Fanities v ECCLESIASTES. divine service. norbrother: yet is there no end of all 7 For in the multitude of dreams and hus labour; neither is his eye satisfied many words there are also divers vanwith riches; neither saith he, Forfities; but fear thou God. whom do I labour, and bereave my 8 If thou seest the oppression of the soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, poor, and violent perverting of judgit is a sore travail. ment and justice in a province, mar9 Two are better than one; because vel not at the matter: for he that is they have a good reward for their la higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. 10 For if they fall, the one will lif❘ 9 Moreover the profit of the earth up his fellow; but wo to him that is is for all: the king himself is served alone when he falleth; for he hath not by the field. another to help him up. bour. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone ? 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 12 And if one prevail against him, 11 When goods increase, they are in two shall withstand him; and a three-creased that eat them; and what good föld cord is not quickly broken. is there to the owners thereof, saving 13 ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child the beholding of them with their than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. eyes? 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much : but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh pour. 15 I considered all the living which 13 There is a sore evil which I have walk under the sun, with the second seen under the sun, namely, riches child that shall stand up in his stead. kept for the owners thereof to their 16 There is no end of all the people, hurt. even of all that have been before them: 14 But those riches perish by evil they also that come after shall not re-travail: and he begetteth a son, and joice in him. Surely this alsois vanity there is nothing in his hand. and vexation of spirit. CHAP. V. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as KEEP thy foot when thou goes to he came, and shall take nothing of his the house of God, and be more labour, which he may carry away in ready to hear, than to give the sacri-his hand. fice of fools: for they consider not 16 And this also is a sore evil, that that they do evil. in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath be that hath laboured for the wind ? 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in begven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. 17 All bis days also be cateth in dark ness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with bis sickness. 3 For a dream cometh through the 18 Behold that which I have seen: multitude of business; and a fool's it is good and comely for one to eat voice is known by multitude of words, and to drink, and to enjoy the good of 4 When thou vowest a vow untoGod, all his labour that he taketh under the defer not to pay it; for he hath no sun all the days of his life, which God pleasure in fools: pay that which thou giveth him: for it is his portion. hast vowed. 19 Every man also to whom God hath 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not given riches and wealth, and hath giv sow, than that thou shouldest row en him power to eat thereof, and to and not pay. take his portion, and to rejoice in his 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy labour: this is the gift of God. fiesh to sin; neither say thou before 20 For he shall not much rememthe angel, that it was an error; where-ber the days of his life; because fore should God be angry at thy voice, God answereth him in the joy of his and destroy the work of thy hands heart. Remedies CHAP. VI. CHAP. VI, VII. against vanity house of mourning; but the heart o HERE is an evil which I have fools is in the house of mirth. seen under the sun, and it is] common among men : THE 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that ne desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools: 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fooi: this also is vanity. 7 T Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the beart. 3 ¶ If a mau beget a hundred chil- 3 Better is the end of a thing than the dren, and live many years, so that the beginning thereof; and the patient in days of his years be many, and his soul spirit is better than the proud in spirit. be not filled with good, and also that 9 Be not basty in thy spirit to be he have no burial; 1 say, that an un-angry; for anger resteth in the bosom timely birth is better than he: of fools. 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. 5. Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known ɑny thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? 7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what bath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man ; neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for mau in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall ve after him under the sun? A CHAP. VII. | 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 11 ¶ Wisdom is good with an inher itance; and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Cousider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful. but in the day of adversity consider: God also bath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should Gud nothing after him. 15 All things have 1 seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over-wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over-much wicked,neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take GOOD name is better than pre-hold of tais: yea, also from this with cious ointment; and the day of draw not thy hand: for he that feareth death than the day of one's birth. God shall come forth of them all. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the Heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the 20 For there is not a just man upon earth,that doeth good, and sinneth not. 21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: Kings are greatly ECCLESIASTES. to be respected. 22 For oftentimes also thine own] 9 All this have I seen, and applied heart knoweth that thou thyself like-my heart unto every work that is done wise hast cursed others. under the sun; there is a time wherein 23 T All this have 1 proved by wis-one man ruleth over another to his dom: I said, I will be wise; but it own hurt. was far from me. 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, 24 That which is far off, and exceed-who had come and gone from the place ing deep, who can find it out? of the holy, and they were forgotten 25 applied my heart to know, and in the city where they had so done. to search, and to seek out wisdom, This is also vanity. and the reason of things, and to know 11 Because sentence against an evil the wickedness of folly, even of fool-work is not executed speedily, there ishness and madness: fore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 26. And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands; whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; hut the sinner shall be taken by her. 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, counting oue by one,to find out the account: 28 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have 1 found; but a woman among all those have I not found. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. CHAP. VIII. HO is as the wise man ? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh nis face to shine, and the bolduess of his face shall be changed. 2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evif thing: for he do eth whatsoever pleaseth him. Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which 12 Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely 1 know that it shall be will with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feared not before God. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth: that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked: again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 Then I commended mirth, because a man bath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abidə with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. 16 ¶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes :) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labour to seek it out. yet he shall not find it ; yea further, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it, CHAP. IX. OR all this I considered in my shall be? $ There is no man that hath power over the spirit, to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in mut war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. that the righteous and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. 2. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good, and to the CHAP. X. wisdom, folly, &c. Observations o clean, and to the unclean; to him that men within it; and there came a great sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth king against it, and besieged it, and bulwarks against not as is the good, so is the sinner; built und be that sweareth,as he that feareth an oath. 3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. great ir: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor inan. 16 Then said Ì, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and hie words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard 4 ¶ For to him that is joined to all in quiet more than the cry of bint the living there is hope: for a living that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons dog is better than a dead lion. but one sinner destroyeth 5 For the living know that they shall of war: die: but the dead know not any thing, much good. neither have they any more a reward; DE CHAP. X. for the memory of them is forgotten. De apothecary to send forth a EAD flies cause the ointment of the 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; nei- stinking savour: so doth a little folly ther have they auy more a portion for him that is in reputation for wisdom ever in any thing that is done under and honour. the sun. 7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom fileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool. 8 Let thy garments be always white; und let thy head lack no ointment. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom against thee, leave not thy place; for thou lovest all the days of the life of yielding pacifieth great offences thy vanity, which he hath given thee| 5 There is an evil which I have secu under the sun, all the days of thy van-junder the sun, as an error which proity; for that is thy portion in this life, ceedeth from the ruler: and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 6 Folly is set in great diguity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall in. thou goest. to it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 11 TI returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet fayour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil ume, when it falleth suddenly upon them. 13 This wisdom have 1 seen also under the sun, and it seemed great un 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11 Surely the serpent will bite with out enchantment; and a babbler is no better. 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of 14. There was a little city, and few]hie talk is mischievous madness. to me: Directions ECCLESIASTES. for charity. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man ways of thy heart, and in the sight of cannot tell what shall be; and what thine eyes: but know thou, that for shall be after him, who can tell him? all these things God will bring thee 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth into judgment. every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. 19 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy 16 T Wo to thee, O land, when thy flesh; for childhood and youth are king is a child, and thy princes eat in vanity. the inorning! CHAP. XII. 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when the REMEMBER now thy Creator in king is the son of nobles, and thy the days of thy youth, while the princes eat in due season for strength, evil days come not, nor the years draw wad not for drunkenness ! nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no 18 ¶ By much slothfulness the build-pleasure in them: ing decayeth; and through idleness of 2 While the sun, or the light, or the the hands the house droppeth through, moon, or the stars, be not darkened, 19 T A feast is made for laughter, nor the clouds return after the rain: and wine maketh merry: but money 3 In the day when the keepers of the answereth all things. house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened; 20 ¶ Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which bath wing shall tell the matter. CAST CHAP. XI. AST thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, aud also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond-tree shall 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they flourish, and the grasshopper shall be empty themselves upon the earth: and a burden, and desire shall fail; because if the tree fall toward the south, or to-man goeth to his long home, and the ward the north, in the place where the mourners go about the streets: tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and be that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, for the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and 9 And morcover,because the Preach in the evening withhold not thy hand:er was wise, he still taught the people for thou knowest not whether shall knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, prosper, either this or that, or wheth- and sought out, and set in order many er they both shall be alike good. proverbs. 7 Truly the light is sweet, and a 10 The Preacher sought to find out pleasant thing it is for the eyes to be-acceptable words: and that which hold the sun : was written was upright, even words of truth. 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice 'a them all, yet let him remem: 11 The words of the wise are as ber the days of darkness; for they shall goads, and as nails fastened by the be many. All that cometh is vanity. masters of assemblies, which are giv 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thyen from one shepherd. youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in 12 And further, by these, my son, be the days of thy youth, and walk in the admonished: of making many books |