For Work / Against Work
Debates on the centrality of work

Ecclesiastes 5

by God (1982)

Key Passage

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regardeth; and [there be] higher than they. {5:9} Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field. {5:10} He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. {5:11} When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes? {5:12} The sleep of a labouring man [is] sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. {5:13} There is a sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun, [namely,] riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. {5:14} But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand. {5:15} As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. {5:16} And this also [is] a sore evil, [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? {5:17} All his days also he eateth in darkness, and [he hath] much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. (p.328)

Keywords

Bible, King James, Religion, Theology, Religious Views On Work, Christianity, Catholicism

Themes

Women and Work, Scripture, Religious Views on Work

Citation

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