The benefit of a good name. ECCLESIASTES. Difficulty of getting wisdom. 11 When goods increase, they are increased 2 ¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning, that eat them: and what good is there to the than to go to the house of feasting: for that is owners thereof, saving the beholding of them the end of all men; and the living will lay it to with their eyes? This heart. 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadwhether he eat little or much: but the abun-ness of the countenance the heart is made better. dance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. 4 'The heart of the wise is in the house of mourn13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under ing; but the heart of fools is in the house of the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners mirth. thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools: 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, 71 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; naked shall he return to go as he came, and and a gift destroyeth the heart. 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 what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 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. 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sick-former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. ness. 18 ¶ Behold that which I have seen: it is good 11 1 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to by it there is profit to them that see the sun. enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a under the sun all the days of his life, which God defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, giveth him: for it is his portion. 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. 19 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. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. THE CHAP. VI. The vanity of riches without use. THERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2A 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. 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 3 ¶ If a man beget a hundred children, and live this; yea, also from this withdraw not thy hand: many years, so that the days of his years be for he that feareth God shall come forth of them inany, 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 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be 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 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? 91 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wan dering 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? 12 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? CHAP. VII. Remedies against vanity, &c. A GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 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. 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. 23 T All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, will be wise; but it was far from me. 24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 1 25 I applied my heart to know, and to search, jand 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. the interpretation of a thing? a man's Rulers are to be respected.· 368 God's works unsearchable. CHAP. IX, X. Wisdom better than strength wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the bold-14 For to him that is joined to all the living ness of his face shall be changed. there is hope: for a living dog is better than a 2 I counsel thee to keep the king's command-dead tion. ment, and that in regard of the oath of God. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but 3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: 'stand not the dead know not any thing, neither have they in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleas-any more a reward; for the memory of them is etli him. forgotten. 4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their and who may say unto him, What doest thou envy, is now perished; neither have they any 5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel more a portion for ever in any thing that is done no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discern-under the sun. eth both time and judgment. 7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and 6 ¶ Because to every purpose there is time and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God judgment, therefore the misery of man is great now accepteth thy works. upon him. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let For he knoweth not that which shall be: for thy head lack no ointment. who can tell him when it shall be ? 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest 8 There is no man that hath power over the all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy in the day of death: and there is no discharge vanity for that is thy portion in this life, and in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. those that are given to it. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it 9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart with thy might; for there is no work, nor deunto every work that is done under the sun :ice, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, there is a time wherein one man ruleth over whither thou goest. another to his own hurt. HI returned, and saw under the sun, that 10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the come and gone from the place of the holy, and strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet they were forgotten in the city where they had riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour so done: this is also vanity. to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not to them all. executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the 12 1 Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, birds that are caught in the snare; so are the song and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth that it shall be well with them that fear God, suddenly upon them. which fear before him: 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me. 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a 14 There was a little city, and few men withshadow; because he feareth not before God. in it; and there came a great king against it, and 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: earth; that there be just men, unto whom it 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, happeneth according to the work of the wicked: and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet again, there be wicked men, to whom it happen- no man remembered that same poor man. eth according to the work of the righteous: 1 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 my 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 :) 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. CHAP. X. DE Obserrations on wisdom and felly. EAD flics 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. 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 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a fool's heart is at his left. a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. FOR CHAP. IX. God's Providence ruleth over all. OR 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. 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 sacrificetli not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath. 3This 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. 3 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. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5 There is an evil which I have see under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not what the edge, then must be put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. Of riot, slothfulness, &c. SOLOMON'S SONG. The whole duty of man. 11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchant-and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the ment; and a babbler is no better. sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all 12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gra- these things God will bring thee into judgment. cious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, himself. and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. CHAP. XII. 13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? 15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go w the city. 16 Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17 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! 18 1 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. The Creator must be remembered. 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; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 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, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the maketh merry: but money answereth all things. daughters of music shall be brought low; 20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that almond-tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper which hath wings shall tell the matter. shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: CHAP. XI. Directions for charity. CAST thy, bread upon the waters: for thou Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden shalt find it after many days. bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it the earth. was: and the spirit shall return unto God who 8 1 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty them-gave it. selves 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. 9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he still taught the people knowledge: yea, he he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order 5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the many proverbs. 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. 10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written, was upright, even words of truth. 6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the even- 11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as ing withhold not thy hand: for thou knowest nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which not whether shall prosper, either this or that, are given from one shepherd. or whether they both shall be alike good. 12 And further, by these, my son, be admonish7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thinged: of making many books there is no end; and it is for the eyes to behold the sun: much study is a weariness of the flesh. 8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole them all; yet let him remember the days of dark-matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: ness; for they shall be many. All that cometh for this is the whole duty of man. is vanity. 14 For God shall bring every work into judg91 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and ment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, or whether it be evil. CHAP. I. ¶The Song of SOLOMON. The church's love to Christ. THE Song of songs, which is Solomon's. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better than wine. 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. 4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the King hatli brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee. 51 am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where tents. 9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots. 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chaius of gold. 11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver. 12 1 While the King sitteth at his table, iny 6 Look not upon me, because I am black, be-spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. cause the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made ne the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept. 13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. 14 My beloved is unto me as a ciuster of cam'phire in the vineyards of En-gedi. Christ's care of the church. CHAP. II, III, IV, V. His love to the church. 15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou every man hath his sword upon his thigh beart fair, thou hast doves' eyes. cause of fear in the night. 16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant also our bed is green. 17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir. I CHAP. II. Of Christ and his church. AM the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. 3 As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood,! so is my beloved among the sous. I sat down 9 King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. 10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem." 11 Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. CHAP. IV. The graces of the church. under his shadow with great delight, and his BEHOLD, thou art fair, my love; behold, the fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. 6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. 71 charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. 8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. 9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. 10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. il For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead. 2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing ; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. 3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy 7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee. 8 Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; 13 The fig-tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. 14 TO ny dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. 17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turu, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether CHAP. III. The church's victory, &c. By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. 21 will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the 12 A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse: aloes, with all the chief spices: 15 A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. 16 T Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come 3 The watchmen that go about the city found into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. nie: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? him not. 4 It was but a little that I passed from them, but CHAP, V. A description of Christ. I found him whom my soul loveth: Theld him, I AM come into my garden, my sister. my spouse I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I and would not let him go, until I had brought have eaten my honey comb with my honey; 1 him into my mother's house, and into the chain-have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O ber of her that conceived me. friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, Oberoved. 51 charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, 2 I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my 61 Who is this that cometh out of the wilder- undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and ness like pillars of sinoke, perfumed with myrrh my locks with the drops of the night. and frankincense, with all powders of the mer- 3I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? chant? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 7 Behold his bed, which is Solomon's: threescore 4 My beloved put in his hand by the hole of valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. the door, and my bowels were moved for him. 8 They all hold swords, being expert in war: 51 rose up to open to my beloved; and my Christ's love to the church. SOLOMON'S SONG. The church's love to Christ hands dropped with my rh, and my fingers with are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunsweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the ning workman. lock. 2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor; thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies. 6 I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not 3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. are twins. 7 The watchmen that went about the city found 4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes me, they smote me, they wounded me: the keep-like the fish-pools in Heshbon, by the gate of ers of the walls took away my vail from me. Bath-rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Leba8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if non which looketh toward Damascus. ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am 5 Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, and thre sick of love. hair of thy head like purple; the King is held in the galleries. 9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. 11 His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. 6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 7 This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 8 I said, I will go up to the palm-tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 12 His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. 9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine 13 Ilis cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causflowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet-ing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. smelling myrrh. 10 ¶ I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 14 His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. 15 His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the redars. 16 His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogetl:er lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, Ŏ daughters of Jerusalem. CHAP. VI. The church professeth her faith. HITHER is thy beloved gone, O thou fair WHI 11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let u see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved. CHAP. VIII. Love of the church to Christ. est among women? whither is thy beloveded the breasts of my mother! when I should turned aside? that we may seek him with thee. 2 My beloved is gone down into his garden, to find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to should not be despised. gather lilies. 3 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. 4 T Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. 5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. 21 would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juicę of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 41 charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. 5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilder6 Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go ness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up up from the washing, whereof every one beareth under the apple-tree: there thy mother brought twins, and there is not one barren among them. thee forth: there she brought thee forth that 7 As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples bare thee. within thy locks. 6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal 8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; concubines, and virgins without number. jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement only one of her mother, she is the choice one of flame. her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, can the floods drown it: if a man would give and they praised her. all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. 10 T Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? 11 I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded. 12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib. 81 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: 13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, re- then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. turn, that we may look upon thee. What will 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the com- he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one pany of two armies. for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. CHAP. VII. The graces of the church. 12 My vineyard which is mine, is before me! TOW beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and H prince's daughter: the joints of thy thighs those that keep the quait there of two hundred. |