The Vanity of Gain and Honor

8 If you lsee the oppression of the poor, and the violent 2perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for mhigh official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.

10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;

Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.

This also is vanity.

11 When goods increase,

They increase who eat them;

So what profit have the owners

Except to see them with their eyes?

12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,

Whether he eats little or much;

But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

13 nThere is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:

Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

14 But those riches perish through 3misfortune;

When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

15 oAs he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return,

To go as he came;

And he shall take nothing from his labor

Which he may carry away in his hand.

16 And this also is a severe evil—

Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.

And pwhat profit has he qwho has labored for the wind?

17 All his days rhe also eats in darkness,

And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

18 Here is what I have seen: sIt is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; tfor it is his 4heritage. 19 As for uevery man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his 5heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the vgift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.