Chapter 5

1Keep your mouth from being rash, and let not your throat be quick to bring forth speech before Hashem. For Hashem is in heaven and you are on earth; that is why your words should be few.

al-t'-va-HEL al-pee-KHA v'-li-b'-KHA al-y'-ma-HER l'-ho-TZEE da-VAHR lif-NAY ha-e-lo-HEEM, KEE ha-e-lo-HEEM ba-sha-MA-yim v'-a-TAH al-ha-A-retz, al-KEN yi-H'-yu d'-va-RE-kha m'-a-TIM.

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

2Just as dreams come with much brooding, so does foolish utterance come with much speech.

ki BA ha-kha-LOM b'-ROV in-YAN, v'-KOL k'-SEEL b'-ROV d'-va-REEM

בכִּ֛י בָּ֥א הַחֲל֖וֹם בְּרֹ֣ב עִנְיָ֑ן וְק֥וֹל כְּסִ֖יל בְּרֹ֥ב דְּבָרִֽים׃

3When you make a vow to Hashem, do not delay to fulfill it. For He has no pleasure in fools; what you vow, fulfill.

ka-a-SHER ti-DOR NE-der le-E-lo-HEEM al-te-a-KHER le-sha-le-MO, kee AYN KHE-fetz ba-ke-see-LEEM, et a-SHER-ti-DOR sha-LEM

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

4It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill.

TOV a-SHER lo-ti-DOR mi-she-TI-doR ve-lo te-sha-LEM

דט֖וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־תִדֹּ֑ר מִשֶּׁתִּדּ֖וֹר וְלֹ֥א תְשַׁלֵּֽם׃

5Don't let your mouth bring you into disfavor, and don't plead before the messenger that it was an error, but fear Hashem;* else Hashem may be angered by your talk and destroy your possessions.

al-ti-TEN et-PI-kha la-kha-TEE et b'-sa-RE-kha v'-al-to-MAR li-f'-NAY ha-mal-AKH kee she-ga-GAH hee la-MAH yik-TZOF ha-e-lo-HEEM al-ko-LE-kha v'-khi-BEL et-ma-a-SEH ya-DE-kha

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

6For much dreaming leads to futility and to superfluous talk.

ki ve-ROV kha-LO-mot va-ha-va-LEEM u-d'-va-REEM har-BEH ki et ha-e-lo-HEEM ye-RA

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

7If you see in a province oppression of the poor and suppression of right and justice, don't wonder at the fact; for one high official is protected by a higher one, and both of them by still higher ones.

im-o-SHEK RASH v'-GE-zel mish-PAT va-TZE-dek tir-EH va-m'-di-NAH al-tit-MAH al ha-KHE-fetz KI ga-VO-ha me-AL ga-VO-ha sho-MER u-g'-vo-HIM a-le-HEM

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

8Thus the greatest advantage in all the land is his: he controls a field that is cultivated.

v'-yi-t'-RON E-retz ba-KOL (HEE) [HU] ME-lekh l'-sa-DEH ne-e-VAD

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

9A lover of money never has his fill of money, nor a lover of wealth his fill of income. That too is futile.

o-HAYV KE-sef lo yis-BA KE-sef u-MEE o-HAYV be-ha-MON LO t'-vu-AH gam ZEH HA-vel

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

10As his substance increases, so do those who consume it; what, then, does the success of its owner amount to but feasting his eyes?

bi-RO-vot ha-TO-va ra-VU o-khe-LE-ha u-ma-KHISH-ron liv-a-LE-ha ki im [re-UT] (re-IT) e-NA-vav

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

11A worker's sleep is sweet, whether he has much or little to eat; but the rich man's abundance doesn't let him sleep.

me-tu-KAH sh'-nat ha-o-VED im me-a-AT v'-im ha-r'-BEH yo-KHEL v'-ha-sa-VA le-a-SHEER e-NE-nu ma-NI-aKH lo li-SHON

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

12Here is a grave evil I have observed under the sun: riches hoarded by their owner to his misfortune,

Yesh ra'ah kho-LAH ra-ee-TEE TA-khat ha-SHA-mesh o-SHER sha-MUR liv-a-LA-yav le-ra-AH-to.

יביֵ֚שׁ רָעָ֣ה חוֹלָ֔ה רָאִ֖יתִי תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ עֹ֛שֶׁר שָׁמ֥וּר לִבְעָלָ֖יו לְרָעָתֽוֹ׃

13in that those riches are lost in some unlucky venture; and if he begets a son, he has nothing in hand.

v'-a-VAD ha-o-SHER ha-HU b'-in-YAN ra, v'-ho-LEED ben v'-AYN b'-ya-DO m'-u-MAH

יגוְאָבַ֛ד הָעֹ֥שֶׁר הַה֖וּא בְּעִנְיַ֣ן רָ֑ע וְהוֹלִ֣יד בֵּ֔ן וְאֵ֥ין בְּיָד֖וֹ מְאֽוּמָה׃

14Another grave evil is this: He must depart just as he came.* As he came out of his mother's womb, so must he depart at last, naked as he came. He can take nothing of his wealth to carry with him.

ka-a-SHER ya-TZAV mi-BE-ten i-MO a-ROM ya-SHU-v la-LE-khet k'-SHE-BA u-m'-U-MA lo yi-SA va-a-MA-lo she-yo-LEKH b'-YA-do

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

15So what is the good of his toiling for the wind?

v'-GAM zo ra-AH kho-LAH kol-u-MAT she-BA ken ye-LEKH u-MAH yi-t'-RON lo she-ya-a-MOL la-ROO-akh

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

16Besides, all his days he eats in darkness, with much vexation and grief and anger.

gam kol-ya-MAV ba-KHO-shekh yo-KHEL, v'-ka-aS har-BEH v'-kho-LAY-o va-ka-TSEF

טזגַּ֥ם כׇּל־יָמָ֖יו בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ יֹאכֵ֑ל וְכָעַ֥ס הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְחׇלְי֥וֹ וָקָֽצֶף׃

17Only this, I have found, is a real good: that one should eat and drink and get pleasure with all the gains he makes under the sun, during the numbered days of life that Hashem has given him; for that is his portion.

hi-NEH a-SHER ra-EE-TEE a-NEE TOV a-SHER ya-FEH le-e-KHOL v'-lish-TOT v'-lir-OT TO-VAH b'-KOL a-MA-lo SHE-ya-a-MOL ta-KHAT ha-SHE-mesh mis-PA-yer y'-MEI cha-YAV a-SHER na-TAN-lo ha-E-lo-HEEM kee-HU khel-KO

יזהִנֵּ֞ה 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׃

18Also, whenever a man is given riches and property by Hashem, and is also permitted by Him to enjoy them and to take his portion and get pleasure for his gains—that is a gift of Hashem.

gam kol-ha-a-dam a-SHER na-tan-lo ha-e-lo-HEEM o-SHER u-ne-kha-SEEM v'-hish-LEE-to le-e-KHOL mi-ME-nu v'-la-SE-et et-khel-KO v'-lis-MO-akh ba-a-MA-lo zo mat-TAT e-lo-HEEM he-YA

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

19For [such a man] will not brood much over the days of his life, because Hashem keeps him busy enjoying himself.

ki LO har-BEH yiz-KOR et-y'-MEI kha-YAV, ki ha-E-lo-HEEM ma-a-NEH b'-sim-KHAT li-BO

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