Ecclesiastes 5 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Ecclesiastes 5

Fear God

5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 ¹ Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you² into sin, and do not say before the messenger³ that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity;⁴ but⁵ God is the one you must fear.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.⁶

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes? 12 Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt, 14 and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.

18 Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment⁷ in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. 19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Footnotes

[1] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew
[2] 5:6 Hebrew your flesh
[3] 5:6 Or angel
[4] 5:7 The Hebrew term hebel can refer to a “vapor” or “mere breath”; also verse 10 (see note on 1:2)
[5] 5:7 Or For when dreams and vanities increase, words also grow many; but
[6] 5:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
[7] 5:18 Or and see good

Commentary

v1: Fear God and draw near to Him. The sacrifice of fools is the bringing of many words and many dreams, pretence and ignorance, devoid of reality.

v2-3: Our words are to be true and few, see 1 Kings 18; Matt 6.7; remember that we are speaking before God. 'One who talks, thinks, but one who keeps silent, thinks more.' (Proverb, Luganda, Uganda)

v4-5: Our words are binding upon us; vows were never commanded, but always allowed (Num 30); we are wise to avoid making such vows, but if made they must be kept.

v6: Careful words, so as to avoid regrets, apologies, endless corrections and qualifications.

v7: Summarising the section, the sacrifice of fools.

v8-9: The problem of injustice in high places; the poor are exploited, even by oppression. The RAV has "violent perversion," indicating the severity of the oppression. We are not to be surprised at such injustice.

Wealth 'trickles up.' not down! The rich get richer, understanding 'the system,' while the poor stay poor. In our comparatively comfortable western countries, we sometimes fail to appreciate that most people across the world continue to endure real and deep poverty.

‘Bureaucracy can be a form of injustice; the rich and well educated can work through it, either by bribery or ‘knowing the system,’ whereas the disadvantaged just have to wait for justice and are often powerless.’ (David Devenish, Demolishing Strongholds)

v10-12: Riches do not satisfy; they bring dissatisfaction, unhappiness, restlessness, see 1 Tim 6.9-10. If we set our hearts on material things, we grow dissatisfied with them.

Hard work is also commended, since wages are fairly earned.

v13-15: The folly of hoarding riches; 'you cannot take it with you!' Those to whom we leave it may waste it, as with the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Riches are at best uncertain; we must learn not to trust in them.

v16-17: The man who sets his heart on riches finds frustration, affliction and anger. This is the way of natural man, seeking his own gain, and neglecting the glory of God.

v18-20: God is the key to a satisfied life, it is through Him that our labour is worthwhile, 1 Thess 4.11-12. Yet, if this life is all there is, then this verse is our only hope. We were truly made for something more glorious. We were made for another world.