SECT. 15. Though society has its advantages, yet dominion and empire are but vanity.-Ch. iv. 9-16. 16. Errors in the performance of Divine worship, which render it vain and unprofitable.—Ch. v. 1—7. 17. The vanity of murmuring at injustice; for though the oppression of the poor and the perversion of judgment greatly prevail, they do not escape the notice of the Almighty. -Ch. v. 8-9. 18. The vanity of riches; with an admonition as to the moderate enjoyment of them.-Ch. v. 10-20. 19. The vanity of avarice.-Ch. vi. 1–9. PART II. 20. Since all human designs, labours, and enjoyments are vain, it is natural to inquire, What is good for man? What is his Supreme Good? (Ch. vi. 10-12.) The answer is contained in the remainder of the book. 21. The praise of character and reputation.—Ch. vii. 1. 22. Affliction improves the heart, and exalts the character of the wise. Ch. vii. 2-10. 23. The excellence of Wisdom.-Ch. vii, 11-14. 24. An objection, with the answer.—Ch. vii. 15, viii. 7. 25. The evil of wickedness shows the advantage of True Wisdom.-Ch. viii. 8-13. 26. An objection, with the answer.—Ch. viii. 14, ix. 1. 27. An objection, with the answer. -Ch. ix. 2, x. 17. 28. The banefulness of sloth.-Ch. x. 18. 29. The power of wealth.-Ch. x. 19. 30. An exhortation against speaking evil of dignities.—Ch. x. 20. 31. Exhortation to charity and benevolence.-Ch. xi. 1—10.. 32. An exhortation to the early cultivation of religious habits. -Ch. xii. 1-7. 33. The conclusion.-Ch. xii. 8-14. Those words which, in the authorized version, are printed in Italics, are included within Brackets in the following Paraphrase. The Asterisk (*) in the margin denotes that some alteration is made in the authorized translation of the verse to which it is annexed. A PARAPHRASE UPON THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. PART I. TITLE OF THE BOOK. CHAPTER I. 1*THE words of Solomon, the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 SECT. I. THE VANITY OF ALL EARTHLY THINGS. With respect to the Chief Good of man, the things of this world are vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; they are indeed vanity of vanities; yes, all [is] vanity, being incapable of rendering him happy, and of securing his highest interests. Q 3 SECT. II. THE UNPROFITABLENESS OF HUMAN LABOUR, AND THE TRANSITORINESS OF HUMAN Life. In proof of this vanity of all things, what profit hath a man, as far as regards his Chief Good, of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? Human labours cannot produce 4 happiness; they are too transitory, for [one] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh; but the earth, nevertheless, abideth for ever, as the abode of successive and 5 fleeting generations of men. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth 6 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. 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. Thus terrestrial nature performs its stated courses and revolutions perpetually; but when man dies he appears no more on the earth: what solid good, then, can be expected from the labours of 8*so transitory a being! Besides, all things in which man so anxiously toils are wearisome; man cannot utter [it:] the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled and satiated with hearing. And this must be the case, since |