The words
of the Preacher,
the son of David,
king
in Jerusalem.
Vanity
of vanities,
saith the Preacher,
vanity
of vanities;
all is vanity.
What profit
hath a man
of all his labour
which he
taketh under the sun?
One generation passeth away,
and
another generation cometh:
but the earth abideth
for ever.
The sun
also ariseth,
and the sun
goeth down,
and hasteth to his place
where he arose.
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.
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.
All things
are full of labour;
man cannot utter it:
the eye
is not satisfied
with seeing,
nor the ear
filled with hearing.
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.
Is there any thing
whereof
it may be said,
See,
this is new?
it hath been already
of old time,
which was
before us.
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.
I the Preacher
was king
over Israel
in Jerusalem.
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.
I have seen all
the works
that are done
under the sun;
and,
behold,
all is vanity
and vexation
of spirit.
That which
is crooked
cannot be made straight:
and that which
is wanting
cannot be numbered.
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.
And I
gave
my heart
to know wisdom,
and
to know madness
and folly:
I perceived
that this
also is vexation
of spirit.
For in much wisdom
is much grief:
and he
that
increaseth
knowledge increaseth sorrow.
I said
in mine heart,
Go to now,
I will prove thee
with mirth,
therefore enjoy
pleasure:
and,
behold,
this also is
vanity.
I said
of laughter,
It is mad:
and of mirth,
What doeth it?
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.
I made me
great works;
I builded me houses;
I planted me vineyards:
I made me
gardens
and orchards,
and
I planted trees
in them
of all kind
of fruits:
I made me
pools of water,
to water therewith
the wood
that bringeth forth trees:
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:
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.
So I
was great,
and increased more than all
that were
before me
in Jerusalem:
also my wisdom
remained with me.
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.
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.
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.
Then I
saw
that wisdom
excelleth folly,
as far as light
excelleth darkness.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Therefore I
went about
to cause my heart
to despair of all the labour
which I
took under the sun.
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.
For what
hath man
of all his labour,
and
of the vexation
of his heart,
wherein he
hath laboured
under the sun?
For all
his days
are sorrows,
and his travail grief;
yea,
his heart
taketh
not rest
in the night.
This is also
vanity.
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.
For who
can eat,
or who else
can hasten hereunto,
more than I?
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.
To every thing
there is
a season,
and a time
to every purpose
under the heaven:
A time
to be born,
and a time
to die;
a time to plant,
and a time
to pluck
up that which
is planted;
A time to kill,
and a time
to heal;
a time
to break down,
and a time
to build up;
A time to weep,
and a time
to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time
to dance;
A time to cast
away stones,
and a time
to gather
stones together;
a time
to embrace,
and a time
to refrain from
embracing;
A time to get,
and a time
to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time
to cast away;
A time to rend,
and a time
to sew;
a time
to keep silence,
and a time
to speak;
A time to love,
and a time
to hate;
a time
of war,
and a time
of peace.
What profit
hath
he that
worketh in that
wherein he laboureth?
I have seen
the travail,
which God
hath given
to the sons
of men
to be exercised in it.
He hath made every thing beautiful
in his time:
also he
hath set
the world
in their heart,
so that
no man
can find out
the work that God
maketh from the beginning
to the end.
I know that
there is
no good
in them,
but for a man
to rejoice,
and
to do good
in his life.
And
also that every man
should eat
and drink,
and enjoy
the good
of all his labour,
it is the gift
of God.
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.
That which
hath been
is now;
and that which
is to be
hath already been;
and God
requireth
that which is past.
And
moreover I
saw
under the sun
the place
of judgment,
that wickedness
was there;
and the place
of righteousness,
that iniquity
was there.
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.
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.
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.
All go
unto one place;
all are
of the dust,
and all turn
to dust again.
Who knoweth
the spirit of man
that goeth upward,
and the spirit
of the beast
that goeth downward
to the earth?
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?
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.
Wherefore
I praised
the dead which
are already
dead more than
the living which
are yet alive.
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.
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.
The fool
foldeth his hands
together,
and eateth his own flesh.
Better is an handful
with quietness,
than both the hands full
with travail
and vexation
of spirit.
Then I returned,
and
I saw vanity
under the sun.
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.
Two are
better than one;
because
they have
a good reward
for their labour.
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.
Again,
if two
lie together,
then
they have heat:
but how can
one be
warm alone?
And
if one
prevail against him,
two shall withstand him;
and a threefold cord
is not quickly broken.
Better is a poor
and a wise child
than an old
and foolish king,
who will
no more
be admonished.
For out of prison he
cometh to reign;
whereas also
he that is born
in his kingdom
becometh poor.
I considered all
the living
which walk
under the sun,
with the second child
that shall stand up
in his stead.
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.
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.
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.
For a dream
cometh through the multitude
of business;
and a fool's voice
is known
by multitude
of words.
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.
Better is it
that thou
shouldest not vow,
than
that thou
shouldest vow
and not pay.
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?
For in the multitude
of dreams
and many words
there are also
divers vanities:
but fear
thou God.
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.
Moreover the profit
of the earth
is for all:
the king himself
is served
by the field.
He that
loveth silver
shall not be satisfied
with silver;
nor he
that loveth abundance
with increase:
this is also
vanity.
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?
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.
There is
a sore evil which
I have seen
under the sun,
namely,
riches kept
for the owners
thereof to their hurt.
But those riches
perish
by evil travail:
and
he begetteth a son,
and there is nothing
in his hand.
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.
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?
All his days
also he
eateth in darkness,
and
he hath much sorrow
and wrath
with his sickness.
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.
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.
For he
shall not
much
remember the days
of his life;
because God
answereth him
in the joy
of his heart.
There is an evil
which I
have seen
under the sun,
and it
is common
among men:
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.
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.
For he
cometh in
with vanity,
and departeth in darkness,
and his name
shall be covered
with darkness.
Moreover he
hath not seen
the sun,
nor known
any thing:
this hath more rest
than the other.
Yea,
though he
live
a thousand years twice told,
yet hath
he seen no good:
do not all go
to one place?
All the labour
of man
is for his mouth,
and yet
the appetite
is not filled.
For what
hath the wise more than the fool?
what hath
the poor,
that knoweth
to walk
before the living?
Better is the sight
of the eyes
than the wandering
of the desire:
this is also vanity
and vexation
of spirit.
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.
Seeing there be many things
that increase vanity,
what is man
the better?
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?
A good name
is better
than precious ointment;
and the day
of death
than the day
of one's birth.
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.
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 house
of mourning;
but the heart
of fools
is in the house
of mirth.
It is
better
to hear the rebuke
of the wise,
than for a man
to hear the song
of fools.
For as the crackling
of thorns
under a pot,
so is the laughter
of the fool:
this also is
vanity.
Surely oppression
maketh a wise man mad;
and a gift
destroyeth the heart.
Better is the end
of a thing
than the beginning
thereof:
and
the patient
in spirit
is better
than the proud
in spirit.
Be not hasty
in thy spirit
to be angry:
for anger
resteth in the bosom
of fools.
Say not thou,
What
is
the cause
that the former days
were
better
than these?
for thou
dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
Wisdom is good
with an inheritance:
and by it
there is
profit to them
that see
the sun.
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.
Consider the work
of God:
for who
can make
that straight,
which he
hath made crooked?
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.
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.
Be not righteous
over much;
neither make thyself
over wise:
why shouldest thou
destroy thyself ?
Be not
over much wicked,
neither be
thou foolish:
why shouldest thou
die before thy time?
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.
Wisdom
strengtheneth
the wise more than
ten mighty men which
are in the city.
For there is not a
just man
upon earth,
that doeth good,
and sinneth not.
Also take no
heed unto all words
that are spoken;
lest
thou hear
thy servant curse thee:
For oftentimes also
thine own heart
knoweth that
thou thyself likewise
hast cursed
others.
All this
have
I proved
by wisdom:
I said,
I will be wise;
but it
was far
from me.
That which
is far off,
and exceeding deep,
who can find it out?
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:
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.
Behold,
this have
I found,
saith the preacher,
counting one by one,
to find out the account:
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.
Lo,
this only have
I found,
that God
hath made man upright;
but
they have sought out
many inventions.
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.
I counsel thee
to keep
the king's commandment,
and
that in regard
of the oath
of God.
Be not hasty
to go
out of his sight:
stand not
in an evil thing;
for he
doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
Where the word
of a king is,
there is power:
and
who
may say unto him,
What doest thou?
Whoso
keepeth
the commandment
shall feel
no evil thing:
and a wise man's heart
discerneth both time
and judgment.
Because
to every purpose
there is
time
and judgment,
therefore the misery
of man
is great
upon him.
For he
knoweth not
that which
shall be:
for who
can tell him
when it
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 that war;
neither shall
wickedness deliver those
that are given to it.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:)
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 farther;
though a wise man
think to know it,
yet shall
he not be able
to find it.
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.
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.
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.
For to him
that is joined
to all
the living
there is hope:
for a living dog
is better
than a dead lion.
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.
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.
Go thy way,
eat thy bread
with joy,
and drink
thy wine
with a merry heart;
for God
now accepteth
thy works.
Let thy garments
be always white;
and let
thy head
lack no ointment.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This wisdom
have
I seen also
under the sun,
and it
seemed great
unto me:
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:
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.
Then said I,
Wisdom
is
better
than strength:
nevertheless
the poor man's wisdom
is despised,
and his words
are not heard.
The words
of wise men
are heard
in quiet more than the cry
of him that
ruleth among fools.
Wisdom
is
better
than weapons
of war:
but one sinner
destroyeth much good.
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.
A wise man's heart
is at his right hand;
but a fool's heart
at his left.
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.
If the spirit
of the ruler rise up
against thee,
leave not
thy place;
for yielding
pacifieth great offences.
There is an evil
which I
have seen
under the sun,
as an error
which proceedeth
from the ruler:
Folly
is set
in great dignity,
and the rich
sit
in low place.
I have seen servants
upon horses,
and princes
walking
as servants
upon the earth.
He that
diggeth
a pit
shall fall
into it;
and
whoso breaketh an hedge,
a serpent
shall bite him.
Whoso
removeth
stones
shall be hurt
therewith;
and he
that cleaveth
wood
shall be endangered
thereby.
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.
Surely the serpent
will bite
without enchantment;
and a babbler
is no better.
The words
of a wise man's mouth
are gracious;
but the lips
of a fool
will swallow
up himself.
The beginning
of the words
of his mouth
is foolishness:
and
the end
of his talk
is mischievous madness.
A fool
also is full of words:
a man
cannot tell
what shall be;
and
what shall be
after him,
who can tell him?
The labour
of the foolish
wearieth every one
of them,
because
he knoweth not how
to go
to the city.
Woe to thee,
O land,
when thy king
is a child,
and thy princes
eat
in the morning!
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!
By much slothfulness
the building decayeth;
and
through idleness
of the hands
the house droppeth
through.
A feast
is made
for laughter,
and wine
maketh merry:
but money
answereth all things.
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.
Cast thy bread
upon the waters:
for thou
shalt find it
after many days.
Give a portion
to seven,
and also to eight;
for thou
knowest not
what evil
shall be
upon the earth.
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.
He that
observeth
the wind
shall not sow;
and he
that
regardeth
the clouds
shall not reap.
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.
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.
Truly
the light
is sweet,
and a pleasant thing it
is for the eyes
to behold
the sun:
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.
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.
Therefore remove
sorrow from thy heart,
and put away evil
from thy flesh:
for childhood
and youth
are vanity.
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;
While the sun,
or the light,
or the moon,
or the stars,
be not darkened,
nor the clouds
return
after the rain:
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,
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;
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:
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.
Then shall
the dust return
to the earth
as it was:
and the spirit
shall return
unto God
who gave it.
Vanity
of vanities,
saith the preacher;
all is vanity.
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.
The preacher
sought to find out
acceptable words:
and that which
was written
was upright,
even words
of truth.
The words
of the wise
are
as goads,
and as nails
fastened
by the masters
of assemblies,
which are given
from one shepherd.
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.
Let us
hear the conclusion
of the whole matter:
Fear God,
and keep
his commandments:
for this
is the whole duty
of man.
For God
shall bring
every work
into judgment,
with every secret thing,
whether it
be good,
or whether
it be evil.