Vanity increased by oppression, Se also that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; da time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 & I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 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. 12 i I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 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. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. 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. 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. 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. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceived 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? 19 For that which befalleth the sons a second; yea, he hath neither child nor of men befalleth beasts; even one thing brother: yet is there no end of all his a befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth bour; neither is his feye satisfied with the other; yea, they have all one breath; riches; & neither saith he, For whom do I c Or, seek. d Amos 5. 13. e Luke 14. 26. fch. 1.3. gch. 1. 13. hch. 8. 17. Rom. 11 33. i ver. 22. k ch. 2.24. 1 James 1. 17. m ch. 1. 9. d Heb. that which is driven away. n ch. 5.8. o Rom. 2. 6, 7, 8. 2 Cor. 5. 10. 2 Thess. 1.6, 7. p ver. 1. e Or, that they might clear God, and see, &c. q Ps. 49. 19, 20. & 73. 22. ch. 2. 16. Gen 3.19. ch. 12.7. f Heb. of the sons of man. g Heb. his ascending. t ver. 12. ch. 2. 24. & 5 18. & 11.9. uch. 2.10. xch. 6. 12. & 8. 7. & 10. 14. CHAP. IV. a ch. 3. 16. & 5. 8. a Heb hand. b Job 3. 17, &c. c Job 3. 11, 16, 21 ch. 6. 3. b Heb. all the rightness of work. c Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour. d Prov. 6. 10 & 24, 33. e Prov. 15. 16, 17. & 16.8. f Prov 27.20. 1 John 216. g Ps 39.6. 775 Against abuses ECCLESIASTES. in divine service. labour, and bereave my soul of good? This sure in fools: 'pay that which thou hast is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 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. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him ; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. vowed. 5& Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 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? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. 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. 9 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the 15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child field. that shall stand up in his stead. 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. 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 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? 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. 13m There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 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. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and d Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished. CHAP. V. a See Exod. 3. 5. Is. 1. 12, &c. b 1 Sam. 15. 22. Ps. 50.8. Prov. 15. 8. & 21 27: Hos 6 6. a Or word. c Prov. 10. 19. Matt. 6.7 d Prov 10. 19. e Num 20.2. Deut. 23. 21, 22, 23. Ps. 50. 14. & 76. 11. f Ps. 66. 13, 14. g Prov. 20. 22 Acts 54. h1 Cor. 11. 10. i ch. 12. 13. k ch. 3. 16. & Hob. at the will, or, purpose. Pa 12. 5. & 58. 11. & 82, 1. mch. 6. 1. n Job 1. 21. Ps. 49. 17. 1 Tim. 67 CHAP. VI, VII. that hath laboured 1 The vanity of riches without use. 3 Of children, 6 and old age without riches. 9 The vanity of sight and wandering desires. 11 The conclusion of vanities. [BEFORE CHRIST 977.] THERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men : 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. C Remedies against vanity. twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place ? 7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the "appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 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. 11 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 3 If a man beget an hundred children, by the sadness of the countenance the and live many years, so that the days of heart is made better. 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. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and de-wise, than for a man to hear the song of parteth in darkness, and his name shall be fools. covered with darkness. 5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. 6 Yea, though he live a thousand years 6 d For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. this also is vanity. 7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. 12, 13, 22. & 9.7. & 11. 9. o ch. 1.3. p Prov. 11. 29. q Ps. 127. 2. 1 ch. 2. 24. & 3. CHẤP. VI. a ch. 5. 13. b Job 21. 10, &c. Ps. 17. 14. & 73. 7. d 2 Kings 9. 35. Isai. 14.19 20. Jer. 22. 19. e Job 3. 16. Ps. 58.8. ch. 4. 3. f Prov. 16. 26. a Heb. soul. & Heb. than the walking of the soul. g Job 9. 32. Isai. 45. 9 Jer. 49. 19. c Heb. the number of the days of the life of his vanity. h Ps. 102. 11. & 109. 23. & 144. 4. James 4. 14. i Ps. 39.6. ch. 8. 7. CHAP. VII. a Prov. 15. 30. & 22. 1. a Or, Anger. b2 Cor. 7. 10. c Seo Ps. 141. 5. Prov. 13. 18. & 15.31, 32. d Ps. 118. 12. ch. 2.2. b Heb, sound. e Ex. 23 B Deut. 16 19 Of a good name, mortification, ECCLESIASTES. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 & Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. panence, and wisdom 21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee : 22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that 23 All this have I proved by wisdom. the former days were better than these? I said, I will be wise; but it was far from for thou dost not enquire 'wisely concern-me. ing this. 24 That which is far off, and 'exceed 11 Wisdom dis good with an inher-ing deep, who can find it out? itance: and by it there is profit to them 25 * I applied mine heart to know, and that see the sun. e 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. 13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 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. 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. 16 Be not righteous over much; "neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die * before thy time ? 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. 19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: 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. 27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, "counting one by one, to find out the account: 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. 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. CHAP. VIII. 1 Kings are greatly to be respected. 6 The divine providence is to be observed. 12 It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the wicked in prosperity. 16 The work of God is unsearchable. [BEFORE CHRIST 977.] 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. 2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight : f Prov. 14. 29. g Prov. 14. 17. & 16. 32. Jam. 1. 19. c Heb, out of wisdom. d Or, r Rom. 1. 22. s Job 28. 12, 20. 1 Tim. 6, 16. t Rom. 11. 33. k Heb. I and my heart Kings are to be respected. CHAP. IX. All things come alike to all. stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth of the wicked; again, there be wicked whatsoever pleaseth him. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment 'shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall bé? 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 d discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. 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. 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. 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. 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 : men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. 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. 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 :) 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, farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. CHAP. IX. 1 Like things happen to good and bad. 4 There is a necessity of death unto men. 7 Comfort is all their portion in this life. 11 God's providence ruleth over all. 13 Wisdom is better than strength. [BEFORE CHRIST 977.] FOR all this a " 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. 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. 13 But it shall not be well with the 3 This is an evil among all things that wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, are done under the sun, that there is one which are as a shadow; because he fear-event unto all: yea, also the heart of the eth not before God. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For to him that is joined to all the Job 34. 18. & Heb. shall know. fch. 3. 1. g Prov. 24. 22. ch. 6. 12. & 9. 12. & 10. 14. c Or, how it shall be. h Ps. 49. 6,7. i Job 14.5. d Or, casting off weapons. k Ps. 10. 6. & 50. 21. Isai. 26. 10. 1 Isai. 65. 20. Rom. 2. 5. m Ps. 37. 11, 18, 19. Prov. 1. 32, 33. Isai. 3. 10, 11. Matt. 25. 34, 41. n Ps. 73 14. ch. 2. 14. & 7. 15 & 9. 1,2,3. 0 ch. 2. 24. & 3. 12, 22. & 5. 18. & 9.7. p Job 5.9. ch. 3. il. Rom. 11. 33. |