Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 ^[a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

⁴ When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it.^(E) He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.^{(F) 5} It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.^{(G) 6} Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.^(H)

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸ If you see the poor oppressed^(I) 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.

¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:^(K)

¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil:

¹⁸ This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink^(P) and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor^(Q) under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions,^(R) and the ability to enjoy them,^(S) to accept their lot^(T) and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.^{(U) 20} They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.^(V)

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: ² God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them,^(W) and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.^(X)

³ A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn^(Y) child is better off than he.^{(Z) 4} It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵ Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— ⁶ even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?^(AA)

¹² For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days^(AF) they pass through like a shadow?^(AG) Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Wisdom

¹³ Consider what God has done:^(AX)

¹⁵ In this meaningless life^(BA) of mine I have seen both of these:

²³ All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

²⁷ “Look,” says the Teacher,^[c](BP) “this is what I have discovered:

Obey the King

² Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. ³ Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence.^(BR) Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. ⁴ Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?^(BS)”

⁹ All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own^[e] hurt. ¹⁰ Then too, I saw the wicked buried^(BU)—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise^[f] in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.

¹¹ When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. ¹² Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better^(BV) with those who fear God,^(BW) who are reverent before him.^{(BX) 13} Yet because the wicked do not fear God,^(BY) it will not go well with them, and their days^(BZ) will not lengthen like a shadow.

¹⁴ There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve.^(CA) This too, I say, is meaningless.^{(CB) 15} So I commend the enjoyment of life^(CC), because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink^(CD) and be glad.^(CE) Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

¹⁶ When I applied my mind to know wisdom^(CF) and to observe the labor that is done on earth^(CG)—people getting no sleep day or night— ¹⁷ then I saw all that God has done.^(CH) No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.^(CI)

A Common Destiny for All

9 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.^{(CJ) 2} All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,^[g] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

³ This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all.^(CL) The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,^(CM) and afterward they join the dead.^{(CN) 4} Anyone who is among the living has hope^[h]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

⁷ Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine^(CS) with a joyful heart,^(CT) for God has already approved what you do. ⁸ Always be clothed in white,^(CU) and always anoint your head with oil. ⁹ Enjoy life with your wife,^(CV) whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot^(CW) in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. ¹⁰ Whatever^(CX) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,^(CY) for in the realm of the dead,^(CZ) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.^(DA)

¹¹ I have seen something else under the sun:

¹² Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

Wisdom Better Than Folly

¹³ I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom^(DH) that greatly impressed me: ¹⁴ There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵ Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.^{(DI) 16} So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.^(DJ)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,^(A) intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority,^(B) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness^(C) and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases^(D) God our Savior,^{(E) 4} who wants^(F) all people^(G) to be saved^(H) and to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(I) 5} For there is one God^(J) and one mediator^(K) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,^{(L) 6} who gave himself as a ransom^(M) for all people. This has now been witnessed to^(N) at the proper time.^{(O) 7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying^(P)—and a true and faithful teacher^(Q) of the Gentiles.^(R)

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands^(S) without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,^{(T) 10} but with good deeds,^(U) appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

¹¹ A woman^[a] should learn in quietness and full submission.^{(V) 12} I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;^[b] she must be quiet.^{(W) 13} For Adam was formed first, then Eve.^{(X) 14} And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.^{(Y) 15} But women^[c] will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love^(Z) and holiness with propriety.

Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons

3 Here is a trustworthy saying:^(AA) Whoever aspires to be an overseer^(AB) desires a noble task. ² Now the overseer is to be above reproach,^(AC) faithful to his wife,^(AD) temperate,^(AE) self-controlled, respectable, hospitable,^(AF) able to teach,^{(AG) 3} not given to drunkenness,^(AH) not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome,^(AI) not a lover of money.^{(AJ) 4} He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full^[d] respect.^{(AK) 5} (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)^{(AL) 6} He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(AM) and fall under the same judgment^(AN) as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders,^(AO) so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.^(AP)

⁸ In the same way, deacons^[e](AQ) are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine,^(AR) and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.^{(AS) 10} They must first be tested;^(AT) and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women^[f] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers^(AU) but temperate^(AV) and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife^(AW) and must manage his children and his household well.^{(AX) 13} Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Reasons for Paul’s Instructions

¹⁴ Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, ¹⁵ if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church^(AY) of the living God,^(AZ) the pillar and foundation of the truth. ¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(BA) from which true godliness^(BB) springs is great: