Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
New Living Translation
7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
The Futility of Wealth
8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy. 9 Even the king milks the land for his own profit![a]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 5:9 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 8 and 9 is uncertain.
Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
New International Version
7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.(A)
Riches Are Meaningless
8 If you see the poor oppressed(B) in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
Ecclesiastes 5:7-9
King James Version
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 than the highest 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.
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