Stand
In Awe Of God
Guard
your steps when you go to the House of God.
God
to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools,
Who
do not know that they do wrong.
2
Do not be quick with your mouth,
Do
not be hasty in your heart
To
utter anything before God.
GOD
IS IN HEAVEN AND YOU ARE ON EARTH,
So
let your words be few.
3
As a Dream comes when there are many cares,
So
the speech of a fool when there are many words.
4
When you make a Vow to God,
Do
not delay in fulfilling it.
He
has No Pleasure in fools;
Fulfill
your Vow.
5
It is better not to Vow than make a Vow and not fulfill it.
6
Do not let your mouth lead you into Sin.
And
do not protest to the Temple messenger,
'My
Vow was a mistake.'
Why
should God be angry at what you say
And
destroy the work of your hands?
7
Much Dreaming and many words are Meaningless.
THEREFORE
STAND IN AWE OF GOD.
Riches
Are Meaningless
8
If you see the poor oppressed in district,
And
Justice and Rights denied,
Do
not be surprised at such things;
For
one official is eyed by a higher one,
And
over them both are others higher still.
9
The increase from the Land is taken by all;
The
king himself profits from the fields.
10
Whoever loves money never has money enough;
Whoever
loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
THIS
TOO IS MEANINGLESS.
11
As good increase, so do those who consume them.
And
what benefit are they to the owner
Except
to feast his eyes on them?
12
The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
Whether
he eats little or much,
But
abundance of a rich man
Permits
him No Sleep.
13
I have seen a grievous Evil under the sun:
Wealth
Horded to the harm of its owner,
14
Or Wealth Lost through some misfortune,
So
that when he has a son
There
is Nothing Left for him.
15
NAKED A MAN COMES FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB,
AND
AS HE COMES, SO HE DEPARTS,
He
takes nothing from his labor
That
he can carry in his hand.
16
This too is a Grievous Evil;
AS
A MAN COMES, SO HE DEPARTS,
And
what does he gain,
since
he toils for the wind?
17
ALL HIS DAYS HE EATS IN DARKNESS,
WITH
GREAT FRUSTRATION, AFFLICTION AND ANGER.
18
Then I realized that it is good and proper
For
a man to eat and drink,
And
find some satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun
During
the few days of life God has given him--
For
this is his lot.
19
Moreover, when God gives any man Wealth and Possessions,
And
enables him to enjoy them,
to
accept his lot and be happy in in his work--
THIS
IS A GIFT OF GOD.
20
He seldom reflects on the days of his life,
Because
God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
(Ecclesiastes
5)
Who,
today, Stands In Awe of God?
Only
those who Love Him
And
are called according to His Purposes;
Who
understand the Temporary and Fleeting Nature of this life
And
that Paradise awaits the Faithful.
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