For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Parallel translations
- WEB For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
- BSB For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear 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 say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
- Eccl 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Eccl 8:12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
- Prov 23:17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
- Isa 50:10–11Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
- Eccl 5:3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
- Eccl 7:18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
- Eccl 3:14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before 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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