Ecclesiastes 4-6
The Evils of Oppression
Then I looked again at all the acts of aoppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had bno one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So aI congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living. 3 But abetter off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4 I have seen that every labor and every askill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor. This too is bvanity and striving after wind. 5 The fool afolds his hands and bconsumes his own flesh. 6 One hand full of rest is abetter than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun. 8 There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, ahis eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And bfor whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a cgrievous task.
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but ahow can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13 A apoor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. 14 For he has come aout of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him. 16 There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is avanity and striving after wind.
Your Attitude Toward God
aGuard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the bsacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 Do not be ahasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your bwords be few. 3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a afool through many words.
4 When you amake a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. bPay what you vow! 5 It is abetter that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a amistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, afear God.
8 If you see aoppression of the poor and bdenial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be cshocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. 9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
The Folly of Riches
10 aHe who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. 11 aWhen good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? 12 The sleep of the working man is apleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: ariches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. 14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 15 aAs he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will btake nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16 This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So awhat is the advantage to him who btoils for the wind? 17 Throughout his life ahe also eats in darkness with bgreat vexation, sickness and anger.
18 Here is what I have seen to be agood and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his breward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom aGod has given riches and wealth, He has also bempowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the cgift of God. 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because aGod keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.
The Futility of Life
There is an aevil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men— 2 a man to whom God has agiven riches and wealth and honor so that his soul blacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper aburial, then I say, “Better bthe miscarriage than he, 4 for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. 5 It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. 6 Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things—ado not all go to one place?”
7 aAll a man’s labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied. 8 For awhat advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living? 9 What the eyes asee is better than what the soul desires. This too is bfutility and a striving after wind.
10 Whatever aexists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he bcannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is. 11 For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man awhat will be after him under the sun?
2 Timothy 2
Be Strong
You therefore, my ason, bbe strong in the grace that is in cChrist Jesus. 2 The things awhich you have heard from me in the presence of bmany witnesses, centrust these to dfaithful men who will be eable to teach others also. 3 aSuffer hardship with me, as a good bsoldier of cChrist Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service aentangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 Also if anyone acompetes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. 6 aThe hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, arisen from the dead, bdescendant of David, caccording to my gospel, 9 for which I asuffer hardship even to bimprisonment as a ccriminal; but dthe word of God eis not imprisoned. 10 For this reason aI endure all things for bthe sake of those who are chosen, cso that they also may obtain the dsalvation which is in eChrist Jesus and with it feternal glory. 11 aIt is a trustworthy statement:
For bif we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, awe will also reign with Him;
If we bdeny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, aHe remains faithful, for bHe cannot deny Himself.
An Unashamed Workman
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly acharge them in the presence of God not to bwrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to apresent yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling bthe word of truth. 16 But aavoid bworldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are aHymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that athe resurrection has already taken place, and they upset bthe faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the afirm foundation of God stands, having this bseal, “cThe Lord knows those who are His,” and, “dEveryone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and asome to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from athese things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, bprepared for every good work. 22 Now aflee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, bfaith, love and peace, with those who ccall on the Lord dfrom a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant aspeculations, knowing that they bproduce quarrels. 24 aThe Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, bable to teach, patient when wronged, 25 awith gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, bif perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to cthe knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from athe snare of the devil, having been bheld captive by him to do his will. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
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