5:8 If you see the extortion ¹  of the poor,

or the perversion ²  of justice and fairness in the government, ³ 

do not be astonished by the matter.

For the high official is watched by a higher official, ⁴ 

and there are higher ones over them! ⁵ 

5:9 The produce of the land is seized ⁶  by all of them,

even the king is served ⁷  by the fields. ⁸ 

5:10 The one who loves money ⁹  will never be satisfied with money, ¹⁰ 

he who loves wealth ¹¹  will never be satisfied ¹²  with his ¹³  income.

This also is futile.

5:11 When someone’s ¹⁴  prosperity ¹⁵  increases, those who consume it also increase;

so what does its owner ¹⁶  gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes? ¹⁷ 

5:12 The sleep of the laborer is pleasant – whether he eats little or much –

but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

5:13 Here is ¹⁸  a misfortune ¹⁹  on earth ²⁰  that I have seen:

Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

5:14 Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; ²¹ 

although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him. ²² 

5:15 Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came,

and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.

5:16 This is another misfortune: ²³ 

Just as he came, so will he go.

What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

5:17 Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, ²⁴ 

and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

5:18 I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: ²⁵ 

to eat and drink, ²⁶  and find enjoyment in all their ²⁷  hard work ²⁸  on earth ²⁹ 

during the few days of their life which God has given them,

for this is their reward. ³⁰ 

5:19 To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions,

he has also given him the ability ³¹ 

to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil;

these things ³²  are the gift of God.

5:20 For he does not think ³³  much about the fleeting ³⁴  days of his life

because God keeps him preoccupied ³⁵  with the joy he derives from his activity. ³⁶