The Evanescence of Wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)
1 CPDV Unto the end. A Psalm to the sons of Korah. Hear these things, all nations. Pay attention, all inhabitants of the world: BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 CPDV whoever is earth-born, you sons of men, together as one, the rich and the poor. BSB BSB: both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 CPDV My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence. BSB BSB: My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 CPDV I will incline my ear to a parable. I will open my case with the psaltery. BSB BSB: I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 CPDV Why should I fear in the evil day? The iniquity at my heel will surround me. BSB BSB: Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 CPDV Those who trust in their own strength and who glory in the multitude of their riches, BSB BSB: They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 CPDV no brother redeems, nor will man buy back. He will not give to God his appeasement, BSB BSB: No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 CPDV nor the price for the redemption of his soul. And he will labor continuously, BSB BSB: For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 CPDV and he will still live, until the end. BSB BSB: that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 CPDV He will not see death, when he sees the wise dying: the foolish and the senseless will perish together. And they will leave their riches to strangers. BSB BSB: For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 CPDV And their sepulchers will be their houses forever, their tabernacles from generation to generation. They have called their names in their own lands. BSB BSB: Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 CPDV And man, when he was held in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them. BSB BSB: But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 CPDV This way of theirs is a scandal to them. And afterwards, they will delight in their mouth. BSB BSB: This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah
14 CPDV They have been placed in Hell like sheep. Death will feed on them. And the just will have dominion over them in the morning. And their help will grow old in Hell for their glory. BSB BSB: Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
15 CPDV Even so, truly God will redeem my soul from the hand of Hell, when he will receive me. BSB BSB: But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
16 CPDV Do not be afraid, when a man will have been made rich, and when the glory of his house will have been multiplied. BSB BSB: Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 CPDV For when he dies, he will take nothing away, and his glory will not descend with him. BSB BSB: For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 CPDV For his soul will be blessed in his lifetime, and he will admit to you when you do good to him. BSB BSB: Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—
19 CPDV He will even enter with the progeny of his fathers, but, even in eternity, he will not see the light. BSB BSB: he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 CPDV Man, when he was in honor, did not understand. He has been compared to the senseless beasts, and he has become like them. BSB BSB: A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.