Ecclesiastes 5

“Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for…” Naming Keep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” Naming Better keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at…” The line’s distinctive content terms include higher, highest, judgment. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer…” The line’s distinctive content terms include sleep, abundance, labouring. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.” The line’s distinctive content terms include evil, hurt, kept. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.” The line’s distinctive content terms include begetteth, evil, hand. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“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…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his…” Naming Every keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.