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1 Be careful* Literally, “guard your footsteps.” when you go into God's house. It's better to listen and respond rather than offer meaningless sacrifices.† “Meaningless sacrifices”: literally, “the sacrifices of fools.” People who do that don't even know they are doing wrong. 2 Don't say rash things, and think before you speak to God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so keep it short. 3 When you worry too much, you get nightmares; when you talk too much, you say foolish things.
4 When you make a vow to God, with a curse on you if you don't keep it,‡ “With a curse on you if you don't keep it,” implied. Frequently vows to God included a curse for failing to keep the vow. don't be slow in keeping it, for he is not happy with foolish behavior. So do what you promised! 5 Better not to make any vows at all than to make vow you don't keep. 6 Don't let your mouth cause you to sin. And don't tell the priest§ Literally, “messenger.” In Malachi 2:7 priests are identified as messengers. In any case, the situation is one of informing someone at the Temple that the promise (vow) you made was a mistake. that your vow was a mistake, for why would you antagonize God by breaking your promise?* Many such promises (vows) included a self-pronounced curse if it was not kept—so by failing to keep the promise, the individual would be subject to the curse they had pronounced on themselves. He could bring your own curse down on you. 7 There are certainly many dreams, questions of meaning, and lots of different ideas, but you are to follow God.
8 If you see poor people somewhere† “Somewhere”: literally, “in the province”—a general term. being oppressed, or truth and justice violated, don't be shocked at it, for every official is responsible to others higher up, and there are officials over them as well.‡ The Hebrew meaning is unclear. It probably is saying that corruption and injustice are endemic. 9 However, what the land produces is for everyone—even the king benefits from what is grown.§ Again the meaning is unclear in this verse.
10 People who love money never have enough money; those who love wealth never have enough income. This too is so temporary and makes little sense. 11 The more you earn, the more you have eating into your income. It only looks like you have more! 12 Those who work hard sleep well, whether they have a little to eat or plenty, but the rich own so much they don't get any rest. 13 I observed something here that is really sickening:* The two words often translated as “grievous evil” really refer to “miserable illness,” or something that makes you “really sick.” Also in verse 16. people who hoard money damage themselves. 14 They put their money into bad investments and lose everything.
Now when we're born, we don't bring anything into the world. 15 When we die, we leave just as naked as when we were born, taking nothing with us from all we've worked for. 16 This also makes me sick! What do people gain, working for the wind?† As noted in footnote for 1:14, the word here can mean “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” So it could just as easily be translated as “What do you gain, working for a breath of air?” etc. 17 They live their lives in darkness, very frustrated, sick, and resentful.
18 But I observed that what is good and right is to eat, drink, and to find enjoyment in the work God gives us here in this life. This is God's gift to us. 19 In addition, everyone to whom God gives wealth and possessions he also gives the ability to enjoy these gifts, to be grateful for what they are given, and to enjoy the work they do. This is also God's gift to us. 20 In fact such people have little time to think about life because God keeps them busy with all that makes them happy.‡ Whether this is a good thing or not is not indicated.

*5:1 Literally, “guard your footsteps.”

†5:1 “Meaningless sacrifices”: literally, “the sacrifices of fools.”

‡5:4 “With a curse on you if you don't keep it,” implied. Frequently vows to God included a curse for failing to keep the vow.

§5:6 Literally, “messenger.” In Malachi 2:7 priests are identified as messengers. In any case, the situation is one of informing someone at the Temple that the promise (vow) you made was a mistake.

*5:6 Many such promises (vows) included a self-pronounced curse if it was not kept—so by failing to keep the promise, the individual would be subject to the curse they had pronounced on themselves.

†5:8 “Somewhere”: literally, “in the province”—a general term.

‡5:8 The Hebrew meaning is unclear. It probably is saying that corruption and injustice are endemic.

§5:9 Again the meaning is unclear in this verse.

*5:13 The two words often translated as “grievous evil” really refer to “miserable illness,” or something that makes you “really sick.” Also in verse 16.

†5:16 As noted in footnote for 1:14, the word here can mean “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit.” So it could just as easily be translated as “What do you gain, working for a breath of air?” etc.

‡5:20 Whether this is a good thing or not is not indicated.

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher