The Evanescence of Wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)
1 UDB You people all over the world, listen! Everyone on the earth, listen to what I am saying— BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 UDB important people and unimportant people, rich people and poor people! BSB BSB: both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 UDB For what I am thinking is very sensible, and what I say will enable you to become wise. BSB BSB: My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 UDB I think about wise words to tell you, and while I play my harp, I explain what they mean. BSB BSB: I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 UDB I do not worry when I am in trouble, when I am surrounded by my enemies. BSB BSB: Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 UDB These are evil men who trust that things will always go well for them because they are wealthy and who boast about being very rich. BSB BSB: They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 UDB They may be rich, but no one can pay God money so that he can live forever! No one can pay God enough so that God will allow him to continue to live BSB BSB: No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 UDB because that cost is too much, and he will never be able to pay enough. BSB BSB: For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 UDB No one can pay God enough money so that he will live forever and never die and be buried! BSB BSB: that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 UDB We see that foolish and stupid people die, but we see that wise people also die; they all leave their wealth, and others inherit it. 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 UDB They once had houses on land that they owned, but now their graves are their homes forever, the place where they will stay for all time! BSB BSB: Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 UDB Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying; people all die, the same as the animals do. BSB BSB: But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 UDB That is what happens to those who foolishly trust in what they have accomplished, to those who are delighted in all that they possess. BSB BSB: This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah
14 UDB They are certain to die just like sheep when a shepherd leads them away to be slaughtered. In the morning the righteous people will rule over them, and then those wealthy people will die and their bodies will quickly decay in their graves; they will be where dead people are, far from their homes. 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 UDB But it is certain that God will rescue me so that I am not held fast in the place of the dead; he will take me to himself. BSB BSB: But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
16 UDB So do not be dismayed when someone becomes rich and the houses where they live become more and more luxurious; BSB BSB: Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 UDB for when he dies, he will take nothing with him; his wealth will not go with him. BSB BSB: For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 UDB While a rich person is alive, he congratulates himself, and people praise him for being successful, BSB BSB: Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—
19 UDB but he will die and join his ancestors, who will never see daylight again. BSB BSB: he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 UDB Even if someone is great, that cannot prevent him from dying; he will die, the same as the animals do. 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.