Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 5  -  Read Chapter
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:1 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:1 JFB -> Commentary on 5:1 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:1 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:1 TSK -> Commentary on 5:1 TSK -> Entry for 5:1 WEN -> Notes on 5:1 NTB -> Church; Formalism; House Of God; Instruction; Life; Philosophy; Word Of God; Worship TTT -> Fools; Heedfulness 5:1 - [In Context] Be very careful when you go to worship God. It is better to listen {to God} than to give sacrifices F23 like foolish people. Foolish people often do bad things, and they don't even know it.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:2 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:2 JFB -> Commentary on 5:2 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:2 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:2 TSK -> Commentary on 5:2 TSK -> Entry for 5:2 WEN -> Notes on 5:2 NTB -> Heaven; Humility; Prayer; Rashness; Worship TTT -> Prayer TV -> Devotional using 5:2 TV -> Devotional using 5:2 5:2 - [In Context] Be careful when you make promises to God. Be careful about the things you say to God. Don't let your feelings cause you to speak too soon. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth. So you need to say only a few things to God. This saying is true:
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:3 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:3 JFB -> Commentary on 5:3 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:3 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:3 TSK -> Commentary on 5:3 TSK -> Entry for 5:3 WEN -> Notes on 5:3 NTB -> Dream; Speaking; Words TTT -> Dreams 5:3 - [In Context] Bad dreams come with too many worries, and a fool with too many words.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:4 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:4 JFB -> Commentary on 5:4 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:4 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:4 TSK -> Commentary on 5:4 TSK -> Entry for 5:4 WEN -> Notes on 5:4 NTB -> Vows TTT -> Fools; Procrastination SBD -> Vows 5:4 - [In Context] If you make a promise to God, then keep your promise. Don't be slow to do the thing you promised. God is not happy with foolish people. Give God what you promised to give him.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:5 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:5 JFB -> Commentary on 5:5 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:5 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:5 TSK -> Commentary on 5:5 TSK -> Entry for 5:5 WEN -> Notes on 5:5 NTB -> Vows 5:5 - [In Context] It is better to promise nothing than to promise something and not be able to do it.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:6 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:6 JFB -> Commentary on 5:6 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:6 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:6 SRN -> Study Notes on 5:6 TSK -> Commentary on 5:6 TSK -> Entry for 5:6 WEN -> Notes on 5:6 NTB -> Angel (a spirit); Falsehood; Priest; Sin; Vows 5:6 - [In Context] So don't let your words cause you to sin. Don't say to the priest, F24 "I didn't mean what I said!" If you do this, then God might become angry with your words and destroy everything you have worked for.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:7 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:7 JFB -> Commentary on 5:7 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:7 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:7 SRN -> Study Notes on 5:7 TSK -> Commentary on 5:7 TSK -> Entry for 5:7 WEN -> Notes on 5:7 NTB -> Dream; Fear Of God; Speaking TTT -> Dreams 5:7 - [In Context] You should not let your useless dreams and bragging {bring you trouble}. You should respect God.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:8 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:8 JFB -> Commentary on 5:8 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:8 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:8 TSK -> Commentary on 5:8 TSK -> Entry for 5:8 WEN -> Notes on 5:8 NTB -> Injustice; Justice; Oppression; Poor; Rulers; Sin TTT -> Injustice; Justice 5:8 - [In Context] In some country you might see poor people that are forced to work very hard. You might see that this is not fair to the poor people. It is against the rights of the poor people. But don't be surprised! The ruler that forces those people to work has another ruler that forces him. And there is still another ruler that forces both of these rulers.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:9 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:9 JFB -> Commentary on 5:9 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:9 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:9 TSK -> Commentary on 5:9 TSK -> Entry for 5:9 WEN -> Notes on 5:9 NTB -> Agriculture; Land; Riches TTT -> Agriculture or Husbandry; Kings 5:9 - [In Context] Even the king is a slave--his country owns him. F25
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:10 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:10 JFB -> Commentary on 5:10 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:10 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:10 TSK -> Commentary on 5:10 TSK -> Entry for 5:10 WEN -> Notes on 5:10 NTB -> Avarice; Covetousness; Riches; Vanity TTT -> Contentment; Covetousness; Riches; Vanity TV -> Devotional using 5:10 TV -> Devotional using 5:10 5:10 - [In Context] The person that loves money will never be satisfied with the money he has. The person that loves wealth will not be satisfied when he gets more and more. This is also senseless.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:11 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:11 JFB -> Commentary on 5:11 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:11 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:11 TSK -> Commentary on 5:11 TSK -> Entry for 5:11 WEN -> Notes on 5:11 NTB -> Avarice; Covetousness; Riches TTT -> Riches 5:11 - [In Context] The more wealth a person has, the more "friends" he has to help spend it. So that rich person really gains nothing. He can only look at his wealth.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:12 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:12 JFB -> Commentary on 5:12 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:12 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:12 TSK -> Commentary on 5:12 TSK -> Entry for 5:12 WEN -> Notes on 5:12 NTB -> Contentment; Labor; Riches TTT -> Riches 5:12 - [In Context] A man that works hard all day comes home and sleeps in peace. It is not important if he has little or much to eat. But a rich person worries about his wealth and is not able to sleep.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:13 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:13 JFB -> Commentary on 5:13 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:13 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:13 TSK -> Commentary on 5:13 TSK -> Entry for 5:13 WEN -> Notes on 5:13 NTB -> Rich, The; Riches TTT -> Riches 5:13 - [In Context] There is a very sad thing that I have seen happen in this life. A person saves his money for the future. F26
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:14 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:14 JFB -> Commentary on 5:14 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:14 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:14 TSK -> Commentary on 5:14 TSK -> Entry for 5:14 WEN -> Notes on 5:14 NTB -> Rich, The; Riches TTT -> Riches 5:14 - [In Context] And then something bad happens and he loses everything. So that person has nothing to give to his son.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:15 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:15 JFB -> Commentary on 5:15 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:15 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:15 TSK -> Commentary on 5:15 TSK -> Entry for 5:15 WEN -> Notes on 5:15 NTB -> Death; Riches EBD -> Naked 5:15 - [In Context] A person comes into the world from his mother's body with nothing. And when that person dies, he leaves the same way--with nothing. He works hard to get things. But he can take nothing with him when he dies.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:16 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:16 JFB -> Commentary on 5:16 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:16 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:16 TSK -> Commentary on 5:16 TSK -> Entry for 5:16 WEN -> Notes on 5:16 NTB -> Riches 5:16 - [In Context] That is very sad. He will leave the world the same way he came. So, what does a person gain from his "trying to catch the wind"?
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:17 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:17 JFB -> Commentary on 5:17 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:17 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:17 TSK -> Commentary on 5:17 TSK -> Entry for 5:17 WEN -> Notes on 5:17 NTB -> Riches TTT -> Darkness; Sickness 5:17 - [In Context] He only gets days that are filled with sadness and sorrow. In the end, he is frustrated, sick, and angry!
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:18 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:18 JFB -> Commentary on 5:18 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:18 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:18 TSK -> Commentary on 5:18 TSK -> Entry for 5:18 WEN -> Notes on 5:18 NTB -> Riches 5:18 - [In Context] I have seen that this is the best a person can do: A person should eat, drink, and enjoy the work he does during his short life on earth. God has given him these few days, and that is all he has.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:19 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:19 JFB -> Commentary on 5:19 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:19 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:19 TSK -> Commentary on 5:19 TSK -> Entry for 5:19 WEN -> Notes on 5:19 NTB -> Gifts From God; God (continued); Rich, The; Riches TTT -> Gifts of God, The; Riches 5:19 - [In Context] If God gives a person wealth, property, and the power to enjoy those things, then that person should enjoy them. That person should accept the things he has and enjoy his work--that is a gift from God.
Study Resource List GEB -> Study Notes on 5:20 GSB -> Study Notes on 5:20 JFB -> Commentary on 5:20 MHC-COM -> Commentary on 5:20 MHC-CON -> Commentary on 5:20 TSK -> Commentary on 5:20 TSK -> Entry for 5:20 WEN -> Notes on 5:20 NTB -> Gifts From God; Rich, The; Riches TTT -> Gifts of God, The 5:20 - [In Context] A person does not have many years to live. So he must remember these things all his life. God will keep him busy with the work that person loves to do. F27
FOOTNOTES: F23: sacrifices   A gift to God. Sometimes it was a special kind of animal that was killed and burned on an altar. F24: priest   Or, "angel," "messenger." This might be an angel, or it might be a priest or a prophet who speaks for God. F25: The ruler … owns him   Or, "One ruler is cheated by a higher ruler. And they are cheated by an even higher ruler. \vf9Even the king gets his share of the profit. The wealth of the country is divided among them." F26: for the future   Or, "to his harm." F27: God … to do   Or, "God will do whatever he wants to that person." F24: empty hole in the ground   People stored water in large holes in the ground. People sometimes used those holes as prisons. F25: sling(s)   A strip of leather for throwing rocks. F26: Ephraim   Another name for the northern kingdom of Israel. F27: cedar trees   In this poem, the trees, bushes, and animals are symbols for the leaders of the countries around Judah.

Abbreviations Legend: GEB - Gill's Exposition; GSB - Geneva Study Bible; JFB - Jamieson, Fausset, Brown; MHC-COM - Matthew Henry Complete; MHC-CON - Matthew Henry Concise; SRN - Scofield Reference Notes; TSK - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; WEN - Wesley's Explanatory Notes; NTB - Nave's Topical Bible; TSK - Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; TTT - Torrey's Topical Textbook; EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary; SBD - Smith's Bible Dictionary; TV - Today's Verse; Copyright Statement - Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center, Inc. and used by permission.