wealth
wealth
        
        wə·’ā·ḇaḏ
lost
lost
        
        rā‘
in a failed
in a failed
        
        bə·‘in·yan
venture ,
venture ,
        
        wə·hō·w·lîḏ
so when [that man] has
so when [that man] has
        
        bên
a son
a son
        
        wə·’ên
there is nothing
there is nothing
        
        bə·yā·ḏōw
to pass on
to pass on
        
        mə·’ū·māh
. . . .
                            . . . .
                                                            As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        kə·šeb·bā
as he arrived .
as he arrived .
        
        yiś·śā
He takes
He takes
        
        ū·mə·’ū·māh
nothing
nothing
        
        lō-
. . .
. . .
        
        ḇa·‘ă·mā·lōw
for his labor
for his labor
        
        še·yō·lêḵ
to carry
to carry
        
        bə·yā·ḏōw
in his hands .
in his hands .
        
        ka·’ă·šer
As
As
        
        yā·ṣā
[a man] came
[a man] came
        
        ’im·mōw
from his mother’s
from his mother’s
        
        mib·be·ṭen
womb ,
womb ,
        
        lā·le·ḵeṯ
so he will depart
so he will depart
        
        yā·šūḇ
again ,
again ,
        
        ‘ā·rō·wm
naked
                            naked
                                                            This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        zōh
This
This
        
        wə·ḡam-
too
too
        
        ḥō·w·lāh
is a grievous
is a grievous
        
        rā·‘āh
evil :
evil :
        
        kāl-
Exactly as
Exactly as
        
        ‘um·maṯ
. . .
. . .
        
        šeb·bā
a man is born ,
a man is born ,
        
        kên
so
so
        
        yê·lêḵ
he will depart .
he will depart .
        
        ū·mah-
What
What
        
        yiṯ·rō·wn
does he gain
does he gain
        
        lōw
         
    
        
        še·ya·‘ă·mōl
as he toils
as he toils
        
        lā·rū·aḥ
for the wind ?
                            for the wind ?
                                                            Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        gam
Moreover ,
Moreover ,
        
        kāl-
all
all
        
        yā·māw
his days
his days
        
        yō·ḵêl
he eats
he eats
        
        ba·ḥō·šeḵ
in darkness ,
in darkness ,
        
        har·bêh
with much
with much
        
        wə·ḵā·‘as
sorrow ,
sorrow ,
        
        wə·ḥā·lə·yōw
sickness ,
sickness ,
        
        wā·qā·ṣep̄
and anger .
                            and anger .
                                                            Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        hin·nêh
Here
Here
        
        ’ă·šer-
is what
is what
        
        ’ā·nî
I
I
        
        rā·’î·ṯî
have seen
have seen
        
        ṭō·wḇ
to be good
to be good
        
        ’ă·šer-
-
-
        
        yā·p̄eh
and fitting :
and fitting :
        
        le·’e·ḵō·wl-
to eat
to eat
        
        wə·liš·tō·wṯ
and drink ,
and drink ,
        
        wə·lir·’ō·wṯ
and to find
and to find
        
        ṭō·w·ḇāh
satisfaction
satisfaction
        
        bə·ḵāl
in all
in all
        
        ‘ă·mā·lōw
the labor
the labor
        
        še·ya·‘ă·mōl
one does
one does
        
        ta·ḥaṯ-
under
under
        
        haš·še·meš
the sun
the sun
        
        mis·par
during the few
during the few
        
        yə·mê-
days
days
        
        ḥay·yå̄w
of life
of life
        
        ’ă·šer-
that
that
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
God
        
        nā·ṯan-
has given
has given
        
        lōw
him —
him —
        
        kî-
for
for
        
        hū
this
this
        
        ḥel·qōw
is his lot .
                            is his lot .
                                                            Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        gam
Furthermore ,
Furthermore ,
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
God
        
        nā·ṯan-
has given
has given
        
        ‘ō·šer
riches
riches
        
        ū·nə·ḵā·sîm
and wealth
and wealth
        
        lōw
to
to
        
        kāl-
every
every
        
        hā·’ā·ḏām
man
man
        
        ’ă·šer
- ,
- ,
        
        wə·hiš·lî·ṭōw
and He has enabled him
and He has enabled him
        
        le·’ĕ·ḵōl
to enjoy them ,
to enjoy them ,
        
        mim·men·nū
. . .
. . .
        
        wə·lā·śêṯ
to accept
to accept
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        ḥel·qōw
his lot ,
his lot ,
        
        wə·liś·mō·aḥ
and to rejoice
and to rejoice
        
        ba·‘ă·mā·lōw
in his labor .
in his labor .
        
        zōh
This
This
        
        mat·taṯ
is a gift
is a gift
        
        ’ĕ·lō·hîm
from God .
from God .
        
        hî
. . .
                            . . .
                                                            For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
                                                    
                        
                    
        
        kî
For
For
        
        lō
[a man] seldom
[a man] seldom
        
        har·bêh
. . .
. . .
        
        yiz·kōr
considers
considers
        
        ’eṯ-
-
-
        
        yə·mê
the days
the days
        
        ḥay·yāw
of his life ,
of his life ,
        
        kî
because
because
        
        hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm
God
God
        
        ma·‘ă·neh
keeps him occupied
keeps him occupied
        
        bə·śim·ḥaṯ
with the joy
with the joy
        
        lib·bōw
of his heart .
                            of his heart .