Approaching God with Fear 1 Brenton Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and when thou art near to hear, let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. BSB BSB: Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.
3 Brenton For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool's voice is with a multitude of words. BSB BSB: As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
4 Brenton Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed. BSB BSB: When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.
5 Brenton It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.BSB BSB: It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.
6 Brenton Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands. BSB BSB: Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?
7 Brenton For there is evil in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God. BSB BSB: For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
The Futility of Wealth (Psalm 49:1–20)
8 Brenton If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field. BSB BSB: The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10 Brenton He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity. BSB BSB: He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.
11 Brenton In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding it with his eyes? BSB BSB: 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 Brenton The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely , wealth kept for its owner to his hurt. BSB BSB: There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14 Brenton And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. BSB BSB: or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.
15 Brenton As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours? BSB BSB: This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?
17 Brenton Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath. BSB BSB: Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.
18 Brenton Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. BSB BSB: 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 Brenton For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart. BSB BSB: For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.