1 {1:1} The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king
in Jerusalem. {1:2} Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher,
vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. {1:3} What profit hath a
man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? {1:4}
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation
cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. {1:5} The sun also
ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place
where he arose. {1:6} The wind goeth toward the south, and
turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually,
and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. {1:7}
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto
the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return
again. {1:8} All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter
[it:] the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled
with hearing. {1:9} The thing that hath been, it [is that]
which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall
be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun. {1:10}
Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is]
new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
{1:11} [There is] no remembrance of former [things;]
neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are
to come with [those] that shall come after.
{1:12} I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
{1:13} And I gave my heart to seek and search out by
wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven:
this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be
exercised therewith. {1:14} I have seen all the works that
are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and
vexation of spirit. {1:15} [That which is] crooked cannot be
made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be
numbered. {1:16} I communed with mine own heart,
saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more
wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in
Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom
and knowledge. {1:17} And I gave my heart to know
wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that
this also is vexation of spirit. {1:18} For in much wisdom
[is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth
sorrow.
2 {2:1} I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee
with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also
[is] vanity. {2:2} I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of
mirth, What doeth it? {2:3} I sought in mine heart to give
myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom;
and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that
good for the sons of men, which they should do under the
heaven all the days of their life. {2:4} I made me great
works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: {2:5} I
made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them
of all [kind of] fruits: {2:6} I made me pools of water, to
water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: {2:7} I
got [me] servants and maidens, and had servants born in my
house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle
above all that were in Jerusalem before me: {2:8} I gathered
me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings
and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women
singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical
instruments, and that of all sorts. {2:9} So I was great, and
increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem:
also my wisdom remained with me. {2:10} And whatsoever
mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my
heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour:
and this was my portion of all my labour. {2:11} Then I
looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on
the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was]
vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under
the sun. {2:12} And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and
madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh
after the king? [even] that which hath been already done.
{2:13} Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as
light excelleth darkness. {2:14} The wise man’s eyes [are]
in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself
perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. {2:15}
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it
happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then
I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity. {2:16} For
[there is] no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool
for ever; seeing that which now [is] in the days to come
shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise [man?] as the
fool. {2:17} Therefore I hated life; because the work that is
wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all [is]
vanity and vexation of spirit.
{2:18} Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under
the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be
after me. {2:19} And who knoweth whether he shall be a
wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my
labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed
myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity. {2:20}
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all
the labour which I took under the sun. {2:21} For there is a
man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in
equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he
leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great
evil. {2:22} For what hath man of all his labour, and of the
vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the
sun? {2:23} For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail
grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also
vanity.
{2:24} [There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he
should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul
enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from
the hand of God. {2:25} For who can eat, or who else can
hasten [hereunto,] more than I? {2:26} For [God] giveth to
a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge,
and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to
heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God.
This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
3 {3:1} To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to
every purpose under the heaven: {3:2} A time to be born,
and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
[that which is] planted; {3:3} A time to kill, and a time to
heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; {3:4} A
time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a
time to dance; {3:5} A time to cast away stones, and a time
to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to
refrain from embracing; {3:6} A time to get, and a time to
lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; {3:7} A time
to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time
to speak; {3:8} A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of
war, and a time of peace. {3:9} What profit hath he that
worketh in that wherein he laboureth? {3:10} I have seen
the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be
exercised in it. {3:11} He hath made every [thing] beautiful
in his time: also he hath set the everlasting in their heart, so
that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the
beginning to the end. {3:12} I know that [there is] no good
in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his
life. {3:13} And also that every man should eat and drink,
and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God.
{3:14} I 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.
{3:15} That which hath been is now; and that which is to be
hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
{3:16} And moreover I saw under the sun the place of
judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of
righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there. {3:17} I said in
mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked:
for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every
work. {3:18} I said in mine heart concerning the estate of
the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that
they might see that they themselves are beasts. {3:19} For
that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even
one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other;
yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no
preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity. {3:20} All go
unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
{3:21} Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward,
and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
{3:22} Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better,
than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is]
his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be
after him?
4 {4:1} So I returned, and considered all the oppressions
that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as
were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side
of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no
comforter. {4:2} Wherefore I praised the dead which are
already dead more than the living which are yet alive. {4:3}
Yea, better [is he] than both they, which hath not yet been,
who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
{4:4} Again, I considered all travail, and every right
work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This
[is] also vanity and vexation of spirit. {4:5} The fool foldeth
his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. {4:6} Better
[is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full
[with] travail and vexation of spirit.
{4:7} Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
{4:8} There is one [alone,] and [there is] not a second; yea,
he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all
his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither
[saith he,] For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of
good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.
{4:9} Two [are] better than one; because they have a good
reward for their labour. {4:10} For if they fall, the one will
lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he
falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up. {4:11}
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can
one be warm [alone?] {4:12} And if one prevail against
him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not
quickly broken.
{4:13} Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and
foolish king, who will no more be admonished. {4:14} For
out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is]
born in his kingdom becometh poor. {4:15} I considered all
the living which walk under the sun, with the second child
that shall stand up in his stead. {4:16} [There is] no end of
all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they
also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also
[is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 {5:1} 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 they consider not that they do evil. {5:2} 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 thou
upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. {5:3} For a
dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a
fool’s voice [is known] by multitude of words. {5:4} When
thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for [he
hath] no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
{5:5} Better [is it] that thou shouldest not vow, than that
thou shouldest vow and not pay. {5:6} Suffer not thy mouth
to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel,
that it [was] an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy
voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? {5:7} For in the
multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also
[divers] vanities: but fear thou God.
{5:8} If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent
perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not
at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest
regardeth; and [there be] higher than they.
{5:9} Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king
[himself] is served by the field. {5:10} He that loveth silver
shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth
abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity. {5:11} When
goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what
good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding
[of them] with their eyes? {5:12} 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. {5:13}
There is a sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun,
[namely,] riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
{5:14} But those riches perish by evil travail: and he
begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand. {5:15}
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,
which he may carry away in his hand. {5:16} 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 laboured for the wind?
{5:17} All his days also he eateth in darkness, and [he hath]
much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
{5:18} 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 labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of
his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion. {5:19}
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth,
and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his
portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God.
{5:20} For he shall not much remember the days of his life;
because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.
6 {6:1} There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,
and it [is] common among men: {6:2} A man to whom God
hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth
nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth
him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this
[is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.
{6:3} If a man beget an hundred [children,] and live many
years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be
not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say,
[that] an untimely birth [is] better than he. {6:4} For he
cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his
name shall be covered with darkness. {6:5} Moreover he
hath not seen the sun, nor known [any thing:] this hath
more rest than the other.
{6:6} Yea, though he live a thousand years twice [told,]
yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? {6:7}
All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite
is not filled. {6:8} For what hath the wise more than the
fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the
living?
{6:9} Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the wandering
of the desire: this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
{6:10} 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.
{6:11} Seeing there be many things that increase vanity,
what [is] man the better? {6:12} For who knoweth what [is]
good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which
he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall
be after him under the sun?
7 {7:1} A good name [is] better than precious ointment;
and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
{7:2} [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. {7:3} Sorrow [is]
better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance
the heart is made better. {7:4} The heart of the wise [is] in
the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the
house of mirth. {7:5} [It is] better to hear the rebuke of the
wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. {7:6} For as
the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of
the fool: this also [is] vanity.
{7:7} Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a
gift destroyeth the heart. {7:8} Better [is] the end of a thing
than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is]
better than the proud in spirit. {7:9} Be not hasty in thy
spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
{7:10} Say not thou, What is [the cause] that the former
days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire
wisely concerning this.
{7:11} Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it
there is] profit to them that see the sun. {7:12} 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. {7:13} Consider the work of God: for
who can make [that] straight, which he hath made crooked?
{7:14} In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of
adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against
the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
{7:15} All [things] have I 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. {7:16} Be not righteous over much; neither
make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
{7:17} Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish:
why shouldest thou die before thy time? {7:18} [It 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. {7:19} Wisdom strengtheneth the wise
more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city. {7:20}
For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good,
and sinneth not. {7:21} Also take no heed unto all words
that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: {7:22}
For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou
thyself likewise hast cursed others.
{7:23} All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be
wise; but it [was] far from me. {7:24} That which is far off,
and exceeding deep, who can find it out? {7:25} I applied
mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom,
and the reason [of things,] and to know the wickedness of
folly, even of foolishness [and] madness: {7:26} 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; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
{7:27} Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher,
[counting] one by one, to find out the account: {7:28}
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a
thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I
not found. {7:29} Lo, this only have I found, that God hath
made man upright; but they have sought out many
inventions.
8 {8:1} Who [is] as the wise [man?] and who knoweth the
interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face
to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
{8:2} I [counsel thee] to keep the king’s commandment,
and [that] in regard of the oath of God. {8:3} Be not hasty
to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth
whatsoever pleaseth him. {8:4} Where the word of a king
[is, there is] power: and who may say unto him, What doest
thou? {8:5} Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no
evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and
judgment.
{8:6} Because to every purpose there is time and
judgment, therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him.
{8:7} For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can
tell him when it shall be? {8:8} [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
[that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are
given to it. {8:9} All this have I seen, and applied my heart
unto every work that is done under the sun: [there is] a time
wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
{8:10} And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and
gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in
the city where they had so done: this [is] also vanity. {8:11}
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed
speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set
in them to do evil.
{8:12} Though 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: {8:13} But
it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong
[his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not
before God. {8:14} 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. {8:15} Then I
commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under
the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that
shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which
God giveth him under the sun.
{8:16} When I applied mine 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:) {8:17} 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.
9 {9:1} For all this I considered in my heart even to declare
all this, 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. {9:2} All [things come] alike
to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the
wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to
him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as [is]
the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as [he]
that feareth an oath. {9:3} 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.
{9:4} For to him that is joined to all the living there is
hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. {9:5} For
the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not
any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the
memory of them is forgotten. {9:6} Also their love, and
their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have
they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done
under the sun.
{9:7} Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy
wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
{9:8} Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head
lack no ointment. {9:9} Live joyfully with the wife whom
thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he
hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for
that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which
thou takest under the sun. {9:10} 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 thou goest.
{9:11} I 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 favour to men of skill; but time and chance
happeneth to them all. {9:12} 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 time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
{9:13} This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it
[seemed] great unto me: {9:14} [There was] a little city, and
few men within it; and there came a great king against it,
and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: {9:15}
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 man. {9:16} Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than
strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom [is] despised,
and his words are not heard. {9:17} The words of wise
[men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth
among fools. {9:18} Wisdom [is] better than weapons of
war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
10 {10:1} Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary
to send forth a stinking savour: [so doth] a little folly him that
is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour. {10:2} A wise
man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his
left. {10:3} Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the
way, his wisdom faileth [him,] and he saith to every one
[that] he [is] a fool. {10:4} If the spirit of the ruler rise up
against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great
offences. {10:5} There is an evil [which] I have seen under
the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
{10:6} Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low
place. {10:7} I have seen servants upon horses, and princes
walking as servants upon the earth. {10:8} He that diggeth a
pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent
shall bite him. {10:9} Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt
therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered
thereby. {10:10} 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. {10:11} Surely the serpent will bite
without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. {10:12}
The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious; but the
lips of a fool will swallow up himself. {10:13} The
beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and
the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness. {10:14} A
fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be;
and what shall be after him, who can tell him? {10:15} The
labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he
knoweth not how to go to the city.
{10:16} Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child,
and thy princes eat in the morning! {10:17} Blessed [art]
thou, O land, when thy king [is] the son of nobles, and thy
princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for
drunkenness!
{10:18} By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and
through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
{10:19} A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh
merry: but money answereth all [things.]
{10:20} Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and
curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air
shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the
matter.
11 {11:1} Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt
find it after many days. {11:2} Give a portion to seven, and
also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon
the earth. {11:3} If the clouds be full of rain, they empty
[themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the
south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree
falleth, there it shall be. {11:4} He that observeth the wind
shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not
reap. {11:5} 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. {11:6} In the morning sow thy seed,
and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou
knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or
whether they both [shall be] alike good.
{11:7} Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it
is] for the eyes to behold the sun: {11:8} But if a man live
many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember
the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that
cometh [is] vanity.
{11:9} Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy
heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the
ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know
thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into
judgment. {11:10} Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth
[are] vanity.
12 {12:1} Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy
youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw
nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
{12:2} While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars,
be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: {12:3}
In the day when the keepers of the 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, {12:4} 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
musick shall be brought low; {12:5} Also [when] they shall
be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the
way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper
shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth
to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
{12:6} Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl
be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the
wheel broken at the cistern. {12:7} Then shall the dust
return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it.
{12:8} Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all [is]
vanity. {12:9} And moreover, because the preacher was
wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave
good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many
proverbs. {12:10} The preacher sought to find out
acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was]
upright, [even] words of truth. {12:11} The words of the
wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of
assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd. {12:12}
And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making
many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a
weariness of the flesh.
{12:13} Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the
whole [duty] of man. {12:14} For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be]
good, or whether [it be] evil.