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  • Ecclesiastes 5
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Ecclesiastes Outline

      • Approach God with proper fear (1-7)

      • Lower ones watched by higher ones (8, 9)

      • The futility of wealth (10-20)

        • Money lovers never satisfied (10)

        • Worker’s sleep is sweet (12)

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Marginal References

  • +Ps 15:1, 2
  • +De 31:12; Ac 17:11
  • +1Sa 13:12, 13; 15:22; Pr 21:27; Isa 1:13; Ho 6:6

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/1987, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    w87 9/15 24-25;

    w77 242; w60 138

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Marginal References

  • +Nu 30:2; 1Sa 14:24
  • +Pr 10:19

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, p. 14

    9/15/1987, p. 24

  • Publications Index

    w06 11/1 14; w87 9/15 24;

    w77 242; w68 308; w65 164; g62 11/8 4; w60 138; w57 699

Ecclesiastes 5:3

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “too many cares.”

Marginal References

  • +Mt 6:25, 34; Lu 12:18-20
  • +Pr 10:19; 15:2

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Insight, Volume 1, p. 651

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, pp. 14-15

    Awake!,

    7/22/1994, p. 26

  • Publications Index

    it-1 651; w06 11/1 14-15; g94 7/22 26;

    w77 242-243; w57 699; w51 515

Ecclesiastes 5:4

Marginal References

  • +De 23:21; Ps 76:11; Mt 5:33
  • +Ec 10:12
  • +Nu 30:2; Ps 66:13

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    9/15/1987, p. 25

  • Publications Index

    w87 9/15 25;

    w77 243; w73 607; w68 307; w66 127; g65 1/22 7; w64 125; w63 332; w62 176; w61 548; g61 2/22 3; w57 523, 699

Ecclesiastes 5:5

Marginal References

  • +De 23:22; Pr 20:25

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Study),

    4/2022, p. 28

    Awake!,

    4/8/1993, p. 24

  • Publications Index

    w22.04 28; g93 4/8 24;

    w77 243; w73 607; w66 127; w63 332; w57 699

Ecclesiastes 5:6

Footnotes

  • *

    Lit., “your flesh.”

  • *

    Or “messenger.”

Marginal References

  • +Jg 11:35
  • +Le 5:4
  • +Ps 127:1; Hag 1:11

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Awake!,

    4/8/1993, pp. 24-25

  • Publications Index

    g93 4/8 24-25;

    w77 243; w73 607; w65 452; w57 699

Ecclesiastes 5:7

Marginal References

  • +Ec 5:3
  • +Ec 12:13

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, pp. 14-15

  • Publications Index

    w06 11/1 14-15;

    w77 243; w72 286, 543; w57 699

Ecclesiastes 5:8

Marginal References

  • +Ec 3:16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Study),

    9/2020, p. 31

    Insight, Volume 2, p. 140

    The Watchtower,

    7/1/1986, p. 6

  • Publications Index

    w20.09 31; it-2 140; w86 7/1 6;

    w77 284; w76 222; g76 9/22 21; w75 163-164; w72 267; w71 261-262; ad 984; w65 591; g63 8/8 15; w62 685; w57 696; tf 39

Ecclesiastes 5:9

Marginal References

  • +1Sa 8:11, 12; 1Ki 4:7; 2Ch 26:9, 10; Ca 8:11

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    11/1/2006, p. 14

  • Publications Index

    w06 11/1 14;

    w77 284

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Marginal References

  • +Ec 4:8
  • +Mt 6:24; Lu 12:15; 1Ti 6:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    Awake!,

    10/2014, p. 4

    9/2011, p. 8

    4/2006, p. 5

    Happy Life, section 2

    The Watchtower,

    5/15/1998, pp. 4-5

    True Peace, p. 115

  • Publications Index

    g 10/14 4; hl section 2; g 9/11 8; g 4/06 5; w98 5/15 4-5; tp 115;

    w80 3/1 6, 26; g80 6/8 3; w79 10/1 15; w77 131; w77 317; g77 7/22 4; tp73 118; w60 358; w58 341

Ecclesiastes 5:11

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 4:22, 23
  • +Pr 23:4, 5; 1Jo 2:16

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    5/15/1998, pp. 4-5

  • Publications Index

    w98 5/15 4-5;

    w80 3/1 26; w77 317-318; w62 432

Ecclesiastes 5:12

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower (Public),

    No. 3 2021 p. 8

    The Watchtower,

    12/15/1998, p. 23

  • Publications Index

    wp21.3 8; w98 12/15 23;

    w84 7/1 3; w77 318; g74 2/22 9; g74 6/8 15; g65 3/22 3; g62 11/22 4; w42 53

Ecclesiastes 5:13

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “calamity.”

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 132; w77 318; w57 693; w31 299

Ecclesiastes 5:14

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “occupation.”

Marginal References

  • +Pr 23:4, 5; Mt 6:19

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w77 132; w77 318; w57 693

Ecclesiastes 5:15

Marginal References

  • +Job 1:21
  • +Ps 49:17; Lu 12:20; 1Ti 6:7

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    5/15/1998, p. 6

  • Publications Index

    w98 5/15 6;

    w81 2/15 25; w80 3/1 6; w77 132; w77 318; w57 693; w55 470; w31 299

Ecclesiastes 5:16

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “calamity.”

Marginal References

  • +Mt 16:26; Joh 6:27

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w80 3/1 6; w77 318; w57 693

Ecclesiastes 5:17

Marginal References

  • +1Ti 6:10

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    5/15/1998, p. 5

  • Publications Index

    w98 5/15 5;

    w80 3/1 6; w77 318; w57 693

Ecclesiastes 5:18

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “portion.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 4:20
  • +Ec 2:24; 3:22; Isa 65:21, 22

Indexes

  • Research Guide

    The Watchtower,

    5/15/1998, p. 6

  • Publications Index

    w98 5/15 6;

    w80 3/1 28; w77 123; w77 318-319; w77 520-521; g74 8/8 4; g73 7/22 26; w72 206; w65 67; w57 692

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “portion.”

Marginal References

  • +1Ki 3:12, 13; Job 42:12
  • +De 8:10; Ec 3:12, 13; 1Ti 6:17; Jas 1:17

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w80 3/1 28; w77 319; w65 67; w57 692

Ecclesiastes 5:20

Footnotes

  • *

    Or “remember.”

Marginal References

  • +De 28:8; Ps 4:7

Indexes

  • Publications Index

    w80 3/1 28; w77 319; w57 692

Parallel Translations

Click a verse number to display parallel Bible verses.

General

Eccl. 5:1Ps 15:1, 2
Eccl. 5:1De 31:12; Ac 17:11
Eccl. 5:11Sa 13:12, 13; 15:22; Pr 21:27; Isa 1:13; Ho 6:6
Eccl. 5:2Nu 30:2; 1Sa 14:24
Eccl. 5:2Pr 10:19
Eccl. 5:3Mt 6:25, 34; Lu 12:18-20
Eccl. 5:3Pr 10:19; 15:2
Eccl. 5:4Nu 30:2; Ps 66:13
Eccl. 5:4De 23:21; Ps 76:11; Mt 5:33
Eccl. 5:4Ec 10:12
Eccl. 5:5De 23:22; Pr 20:25
Eccl. 5:6Jg 11:35
Eccl. 5:6Le 5:4
Eccl. 5:6Ps 127:1; Hag 1:11
Eccl. 5:7Ec 5:3
Eccl. 5:7Ec 12:13
Eccl. 5:8Ec 3:16
Eccl. 5:91Sa 8:11, 12; 1Ki 4:7; 2Ch 26:9, 10; Ca 8:11
Eccl. 5:10Ec 4:8
Eccl. 5:10Mt 6:24; Lu 12:15; 1Ti 6:10
Eccl. 5:111Ki 4:22, 23
Eccl. 5:11Pr 23:4, 5; 1Jo 2:16
Eccl. 5:14Pr 23:4, 5; Mt 6:19
Eccl. 5:15Job 1:21
Eccl. 5:15Ps 49:17; Lu 12:20; 1Ti 6:7
Eccl. 5:16Mt 16:26; Joh 6:27
Eccl. 5:171Ti 6:10
Eccl. 5:181Ki 4:20
Eccl. 5:18Ec 2:24; 3:22; Isa 65:21, 22
Eccl. 5:191Ki 3:12, 13; Job 42:12
Eccl. 5:19De 8:10; Ec 3:12, 13; 1Ti 6:17; Jas 1:17
Eccl. 5:20De 28:8; Ps 4:7
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New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
Ecclesiastes 5:1-20

Ecclesiastes

5 Watch your step whenever you go to the house of the true God;+ it is better to draw near to listen+ than to give a sacrifice as the stupid ones do,+ for they are not aware that what they are doing is bad.

2 Do not be quick with your mouth, nor let your heart speak rashly before the true God,+ for the true God is in the heavens but you are on the earth. That is why your words should be few.+ 3 For a dream comes from too many preoccupations,*+ and the chatter of the stupid one comes from too many words.+ 4 Whenever you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it,+ for he finds no pleasure in the stupid ones.+ What you vow, pay.+ 5 Better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay.+ 6 Do not allow your mouth to cause you* to sin,+ and do not say before the angel* that it was a mistake.+ Why make the true God indignant over what you say so that he has to destroy the work of your hands?+ 7 For just as many preoccupations lead to dreams,+ so, too, many words lead to futility. But fear the true God.+

8 If you see any oppression of the poor and a violation of justice and righteousness in your district, do not be surprised about the matter.+ For that high official is being watched by one who is higher than he is, and there are others who are still higher than they are.

9 Also, the profit of the land is divided among them all; even the king is served by the field.+

10 A lover of silver will never be satisfied with silver, nor a lover of wealth with income.+ This too is futility.+

11 When good things increase, those consuming them increase.+ And what advantage is it to the owner, except to look at them with his eyes?+

12 Sweet is the sleep of the one serving, whether he eats little or much, but the plenty belonging to the rich one does not permit him to sleep.

13 There is a great tragedy* that I have seen under the sun: riches that were hoarded by their owner to his own harm. 14 Those riches were lost because of a disastrous venture,* and when he becomes a father to a son, he has nothing left in his possession.+

15 Just as one came from his mother’s womb, naked he will go away, just as he came.+ And he cannot carry away anything for all his hard work.+

16 This too is a great tragedy:* Exactly as he came, so he will go away; and what profit is there to the one who keeps working hard for the wind?+ 17 Also, every day he eats in darkness, with a great deal of frustration and sickness and anger.+

18 This is what I have seen to be good and proper: that one should eat and drink and find enjoyment for all the hard work+ at which he toils under the sun during the few days of life that the true God has given him, for that is his reward.*+ 19 Also, when the true God gives a man riches and material possessions+ along with the ability to enjoy them, he should take his reward* and rejoice in his hard work. This is the gift of God.+ 20 For he will hardly notice* the passing days of his life, because the true God keeps him preoccupied with the rejoicing of his heart.+

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