Read Ecclesiastes 5-6 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions:
Ecc 3:9-12:14 {p} …
Ecc 3:22-6:12 chiastic structure:
1a) Ecc 3:22, It is best for a man to rejoice in his works, for he cannot see what will happen after him;
1) Ecc 3:22a, Nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage;
2) Ecc 3:22b, For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
1b) Ecc 4:1-12, Oppression/ the fool consumes himself/ vain labor, love of riches;
1) Ecc 4:1-3, I considered the oppression that is done under the sun, blessed are they who have not seen it;
2) Ecc 4:5, The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh;
3) Ecc 4:6-12, Better a little with peace than much with toil + vanity/ the love of riches;
1) Ecc 4:6, Better a handful with quietness than both hands full with toil + grasping for the wind;
2) Ecc 4:7-12, The vanity of remaining alone through love of riches/ the excellence of a good companion;
central axis) Ecc 4:13-16, Solomon’s reflection on the life of Joseph: wisdom + honor + popularity do not last;
2b) Ecc 5:1-17, The fool destroys himself/ oppression/ vain love of riches, labor;
2) Ecc 5:1-7, A fool vows rashly and suffers destruction/ walk prudently + fear God;
1a) Ecc 5:1-2, Walk prudently when you go to the house of God/ listen rather than speak;
1b) Ecc 5:3, For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words;
1c) Ecc 5:4-6, If you vow to God, pay it, for fools do not pay their vows and suffer destruction;
1a) Ecc 5:4a, When you make a vow to God;
1b) Ecc 5:4b, Do not delay to pay it;
central axis) Ecc 5:4c, For He has no pleasure in fools;
2b) Ecc 5:4d, Pay what you have vowed;
2a) Ecc 5:5a, Better not to vow than to vow and not pay;
central axis) Ecc 5:6a, Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, nor say that your words were an error;
2c) Ecc 5:6b, Why should God be angry at your excuse + destroy the work of your hands?
2b) Ecc 5:7a, For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity;
2a) Ecc 5:7b, But fear God;
1) Ecc 5:8-9, If you see the poor oppressed + perversion of justice, do not marvel;
3) Ecc 5:10-17, The vanity of love of riches/ what profit in labor if it is with darkness + sorrow;
2) Ecc 5:10-16a, He who loves riches will not be satisfied with them;
1) Ecc 5:16b-17, What profit has he who has labored for the wind/ he eats in darkness + sorrow + sickness + anger;
2a) Ecc 5:18-6:12, It is good for a man to enjoy the fruit of his labor/ he cannot tell what will happen after him;
1) Ecc 5:18-20, It is good to eat + drink + enjoy the fruit of his labor for it is his heritage;
1a) Ecc 5:18a, It is good for a man to eat + drink + enjoy the fruit of his labor;
1b) Ecc 5:18b, Which God gives him;
1c) Ecc 5:18v, For it is his heritage;
central axis) Ecc 5:19a, Every man to whom God has given riches + wealth + ability to eat of it;
2c) Ecc 5:19b, To receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor;
2b) Ecc 5:19c, This is the gift of God;
2a) Ecc 5:20, He will not fret on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart;
2) Ecc 6:1-12, Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?
In the case of riches: sometimes God blesses us more by what He withholds from us, as much as He does by what He allows us to have!
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