Nevertheless
the people
refused
to obey the voice
of Samuel;
and they said,
Nay;
but we
will have
a king
over us;
That we
also may be like all
the nations;
and
that our king
may judge us,
and go out
before us,
and fight
our battles.
Knowest
thou
not this of old,
since man
was placed
upon earth,
That the triumphing
of the wicked
is short,
and the joy
of the hypocrite
but for a moment?
Though his excellency
mount up to
the heavens,
and his head reach
unto the clouds;
Yet
he shall perish
for ever like
his own dung:
they
which have seen him
shall say,
Where is he?
He shall fly
away as a dream,
and shall not be found:
yea,
he shall be
chased
away
as a vision
of the night.
The eye also which
saw him
shall see him
no more;
neither shall
his place any more
behold him.
His children
shall seek
to please the poor,
and his hands
shall restore
their goods.
His bones
are full of
the sin
of his youth,
which shall lie down
with him
in the dust.
Though wickedness
be sweet
in his mouth,
though he
hide it
under his tongue;
Though he
spare it,
and forsake it not;
but keep it still
within his mouth:
Yet
his meat
in his bowels
is turned,
it is the gall
of asps
within him.
He hath swallowed
down riches,
and
he shall vomit them
up again:
God shall cast them
out of his belly.
He shall suck the poison
of asps:
the viper's tongue
shall slay him.
He shall not see
the rivers,
the floods,
the brooks
of honey and butter.
That which
he laboured
for shall
he restore,
and shall not swallow it down:
according to
his substance
shall
the restitution be,
and
he shall not rejoice
therein.
Because
he hath oppressed
and hath forsaken
the poor;
because
he hath violently taken away
an house
which he
builded not;
Surely
he shall not feel quietness
in his belly,
he shall not save
of that
which he desired.
There shall none of
his meat
be left;
therefore shall
no man
look for
his goods.
In the fulness
of his sufficiency
he shall be
in straits:
every hand
of the wicked
shall come upon him.
When he
is about
to fill his belly,
God shall cast
the fury
of his wrath
upon him,
and shall rain it
upon him
while he
is eating.
He shall flee
from the iron weapon,
and
the bow
of steel
shall strike him through.
It is drawn,
and cometh out of the body;
yea,
the glittering sword
cometh out of his gall:
terrors
are upon him.
All
darkness shall be
hid in his secret places:
a fire
not blown
shall consume him;
it shall go ill
with him that is left
in his tabernacle.
The heaven
shall reveal
his iniquity;
and the earth
shall rise up against him.
The increase
of his house
shall depart,
and his goods
shall flow
away in the day
of his wrath.
This is the portion
of a wicked man
from God,
and the heritage appointed
unto him
by God.
They
send forth their little ones like
a flock,
and their children dance.
They take
the timbrel
and harp,
and rejoice
at the sound
of the organ.
They spend
their days
in wealth,
and
in a moment go down
to the grave.
Therefore they
say
unto God,
Depart from us;
for we
desire not the knowledge
of thy ways.
What is the Almighty,
that we
should serve him?
and
what profit
should
we have,
if we
pray unto him?
Be not
thou afraid
when one
is made rich,
when
the glory
of his house
is increased;
For when he dieth
he shall carry nothing away:
his glory
shall not descend
after him.
Though while
he lived
he blessed
his soul:
and men
will praise thee,
when thou
doest well
to thyself.
But
as for me,
my feet
were almost gone;
my steps
had well
nigh slipped.
For I
was envious
at the foolish,
when
I saw
the prosperity
of the wicked.
For there are
no bands
in their death:
but their strength
is firm.
They are not
in trouble
as other men;
neither are
they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride
compasseth
them about
as a chain;
violence
covereth them
as a garment.
Their eyes
stand out
with fatness:
they
have more than
heart could wish.
They are corrupt,
and speak wickedly concerning
oppression:
they speak loftily.
They set their mouth
against the heavens,
and their tongue
walketh through the earth.
Therefore
his people return hither:
and waters
of a full cup
are wrung out
to them.
And they say,
How doth
God know?
and is there knowledge
in the most High?
Behold,
these are the ungodly,
who prosper
in the world;
they increase
in riches.
Verily
I have cleansed
my heart
in vain,
and washed my
hands in innocency.
For all the day long
have
I been plagued,
and chastened every morning.
If I say,
I will speak thus;
behold,
I should offend
against the generation
of thy children.
When I
thought
to know this,
it was too painful
for me;
Until I
went into the sanctuary
of God;
then understood
I their end.
Surely thou
didst set them
in slippery places:
thou castedst
them down
into destruction.
How are
they brought
into desolation,
as in a moment!
they are utterly consumed
with terrors.
As a dream
when one awaketh;
so,
O Lord,
when
thou awakest,
thou shalt despise
their image.
Thus my heart
was grieved,
and
I was pricked
in my reins.
So foolish
was I,
and ignorant:
I was as a beast
before thee.
There is
a way which
seemeth
right
unto a man,
but the end
thereof are the ways
of death.
Even in laughter
the heart
is sorrowful;
and the end
of that mirth
is heaviness.
Folly
is
joy to him
that is destitute
of wisdom:
but a man
of understanding
walketh uprightly.
He that
loveth
pleasure
shall be
a poor man:
he that
loveth wine
and oil
shall not be rich.
Be not
among winebibbers;
among riotous eaters
of flesh:
For the drunkard
and the glutton
shall come
to poverty:
and drowsiness
shall clothe a man
with rags.
Boast
not thyself of
to morrow;
for thou
knowest not
what a day
may bring forth.
The full soul
loatheth an honeycomb;
but to the hungry soul
every bitter thing
is sweet.
All things
are full of labour;
man cannot utter it:
the eye
is not satisfied
with seeing,
nor the ear
filled with hearing.
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.
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?
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.
A feast
is made
for laughter,
and wine
maketh merry:
but money
answereth all things.
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.
And in that day
did
the Lord GOD
of hosts
call
to weeping,
and to mourning,
and to baldness,
and to girding
with sackcloth:
And behold
joy and gladness,
slaying oxen,
and killing sheep,
eating flesh,
and drinking wine:
let us
eat and drink;
for to morrow
we shall die.
The new wine mourneth,
the vine languisheth,
all the merryhearted
do sigh.
The mirth
of tabrets ceaseth,
the noise
of them that
rejoice endeth,
the joy
of the harp ceaseth.
They shall not drink wine
with a song;
strong drink
shall be bitter
to them that drink it.
The city
of confusion
is broken down:
every house
is shut up,
that no man
may come in.
There is
a crying
for wine
in the streets;
all joy
is darkened,
the mirth
of the land
is gone.
And the glorious beauty,
which is on the head
of the fat valley,
shall be
a fading flower,
and
as the hasty fruit
before the summer;
which when
he that looketh
upon it seeth,
while it
is yet
in his hand
he eateth it up.
Rise up,
ye women
that are at ease;
hear my voice,
ye careless daughters;
give ear
unto my speech.
Many days
and years
shall
ye be troubled,
ye careless women:
for the vintage
shall fail,
the gathering
shall not come.
Tremble,
ye women
that are at ease;
be troubled,
ye careless ones:
strip you,
and make
you bare,
and gird sackcloth
upon your loins.
And thou saidst,
I shall be a lady
for ever:
so that
thou didst not lay
these things
to thy heart,
neither didst remember
the latter end of it.
Therefore hear now this,
thou
that art
given
to pleasures,
that dwellest carelessly,
that sayest in thine heart,
I am,
and none else
beside me;
I shall not sit
as a widow,
neither shall
I know
the loss
of children:
But these two things
shall come
to thee
in a moment
in one day,
the loss
of children,
and widowhood:
they shall come upon thee
in their perfection
for the multitude
of thy sorceries,
and
for the great abundance
of thine enchantments.
Rejoice not,
O Israel,
for joy,
as other people:
for thou
hast gone
a whoring
from thy God,
thou hast loved
a reward
upon every cornfloor.
As for Ephraim,
their glory
shall fly
away like
a bird,
from the birth,
and
from the womb,
and
from the conception.
Ephraim,
as I saw Tyrus,
is planted
in a pleasant place:
but Ephraim
shall bring forth
his children
to the murderer.
Ye that put far
away the evil day,
and cause
the seat
of violence
to come near;
That lie
upon beds
of ivory,
and stretch themselves
upon their couches,
and eat
the lambs
out of the flock,
and the calves
out of the midst
of the stall;
That chant
to the sound
of the viol,
and invent
to themselves instruments
of musick,
like David;
That drink wine
in bowls,
and anoint themselves
with the chief ointments:
but
they are not grieved
for the affliction
of Joseph.
Therefore now shall
they go captive
with the first
that go captive,
and the banquet
of them that
stretched themselves
shall be removed.
And I
will turn
your feasts
into mourning,
and all
your songs
into lamentation;
and
I will bring up sackcloth
upon all loins,
and baldness
upon every head;
and
I will make it
as the mourning
of an only son,
and the end
thereof as a bitter day.
Arise ye,
and depart;
for this
is not your rest:
because
it is polluted,
it shall destroy you,
even with a sore destruction.
Thou shalt eat,
but not be satisfied;
and thy
casting
down shall be
in the midst
of thee;
and
thou shalt take hold,
but shalt not deliver;
and
that which
thou deliverest
will
I give up
to the sword.
Ye have sown much,
and bring in little;
ye eat,
but
ye have not enough;
ye drink,
but
ye are not filled
with drink;
ye clothe you,
but there is none warm;
and he
that earneth
wages
earneth
wages
to put it
into a bag
with holes.
Therefore I
say
unto you,
Take no
thought
for your life,
what
ye shall eat,
or what
ye shall drink;
nor
yet for your body,
what
ye shall put on.
Is not
the life more than meat,
and the body
than raiment?
Behold the fowls
of the air:
for they
sow not,
neither do
they reap,
nor gather
into barns;
yet your heavenly Father
feedeth them.
Are
ye not much better
than they?
Which of you
by taking
thought
can add one cubit
unto his stature?
And
why take
ye thought
for raiment?
Consider the lilies
of the field,
how they grow;
they toil not,
neither do
they spin:
And yet
I say unto you,
That even Solomon
in all his glory
was not arrayed like one
of these.
Wherefore,
if God so
clothe the grass
of the field,
which to day is,
and to morrow
is cast
into the oven,
shall
he not much more
clothe you,
O ye
of little faith?
Therefore take
no thought,
saying,
What
shall
we eat?
or,
What
shall
we drink?
or,
Wherewithal
shall we be clothed?
(For
after all
these things
do the Gentiles seek:)
for your heavenly Father
knoweth that
ye have
need
of all these things.
But seek
ye first
the kingdom
of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things
shall be added
unto you.
Take
therefore no
thought
for the morrow:
for the morrow
shall take
thought
for the things
of itself.
Sufficient
unto the day
is
the evil thereof.
He that
findeth
his life
shall lose it:
and he
that loseth
his life
for my sake shall find it.
For what
is a man profited,
if he
shall gain
the whole world,
and lose
his own soul?
or what
shall a man
give
in exchange
for his soul?
At the same time
came the disciples
unto Jesus,
saying,
Who is the greatest
in the kingdom
of heaven?
And Jesus
called
a little child
unto him,
and set him
in the midst
of them,
And said,
Verily I
say unto you,
Except
ye be converted,
and become
as little children,
ye shall not enter
into the kingdom
of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself
as this little child,
the same
is greatest
in the kingdom
of heaven.
For as in the days
that were before the flood
they were eating
and drinking,
marrying
and giving
in marriage,
until the day
that Noe
entered
into the ark,
And knew not until
the flood came,
and took them
all away;
so shall also
the coming
of the Son of man be.
And that
which fell
among thorns
are they,
which,
when
they have heard,
go forth,
and are choked
with cares
and riches
and pleasures
of this life,
and bring
no fruit
to perfection.
And
I will say
to my soul,
Soul,
thou hast
much goods
laid up
for many years;
take
thine ease,
eat,
drink,
and be merry.
And sent
his servant
at supper
time to say
to them
that were bidden,
Come;
for all things
are now ready.
And
they
all with one consent
began to make excuse.
The first said
unto him,
I have bought
a piece
of ground,
and
I must needs go
and see it:
I pray thee
have me excused.
And another said,
I have bought five yoke
of oxen,
and
I go
to prove them:
I pray thee
have me excused.
And another said,
I have married
a wife,
and
therefore I
cannot come.
So that servant came,
and shewed
his lord these things.
Then
the master
of the house
being angry said
to his servant,
Go out
quickly into the streets
and lanes
of the city,
and bring in hither
the poor,
and the maimed,
and the halt,
and the blind.
And the servant said,
Lord,
it is done
as thou
hast commanded,
and yet there is room.
And the lord
said
unto the servant,
Go out
into the highways
and hedges,
and compel them
to come in,
that my house
may be filled.
For I
say unto you,
That none of those men
which were bidden
shall taste
of my supper.
And he
said also
unto his disciples,
There was a
certain rich man,
which had
a steward;
and the same
was accused
unto him that
he had wasted
his goods.
And
he called him,
and
said unto him,
How is it that
I hear this
of thee?
give an account
of thy stewardship;
for thou
mayest be no longer
steward.
Then the steward
said
within himself,
What
shall
I do?
for my lord
taketh away
from me the stewardship:
I cannot dig;
to beg
I am ashamed.
I am resolved
what to do,
that,
when
I am put
out of the stewardship,
they may receive me
into their houses.
So he
called every one
of his lord's debtors
unto him,
and said
unto the first,
How much
owest
thou
unto my lord?
And he said,
An hundred
measures of oil.
And
he said unto him,
Take thy bill,
and sit down quickly,
and write fifty.
Then said
he to another,
And how much
owest thou?
And he said,
An hundred
measures
of wheat.
And
he said unto him,
Take thy bill,
and write
fourscore.
And the lord
commended
the unjust steward,
because
he had done wisely:
for the children
of this world
are in their generation wiser
than the children
of light.
And
I say unto you,
Make
to yourselves friends
of the mammon
of unrighteousness;
that,
when ye fail,
they may receive you
into everlasting habitations.
He that is faithful
in that which
is least
is faithful
also in much:
and
he that is unjust
in the least
is unjust
also in much.
If therefore
ye have not been faithful
in the unrighteous mammon,
who will commit
to your trust
the true riches?
And
if ye
have not been faithful
in that which
is
another man's,
who shall give
you
that which
is your own?
No servant
can serve
two masters:
for either
he will hate
the one,
and love
the other;
or else
he will hold
to the one,
and despise
the other.
Ye cannot serve God
and mammon.
There was
a certain rich man,
which was clothed
in purple
and fine linen,
and fared sumptuously every day:
And there was
a certain beggar
named Lazarus,
which was laid
at his gate,
full of sores,
And desiring
to be fed
with the crumbs
which fell
from the rich man's table:
moreover the dogs
came
and licked
his sores.
And it
came
to pass,
that the beggar died,
and was carried
by the angels
into Abraham's bosom:
the rich man
also died,
and was buried;
And in hell
he lift
up his eyes,
being
in torments,
and seeth Abraham
afar off,
and Lazarus
in his bosom.
And he
cried
and said,
Father Abraham,
have mercy on me,
and send Lazarus,
that he
may dip
the tip
of his finger
in water,
and cool
my tongue;
for I
am tormented
in this flame.
But Abraham said,
Son,
remember that
thou in thy lifetime receivedst
thy good things,
and likewise
Lazarus evil things:
but now
he is comforted,
and
thou art tormented.
And take
heed
to yourselves,
lest at any
time your hearts
be overcharged
with surfeiting,
and drunkenness,
and cares
of this life,
and
so that day
come upon you unawares.
How can
ye believe,
which receive
honour one
of another,
and seek not
the honour
that cometh from God only?
For they loved
the praise
of men
more than the praise
of God.
If ye
were of the world,
the world
would love
his own:
but
because
ye are not
of the world,
but
I have chosen you
out of the world,
therefore the world
hateth you.
And be not conformed
to this world:
but be
ye transformed
by the renewing
of your mind,
that ye
may prove
what is that good,
and acceptable,
and perfect,
will of God.
But this
I say,
brethren,
the time
is short:
it remaineth,
that both
they that
have
wives be as
though they
had none;
And
they that weep,
as though
they wept not;
and
they that rejoice,
as though
they rejoiced not;
and
they that buy,
as though
they possessed not;
And
they that use
this world,
as not abusing it:
for the fashion
of this world passeth away.
Now these things
were our examples,
to the intent
we should not lust
after evil things,
as they also lusted.
If after the manner
of men
I have fought
with beasts
at Ephesus,
what advantageth it me,
if the dead rise not?
let us
eat and drink;
for to morrow
we die.
(For many walk,
of whom
I have told
you often,
and now tell you
even weeping,
that they
are the enemies
of the cross
of Christ:
Whose end
is destruction,
whose God
is their belly,
and whose glory
is in their shame,
who mind earthly things.)
Set your affection
on things above,
not on things
on the earth.
Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth;
fornication,
uncleanness,
inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence,
and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
But she
that
liveth in pleasure
is dead
while she liveth.
No man
that warreth
entangleth himself
with the affairs
of this life;
that he
may please him
who hath chosen him to be
a soldier.
Flee also youthful lusts:
but follow
righteousness,
faith,
charity,
peace,
with them that
call on the Lord
out of a pure heart.
For men
shall be lovers
of their own selves,
covetous,
boasters,
proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient
to parents,
unthankful,
unholy,
Without natural affection,
trucebreakers,
false accusers,
incontinent,
fierce,
despisers
of those
that are good,
Traitors,
heady,
highminded,
lovers
of pleasures
more than lovers
of God;
Having a form
of godliness,
but denying
the power thereof:
from such turn away.
For of this sort
are
they which creep
into houses,
and lead
captive silly women
laden with sins,
led away
with divers lusts,
Ever learning,
and never able
to come
to the knowledge
of the truth.
Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts,
we should live soberly,
righteously,
and godly,
in this present world;
For we ourselves
also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient,
deceived,
serving divers
lusts
and pleasures,
living in malice
and envy,
hateful,
and hating one
another.
By faith Moses,
when he
was come
to years,
refused
to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather
to suffer affliction
with the people
of God,
than
to enjoy the pleasures
of sin
for a season;
Esteeming the reproach
of Christ greater riches
than the treasures
in Egypt:
for he
had respect
unto the recompence
of the reward.
My brethren,
have not
the faith
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Lord
of glory,
with respect
of persons.
For if there come
unto your assembly a man
with a gold ring,
in goodly apparel,
and there come in also
a poor man
in vile raiment;
And
ye have
respect
to him
that weareth the gay clothing,
and say unto him,
Sit
thou here
in a good place;
and say
to the poor,
Stand thou there,
or sit here
under my footstool:
Are ye not
then partial
in yourselves,
and are become
judges
of evil thoughts?
Ye adulterers
and adulteresses,
know
ye not
that
the friendship
of the world
is enmity
with God?
whosoever
therefore will be
a friend
of the world
is the enemy
of God.
Be afflicted,
and mourn,
and weep:
let your laughter
be turned
to mourning,
and your joy
to heaviness.
Ye have lived
in pleasure
on the earth,
and been wanton;
ye have nourished
your hearts,
as in a day of slaughter.
As obedient children,
not fashioning yourselves according to
the former
lusts
in your ignorance:
For all flesh
is as grass,
and all
the glory
of man
as the flower
of grass.
The grass withereth,
and the flower
thereof falleth away:
Dearly beloved,
I beseech you
as strangers
and pilgrims,
abstain
from fleshly lusts,
which war
against the soul;
For the time past
of our life
may suffice
us to have wrought
the will
of the Gentiles,
when we
walked
in lasciviousness,
lusts,
excess of wine,
revellings,
banquetings,
and abominable idolatries:
Wherein they
think it strange
that
ye run not
with them
to the same excess
of riot,
speaking evil
of you:
But these,
as natural brute beasts,
made to be taken
and destroyed,
speak evil
of the things
that
they understand not;
and shall utterly perish
in their own corruption;
And shall receive
the reward
of unrighteousness,
as they
that count
it pleasure
to riot
in the day time.
Spots
they are
and blemishes,
sporting themselves
with their own
deceivings
while they
feast
with you;
Having
eyes
full of adultery,
and that
cannot cease
from sin;
beguiling unstable souls:
an heart
they have exercised
with covetous practices;
cursed children:
Which have forsaken
the right way,
and are gone
astray,
following the way
of Balaam
the son of Bosor,
who loved the wages
of unrighteousness;
For when
they speak great swelling
words of vanity,
they allure
through the lusts
of the flesh,
through much wantonness,
those that
were
clean
escaped
from them
who live
in error.
Love
not the world,
neither the things
that are in the world.
If any man
love the world,
the love
of the Father
is not in him.
For all that is
in the world,
the lust
of the flesh,
and the lust
of the eyes,
and the pride
of life,
is not
of the Father,
but is of the world.
And the world passeth away,
and the lust
thereof:
but
he that
doeth
the will
of God abideth
for ever.
Woe unto them!
for they have gone in
the way of Cain,
and ran greedily
after the error
of Balaam
for reward,
and perished
in the gainsaying
of Core.
These are
spots
in your feasts
of charity,
when they
feast
with you,
feeding themselves
without fear:
clouds
they are without water,
carried about
of winds;
trees whose fruit withereth,
without fruit,
twice dead,
plucked up
by the roots;
Raging waves
of the sea,
foaming
out their own shame;
wandering stars,
to whom
is reserved the blackness
of darkness
for ever.
These are murmurers,
complainers,
walking
after their own lusts;
and their mouth
speaketh
great swelling words,
having men's persons
in admiration
because of advantage.
These be
they
who separate themselves,
sensual,
having not
the Spirit.