(For we
are
but of yesterday,
and know nothing,
because our days
upon earth
are a shadow:)
Canst
thou by searching
find out God?
canst thou
find out the Almighty
unto perfection?
It is as high
as heaven;
what canst
thou do?
deeper than hell;
what canst
thou know?
For vain men
would be wise,
though man
be born like
a wild ass's colt.
But
where shall wisdom
be found?
and
where is the place
of understanding?
Man
knoweth not
the price thereof;
neither is
it found
in the land
of the living.
Whence then
cometh wisdom?
and
where is the place
of understanding?
Seeing
it is
hid from the eyes
of all living,
and kept
close
from the fowls
of the air.
Behold,
God is great,
and
we know him not,
neither can
the number
of his years
be searched out.
God thundereth marvellously
with his voice;
great things
doeth he,
which we
cannot comprehend.
Dost thou
know
when God
disposed them,
and caused
the light
of his cloud
to shine?
Dost thou
know the balancings
of the clouds,
the wondrous works
of him which
is perfect
in knowledge?
Teach us
what
we shall say unto him;
for we
cannot order our speech
by reason
of darkness.
Touching the Almighty,
we cannot find him out:
he is excellent
in power,
and in judgment,
and in plenty
of justice:
he will not afflict.
Such knowledge
is too wonderful
for me;
it is high,
I cannot attain
unto it.
O ye simple,
understand wisdom:
and,
ye fools,
be ye
of an understanding heart.
For she
sitteth at the door
of her house,
on a seat
in the high places
of the city,
To call
passengers
who go
right
on their ways:
Whoso is simple,
let him
turn in hither:
and as for him
that wanteth
understanding,
she saith
to him,
Stolen
waters
are sweet,
and bread
eaten
in secret is pleasant.
But
he knoweth not
that the dead
are there;
and
that her guests
are in the depths
of hell.
Also,
that the soul
be
without knowledge,
it is not good;
and he
that
hasteth with his feet sinneth.
Man's goings
are of the LORD;
how can a man
then understand
his own way?
A prudent man
foreseeth the evil,
and hideth himself:
but the simple pass on,
and are punished.
Boast
not thyself of
to morrow;
for thou
knowest not
what a day
may bring forth.
Who hath ascended up
into heaven,
or descended?
who hath gathered
the wind
in his fists?
who hath bound
the waters
in a garment?
who hath established all
the ends
of the earth?
what is his name,
and
what is his son's name,
if thou canst tell?
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.
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?
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?
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?
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 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.
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.
O LORD,
I know
that the way
of man
is not
in himself:
it is not
in man
that
walketh to direct
his steps.
Jesus answered
and
said unto him,
What I
do
thou knowest
not now;
but
thou shalt know
hereafter.
And
he said unto them,
It is not
for you
to know
the times
or the seasons,
which the Father
hath put in
his own power.
For as I
passed by,
and beheld
your devotions,
I found an altar
with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.
Whom therefore
ye ignorantly worship,
him declare
I unto you.
And the times
of this ignorance
God winked at;
but now commandeth all men every
where to repent:
For we
are saved
by hope:
but hope
that is seen
is not hope:
for what a man seeth,
why doth
he yet hope for?
But
if we
hope
for that
we see not,
then do
we with patience
wait
for it.
Likewise the Spirit
also helpeth
our infirmities:
for we
know not
what
we should pray for
as we ought:
but the Spirit itself
maketh intercession
for us
with groanings which
cannot be uttered.
But we
speak
the wisdom
of God
in a mystery,
even the hidden wisdom,
which God
ordained
before the world
unto our glory:
Which none of the princes
of this world knew:
for had
they known it,
they would not have crucified
the Lord
of glory.
But as it
is written,
Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard,
neither have entered
into the heart
of man,
the things which God
hath prepared
for them that love him.
But God
hath revealed them
unto us
by his Spirit:
for the Spirit
searcheth all things,
yea,
the deep things
of God.
For the wisdom
of this world
is foolishness
with God.
For it
is written,
He taketh
the wise
in their own craftiness.
For we
know in part,
and
we prophesy in part.
For now
we see
through a glass,
darkly;
but
then face to face:
now
I know in part;
but
then shall
I know
even as also
I am known.
If any of you
lack wisdom,
let him
ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally,
and upbraideth not;
and it
shall be given him.
But let him
ask in faith,
nothing wavering.
For he that
wavereth
is like
a wave
of the sea
driven
with the wind
and tossed.