For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
- KJV For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
- NKJV For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
- NASB For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, fear God.
- NLT Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Amid many empty dreams and words, the bottom line is to fear God. It matters because reverent awe of God is the one stable response in a world full of vanity.
Overview
The Preacher concludes his teaching on worship by collapsing dreams and many words into the same category of 'vanities,' then issues the command: fear God. This anticipates the book's final summary (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and the proper posture before the holy God we come to know fully in His Son.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 12:36But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- Eccl 12:13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
- Eccl 8:12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.
- Prov 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Isa 50:10–11Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.
- Eccl 5:3As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.
- Eccl 7:18It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.
- Eccl 3:14I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The search that finds everything 'under the sun' to be vapor exposes the emptiness of life without God and drives us to the one who alone gives meaning, the resurrection that makes our labor not in vain.
How Ecclesiastes 5:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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