The Evanescence of Wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)
1 UEB Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you 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 UEB both low and high, rich and poor together. BSB BSB: both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 UEB My mouth will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding. BSB BSB: My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 UEB I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp. BSB BSB: I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 UEB Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels? BSB BSB: Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 UEB Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches? BSB BSB: They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 UEB It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him, BSB BSB: No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 UEB For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe. BSB BSB: For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 UEB No one can live forever so that his body should not decay. BSB BSB: that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 UEB For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 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 UEB Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. BSB BSB: Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 UEB But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish. BSB BSB: But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 UEB This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of their sayings. Selah BSB BSB: This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah
14 UEB Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. 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 UEB But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol; he will receive me. Selah BSB BSB: But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah
16 UEB Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases. BSB BSB: Do not be afraid when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 UEB For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. BSB BSB: For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 UEB He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself— BSB BSB: Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—
19 UEB he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again. BSB BSB: he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 UEB One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish. 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.