1
Guard your foot when you go to the House of Elohim, and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2
Do not be hasty with your mouth, and do not let your heart hurry to bring forth a word before Elohim. For Elohim is in the heavens, and you are upon the earth. Therefore let your words be few.
3
For a dream comes through abundance of occupation, and the voice of a fool through abundance of words.
4
When you vow a vow to Elohim, do not delay to fulfill it, for He has no delight in fools. What you vow, fulfill.
5
Better that you do not vow than that you vow and do not fulfill.
6
Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin, and do not say before the messenger, “It was an error.” Why should Elohim be angry because of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7
For in the abundance of dreams and vapors there are also many words. But fear Elohim.
8
If you see the oppression of the poor and the violent twisting of Judgment and Righteousness in a province, do not be astonished at the matter. For one higher than the high watches, and there are higher ones over them.
9
Yet the profit of the land is for all; even a king is served by the field.
10
The one who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, and the one who loves abundance shall not be satisfied with increase. This also is vapor.
11
When good things increase, those who consume them increase. And what advantage is there to their owner except to see them with his eyes?
12
Sweet is the sleep of the laborer, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich does not permit him to sleep.
13
There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth guarded by its owner to his own harm.
14
And that wealth perishes through an evil matter, and he fathers a son with nothing in his hand.
15
As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked he shall return to go as he came. He shall carry nothing from his labor that he may take in his hand.
16
And this also is a grievous evil: exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?
17
All his days he also eats in darkness, with much grief and sickness and anger.
18
See what I have seen to be good and beautiful: that an Adam should eat and drink and see good in all his labor with which he labors under the sun during the number of the days of his life which Elohim has given him, for this is his portion.
19
Also every Adam to whom Elohim has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat from them, to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor— this is the gift of Elohim.
20
For he shall not greatly remember the days of his life, because Elohim keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.