Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

Updated: September 14, 2025

Approaching God with Awe

1Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Wealth is Meaningless

8If 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. 9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Approaching God with Awe

1 Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. 2 Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3 For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

4 When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Don’t allow your mouth to lead you into sin. Don’t protest before the messenger that this was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

The Futility of Wealth
(Psalm 49:1–20)

8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase: this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm. 14 Those riches perish by misfortune, and if he has fathered a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil, that in all points 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, he is frustrated, and has sickness and wrath.

18 Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.

Approaching God with Awe

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 2 Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

3 As a dream comes through many cares,

so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger a that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.

The Futility of Wealth
(Psalm 49:1–20)

8 If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them. 9 The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

10 He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile. 11 When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

12 The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

13 There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, 14 or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

15 As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind? 17 Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

19 Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God. 20 For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

Footnotes:

6 a Or angel

Approaching God with Awe

1Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil. 2Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few. 3For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

4When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete. 5Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete. 6Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger, that 'it is an error,' why is God wroth because of thy voice, and hath destroyed the work of thy hands? 7For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

Wealth is Meaningless

8If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones are over them. 9And the abundance of a land is for all. A king for a field is served.

10Whoso is loving silver is not satisfied with silver, nor he who is in love with stores with increase. Even this is vanity. 11In the multiplying of good have its consumers been multiplied, and what benefit is to its possessor except the sight of his eyes? 12Sweet is the sleep of the labourer whether he eat little or much; and the sufficiency of the wealthy is not suffering him to sleep.

13There is a painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil. 14And that wealth hath been lost in an evil business, and he hath begotten a son and there is nothing in his hand! 15As he came out from the belly of his mother, naked he turneth back to go as he came, and he taketh not away anything of his labour, that doth go in his hand. 16And this also is a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage is to him who laboureth for wind? 17Also all his days in darkness he consumeth, and sadness, and wrath, and sickness abound.

18Lo, that which I have seen: It is good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it is his portion. 19Every man also to whom God hath given wealth and riches, and hath given him power to eat of it, and to accept his portion, and to rejoice in his labour, this is a gift of God. 20For he doth not much remember the days of his life, for God is answering through the joy of his heart.

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The F.O.G Commentary

When Less Is Actually More

What’s Ecclesiastes 5 about?

This chapter is Solomon’s reality check about worship, wealth, and the words that come out of our mouths. He’s basically saying: shut up and listen to God, don’t make promises you can’t keep, and stop thinking money will fix your emptiness – because it won’t.

The Full Context

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 emerges from Solomon’s broader exploration of life’s vanities, but here he shifts focus to our relationship with the Divine. Written during Israel’s golden age when the temple was the center of religious life, these verses address people who had plenty of time to overthink their prayers and make elaborate vows to God. Solomon, having witnessed countless temple ceremonies and religious performances, is cutting through the spiritual theatrics to get at what actually matters in worship.

The literary structure of this chapter creates a bridge between Solomon’s observations about human futility (chapters 1-4) and his practical wisdom for living well despite life’s absurdities (chapters 6-12). Here, he’s not just philosophizing about meaninglessness – he’s offering concrete guidance for approaching God authentically. The cultural backdrop is crucial: ancient Near Eastern worship often involved bargaining with deities, elaborate rituals, and verbose prayers designed to manipulate divine favor. Solomon flips this script entirely, advocating for simplicity, reverence, and genuine fear of the Lord.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word qārav in verse 1 literally means “to draw near” or “approach,” but it carries this sense of coming close to something dangerous and holy. When Solomon says to “guard your steps when you go to the house of God,” he’s using military language – the same word used for posting sentries. You don’t casually stroll into God’s presence like you’re walking into a coffee shop.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “draw near to listen” uses a Hebrew construction that emphasizes the priority of listening over speaking. The infinitive lishmo’a (to hear/listen) comes before any mention of offering sacrifices, establishing a hierarchy that would have shocked ancient audiences who prioritized ritual performance.

The word neder (vow) in verses 4-6 isn’t just a casual promise – it’s a binding legal contract with God. In Solomon’s time, people would make these elaborate conditional vows: “God, if you do X for me, I’ll do Y for you.” But Solomon’s warning is sharp: tov asher lo tidor – “better that you not vow than vow and not pay.”

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

Picture the temple courts bustling with activity – merchants selling sacrificial animals, pilgrims making elaborate prayers, religious leaders performing complex ceremonies. In this context, Solomon’s call for fewer words and more listening would have been revolutionary. His audience lived in a culture where longer prayers were considered more pious, where elaborate vows demonstrated devotion, where the volume of your worship somehow correlated with its value.

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What is the F.O.G?

When Solomon warns against “many words” in prayer, his original listeners would have immediately thought of the pagan practices surrounding them. Canaanite worship involved repetitive chanting, believing that gods could be worn down by persistence. The Israelites had absorbed some of this thinking, assuming God needed to be convinced or impressed by human eloquence.

Did You Know?

Archaeological discoveries at Tel Dan and other ancient sites reveal prayer inscriptions that go on for hundreds of words, often repeating the same requests with slight variations. Solomon’s call for brevity would have seemed almost irreverent to people accustomed to verbose religious performances.

The economic imagery in verses 8-20 would have resonated deeply with Solomon’s audience, who lived during Israel’s most prosperous period. They were witnessing unprecedented wealth accumulation, complex administrative hierarchies, and the social problems that come with economic inequality. Solomon isn’t speaking theoretically about wealth’s limitations – he’s describing what his listeners could see happening around them.

But Wait… Why Did They Make This So Complicated?

Here’s what’s fascinating about Solomon’s approach to worship: he’s essentially deconstructing the entire religious industrial complex of his day. Why does he need to tell people to be quiet in God’s presence? Because they had turned worship into performance art.

The Hebrew construction in verse 2 – al tevaheyl (do not be hasty) – uses the same root word that describes reckless military decisions. Solomon is saying that careless words in prayer are like charging into battle without strategy. But why would anyone be hasty with God?

Wait, That’s Strange…

The phrase “God is in heaven and you are on earth” in Ecclesiastes 5:2 seems to contradict other biblical passages about God’s nearness and intimacy. Solomon isn’t denying God’s closeness, but rather establishing the cosmic perspective that should inform our approach to prayer – reverence before familiarity.

The answer lies in understanding ancient Near Eastern prayer culture. People believed they could manipulate divine favor through the right combination of words, rituals, and promises. Solomon is basically saying, “Stop trying to manage God with your mouth.”

Wrestling with the Text

The tension in this chapter is palpable: Solomon calls for reverence and fear of God while simultaneously acknowledging life’s fundamental absurdities. How do you maintain genuine worship when you’ve seen through the illusions that keep most people’s faith intact?

Ecclesiastes 5:7 provides the key: ki et ha’elohim yera – “fear God.” But this isn’t cowering terror; the Hebrew yira encompasses awe, reverence, and recognition of ultimate reality. Solomon has stripped away religious pretense not to destroy faith, but to reveal its authentic core.

The economic observations in the latter half of the chapter create another wrestling point. Solomon describes wealth’s inability to satisfy (verse 10), its tendency to multiply problems rather than solve them (verse 11), and its ultimate futility in the face of death (verses 15-16). Yet he doesn’t advocate poverty – instead, he points toward contentment and gratitude for simple pleasures as gifts from God.

“The person who truly fears God needs fewer words and more wonder.”

How This Changes Everything

Solomon’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes 5 fundamentally reshapes how we approach both worship and wealth. Instead of treating prayer as a transaction where our eloquence earns divine favor, we learn to enter God’s presence with humble attention. Instead of viewing material success as life’s ultimate goal, we discover satisfaction in simple gifts: food, work, companionship.

This isn’t anti-religious sentiment – it’s the distillation of authentic spirituality. When you stop performing for God and start listening to God, when you stop chasing wealth as an end in itself and start receiving daily provisions as grace, everything shifts. Your prayers become conversations rather than negotiations. Your work becomes service rather than accumulation. Your relationships become gifts rather than assets.

The radical nature of Solomon’s teaching becomes clear when you realize he’s advocating for less in a culture obsessed with more – fewer words in prayer, fewer vows and promises, fewer anxious pursuits of wealth. This isn’t minimalism as lifestyle choice; it’s wisdom as life principle.

Key Takeaway

Authentic relationship with God requires fewer words and more reverence, less striving and more gratitude – because the God who created everything doesn’t need our management, just our trust.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

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