## Ecclesiastes Chapter 5

###### Ecclesiastes 5:1
[Ecclesiastes 5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:1)

אַל־תְּבַהֵ֨ל עַל־פִּ֜יךָ וְלִבְּךָ֧ אַל־יְמַהֵ֛ר לְהוֹצִ֥יא דָבָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֤ים בַּשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְאַתָּ֣ה עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ עַל־כֵּ֛ן יִהְי֥וּ דְבָרֶ֖יךָ מְעַטִּֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Do not be impulsive with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God; for God is in heaven and you are on earth, therefore, let your words be few.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Be not rash with your mouth, and let your heart not be over-hasty to utter a thing against G-d; for G-d is in the heavens [i.e., omnipotent], and you are on the earth; therefore, let your words be few.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:2
[Ecclesiastes 5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:2)

כִּ֛י בָּ֥א הַחֲל֖וֹם בְּרֹ֣ב עִנְיָ֑ן וְק֥וֹל כְּסִ֖יל בְּרֹ֥ב דְּבָרִֽים׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For a dream comes with many subjects and the voice of a fool with many words.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For a dream comes through a multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For a dream comes with much preoccupation [(with a particular thought in the daytime)], and the voice of a fool with a multitude of words [(wherefore I say: "Let your words be few.")]


###### Ecclesiastes 5:3
[Ecclesiastes 5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:3)

כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ תִּדֹּ֨ר נֶ֜דֶר לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין חֵ֖פֶץ בַּכְּסִילִ֑ים אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־תִּדֹּ֖ר שַׁלֵּֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
When you make an oath to God, do not delay in its fulfillment, for He has no desire in fools; whatever you vow, fulfill.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
When thou vowest a vow to God, do not defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
When you make a vow to G-d, do not delay to pay it, because there is no desire in fools [(i.e., He does not desire the wicked, who vow and do not pay.)] What you vow, pay.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:4
[Ecclesiastes 5:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:4)

ט֖וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תִדֹּ֑ר מִשֶּׁתִּדּ֖וֹר וְלֹ֥א תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
It is better that you not vow [at all] rather than vow and not fulfill.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Better is it that thou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldst vow and not pay.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Better that you not vow than that you vow and not pay.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:5
[Ecclesiastes 5:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:5)

אַל־תִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־פִּ֙יךָ֙ לַחֲטִ֣יא אֶת־בְּשָׂרֶ֔ךָ וְאַל־תֹּאמַר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמַּלְאָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י שְׁגָגָ֖ה הִ֑יא לָ֣מָּה יִקְצֹ֤ף הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ עַל־קוֹלֶ֔ךָ וְחִבֵּ֖ל אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָדֶֽיךָ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Do not permit your mouth to bring guilt on your flesh, nor say before the angel that it was an error; why should God be angered by your voice, and destroy the work of your hands.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Do not let thy mouth cause thy flesh to sin; nor say before the angel, that it was an error: why should God be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of thy hands?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Do not allow your mouth to bring sin upon your flesh [i.e., upon your children.] And do not say before the messenger [(who comes to claim the charity that you pledged in public)] that it [(your vowing)] was a mistake. Why should G-d be angry at [i.e., because of] your voice, and destroy the work of your hands [(the mitzvoth that you have already done)]?


###### Ecclesiastes 5:6
[Ecclesiastes 5:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:6)

כִּ֣י בְרֹ֤ב חֲלֹמוֹת֙ וַהֲבָלִ֔ים וּדְבָרִ֖ים הַרְבֵּ֑ה כִּ֥י אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים יְרָֽא׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For in the multitude of dreams and vanities and in the multitude of words; man should fear God.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For this comes from the multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For [(you should pay no heed)] to a multitude of dreams and vain [prophecies] and a multitude of words [(bidding you to depart from the L-rd)], but fear G-d.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:7
[Ecclesiastes 5:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:7)

אִם־עֹ֣שֶׁק רָ֠שׁ וְגֵ֨זֶל מִשְׁפָּ֤ט וָצֶ֙דֶק֙ תִּרְאֶ֣ה בַמְּדִינָ֔ה אַל־תִּתְמַ֖הּ עַל־הַחֵ֑פֶץ כִּ֣י גָבֹ֜הַּ מֵעַ֤ל גָּבֹ֙הַּ֙ שֹׁמֵ֔ר וּגְבֹהִ֖ים עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Oppression of the poor, perversion of justice and righteousness—should you observe these in the state—do not be astonished by the fact; for One higher than the high watches, and there are high ones above them.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter: for there is a high one who watches over him that is high; and there are yet higher ones over them.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
If oppression of the poor and miscarriage of justice and of righteousness you see in the land, do not wonder about the will [(of G-d when He brings evil upon the evildoers)]. For high upon high is the Watcher [(and He sees their deeds)], and there are those who are higher than they [(and who execute the L-rd's command to exact payment of them)]


###### Ecclesiastes 5:8
[Ecclesiastes 5:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:8)

וְיִתְר֥וֹן אֶ֖רֶץ בַּכֹּ֣ל (היא) [ה֑וּא] מֶ֥לֶךְ לְשָׂדֶ֖ה נֶעֱבָֽד׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
The profit of the earth is desired by all; the king himself is subject to the soil.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Moreover, land has an advantage for everyone: he who tills a field is a king.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
and [(to exact payment)] of the lofty of the land [(who anger the L-rd)]. With every thing [at his command] he [(G-d's messenger) fulfills His embassy]. The King subserves Himself to the "field" [(of Zion) to exact payment of its shamers and to reward its builders].


###### Ecclesiastes 5:9
[Ecclesiastes 5:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:9)

אֹהֵ֥ב כֶּ֙סֶף֙ לֹא־יִשְׂבַּ֣ע כֶּ֔סֶף וּמִֽי־אֹהֵ֥ב בֶּהָמ֖וֹן לֹ֣א תְבוּאָ֑ה גַּם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
He who loves money will never be satisfied with money, and he who loves abundance will have no produce; this too is vanity.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
The lover of silver [i.e., of mitzvoth] will not be sated with mitzvoth; and he who loves [mitzvoth] promiscuously [(without attaching special value to distinct mitzvoth)] will not [reap their] produce. This, too, is vanity.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:10
[Ecclesiastes 5:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:10)

בִּרְבוֹת֙ הַטּוֹבָ֔ה רַבּ֖וּ אוֹכְלֶ֑יהָ וּמַה־כִּשְׁרוֹן֙ לִבְעָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֖י אִם־[רְא֥וּת] (ראית) עֵינָֽיו׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
As goods increase so do those who consume them; and what advantage has the owner except beholding them with his eyes.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
When goods increase, they who eat them are increased: and what good is there to their owner, saving the beholding of them with his eyes?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
With the increase of good [i.e., when Israel improves its ways], their eaters [(of the reward of mitzvoth)] increase. And what benefit to their Master, but the seeing of His eyes [(i.e., His beholding of their allegiance to Him)]?


###### Ecclesiastes 5:11
[Ecclesiastes 5:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:11)

מְתוּקָה֙ שְׁנַ֣ת הָעֹבֵ֔ד אִם־מְעַ֥ט וְאִם־הַרְבֵּ֖ה יֹאכֵ֑ל וְהַשָּׂבָע֙ לֶֽעָשִׁ֔יר אֵינֶ֛נּוּ מַנִּ֥יחַֽ ל֖וֹ לִישֽׁוֹן׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Sweet is the sleep of the laborer, whether he eats little or much; but the satiety of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the repletion of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Sweet is the sleep of the worker, whether he eat little or much, but the fullness [(of possessions)] of the rich man does not allow him to sleep [(in his anxiety over them)].


###### Ecclesiastes 5:12
[Ecclesiastes 5:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:12)

יֵ֚שׁ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֹ֛שֶׁר שָׁמ֥וּר לִבְעָלָ֖יו לְרָעָתֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
There is a sickening evil [which] I have seen under the sun—wealth preserved by its owner to his own detriment.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
There is a sore evil that I have seen under the sun — wealth stored up for its owner, for his ill.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:13
[Ecclesiastes 5:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:13)

וְאָבַ֛ד הָעֹ֥שֶׁר הַה֖וּא בְּעִנְיַ֣ן רָ֑ע וְהוֹלִ֣יד בֵּ֔ן וְאֵ֥ין בְּיָד֖וֹ מְאֽוּמָה׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
And should he lose that wealth through some tragic mishap; and should a son be born to him—he will have nothing in his hand.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
But those riches perish by evil adventure: and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And that wealth is lost by ill conduct, and he begets a son with nothing in his hand [(not even the merit of the fathers.)]


###### Ecclesiastes 5:14
[Ecclesiastes 5:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:14)

כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָצָא֙ מִבֶּ֣טֶן אִמּ֔וֹ עָר֛וֹם יָשׁ֥וּב לָלֶ֖כֶת כְּשֶׁבָּ֑א וּמְא֙וּמָה֙ לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א בַעֲמָל֔וֹ שֶׁיֹּלֵ֖ךְ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
As he came from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came; he will take nothing for his labor, [nothing] that he will carry in his hand.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and he shall take nothing for his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
As he emerged from his mother's womb, naked, so shall he return to go as he came; and [(when he dies)] nothing shall he bear of his toil, [(no merit of charity that he did with his wealth in his lifetime)], to take in his hand.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:15
[Ecclesiastes 5:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:15)

וְגַם־זֹה֙ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה כׇּל־עֻמַּ֥ת שֶׁבָּ֖א כֵּ֣ן יֵלֵ֑ךְ וּמַה־יִּתְר֣וֹן ל֔וֹ שֶֽׁיַּעֲמֹ֖ל לָרֽוּחַ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
This too is a sickening evil; as he came, so shall he depart; what profit did he gain that he toiled for the wind.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that labours for the wind?

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
And this, too, is a grievous evil. Just as it [(that wealth)] came, so shall it go. And what does it profit him that he works for the wind?


###### Ecclesiastes 5:16
[Ecclesiastes 5:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:16)

גַּ֥ם כׇּל־יָמָ֖יו בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֹאכֵ֑ל וְכָעַ֥ס הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְחׇלְי֥וֹ וָקָֽצֶף׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Also, all his days he eats in darkness; and he has much grief, illness and anger.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
All his days also he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and wrath.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Also, all of his days shall he eat in darkness, and [know] much ire, and sickness, and wrath.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:17
[Ecclesiastes 5:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:17)

הִנֵּ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־רָאִ֣יתִי אָ֗נִי ט֣וֹב אֲשֶׁר־יָפֶ֣ה לֶֽאֱכוֹל־וְ֠לִשְׁתּ֠וֹת וְלִרְא֨וֹת טוֹבָ֜ה בְּכׇל־עֲמָל֣וֹ**׀** שֶׁיַּעֲמֹ֣ל תַּֽחַת־הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ מִסְפַּ֧ר יְמֵי־חַיָּ֛ו אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי־ה֥וּא חֶלְקֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Behold that which I have seen: it is good, even commendable for one to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he labors under the sun, during the counted days of his life that God has given him for that is his portion.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Behold what I have seen to be good. It becomes one to eat and to drink and to see good [i.e., to occupy himself with Torah (and not to seek to amass great wealth, but to rejoice in what he has been given)], in all of his toil wherein he toils under the sun the number of the days of his life which G-d has given him; for this is his portion.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:18
[Ecclesiastes 5:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:18)

גַּ֣ם כׇּֽל־הָאָדָ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־ל֣וֹ הָאֱלֹהִים֩ עֹ֨שֶׁר וּנְכָסִ֜ים וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ לֶאֱכֹ֤ל מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ וְלָשֵׂ֣את אֶת־חֶלְק֔וֹ וְלִשְׂמֹ֖חַ בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ זֹ֕ה מַתַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽיא׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
Also, every man to whom God has given wealth and possession, and the power to enjoy them, to take his share and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
Also, every man to whom G-d has given wealth and possessions, and dominion to eat of it [in his lifetime] and to bear his portion [at his death (G-d enabling him to occupy himself with Torah and mitzvoth in his lifetime so as to receive eternal reward)], and to rejoice in his toil — this is the gift of G-d.


###### Ecclesiastes 5:19
[Ecclesiastes 5:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ecclesiastes/r/5:19)

כִּ֚י לֹ֣א הַרְבֵּ֔ה יִזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו כִּ֧י הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַעֲנֶ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ׃

**The Metsudah Five Megillot, Lakewood, N.J., 2001:**
For they are not many, let him remember, the days of his life; while God answers [provides] him with the joy of his heart.

**The Koren Jerusalem Bible:**
For he shall remember that the days of his life are not many, in which God provides him with the joy of his heart.

**The Rashi Ketuvim by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein:**
For not for long will he remember the [short] days of his life. [Why, then, should he exert himself to acquire wealth? Let him exert himself in the eternal Torah for the eternal world]. For G-d is testimony [in the next world] to the joy of his heart [(i.e., in his having rejoiced in doing good in his lifetime)].