New Century Version

Ecclesiastes 5:3-14 New Century Version (NCV)

3. The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying,and too many words come from foolish people.

4. If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with fools, so give God what you promised.

5. It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it.

6. Don’t let your words cause you to sin, and don’t say to the priest at the Temple, “I didn’t mean what I promised.” If you do, God will become angry with your words and will destroy everything you have worked for.

7. Many useless promises are like so many dreams; they mean nothing. You should respect God.

8. In some places you will see poor people mistreated. Don’t be surprised when they are not treated fairly or given their rights. One officer is cheated by a higher officer who in turn is cheated by even higher officers.

9. The wealth of the country is divided up among them all. Even the king makes sure he gets his share of the profits.

10. Whoever loves moneywill never have enough money;Whoever loves wealthwill not be satisfied with it.This is also useless.

11. The more wealth people have,the more friends they have to help spend it.So what do people really gain?They gain nothing except to look at their riches.

12. Those who work hard sleep in peace;it is not important if they eat little or much.But rich people worry about their wealthand cannot sleep.

13. I have seen real misery here on earth:Money saved is a curse to its owners.

14. They lose it all in a bad dealand have nothing to give to their children.