For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But 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.
- BSB For as many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, 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 12:36I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- Eccl 12:13This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
- Eccl 8:12Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.
- Prov 23:17Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
- Isa 50:10–11Who among you fears Yahweh, and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.
- Eccl 5:3For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.
- Eccl 7:18It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that don’t withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come out of them all.
- Eccl 3:14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.