Ecclesiastes
or the
Preacher
1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all
is
vanity.
1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
1:4
Oen
generation passeth away, and
another
generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place
where he arose.
1:6 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.
1:7 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.
1:8 All things
are
full of labour; man cannot utter
it
: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
1:9 The thing that hath been, it
is that
which shall be; and that which is done
is
that which shall be done: and
there is
no new
thing
under the sun.
1:10 Is there
any
thing whereof it may be said, See, this
is
new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
1:11
There is
no remembrance of former
things
; neither shall there be
any
remembrance of
things
that are to come with
those
that shall come after.
1:12¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all
things
that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of
man to be exercised therewith.
1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all
is
vanity and vexation of spirit.
1:15
That which is
crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and
have gotten more wisdom than all
they
that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of
wisdom and knowledge.
1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I
perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
1:18 For in much wisdom
is
much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 2
2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore
enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also
is
vanity.
2:2 I said of laughter,
It is
mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
2:3 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.
2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all
kind of
fruits:
2:6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth
trees:
2:7 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:
2:8 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.
2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in
Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
2:10 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.
2:11 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.
2:12¶ 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.
2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth
darkness.
2:14 The wise man's eyes
are
in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also
that one event happeneth to them all.
2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even
to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also
is
vanity.
2:16 For
there is
no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which
now
is
in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise
man
? as the fool.
2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun
is
grievous unto me: for all
is
vanity and vexation of spirit.
2:18¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because
I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
2:19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise
man
or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured,
and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This
is
also vanity.
2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour
which I took under the sun.
2:21 For there is a man whose labour
is
in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not
laboured therein shall he leave it
for
his portion. This also
is
vanity and a great evil.
2:22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart,
wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
2:23 For all his days
are
sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night.
This is also vanity.
2:24¶
There is
nothing better for a man,
than
that he should eat and drink, and
that
he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it
was
from the hand of God.
2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten
hereunto
, more than I?
2:26 For
God
giveth to a man that
is
good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth
travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to
him that is
good before God. This also
is
vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
3:1 To every
thing there is
a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck
up
that which is
planted;
3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to
build up;
3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
3:5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to
embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
3:6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
3:7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to
speak;
3:8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
3:9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
3:10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be
exercised in it.
3:11 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.
3:12 I know that
there is
no good in them, but for
a man
to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all
his labour, it
is
the gift of God.
3:14 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.
3:15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been;
and God requireth that which is past.
3:16¶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment,
that
wickedness
was
there; and the place of righteousness,
that
iniquity
was
there.
3:17 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.
3:18 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.
3:19 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing
befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one
breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all
is
vanity.
3:20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the
beast that goeth downward to the earth?
3:22 Wherefore I perceive 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?
Ecclesiastes Chapter 4
4:1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the
sun: and behold the tears of
such as were
oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors
there was
power; but they had no comforter.
4:2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living
which are yet alive.
4:3 Yea, better
is he
than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that
is done under the sun.
4:4¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this
a man is envied of his neighbour. This
is
also vanity and vexation of spirit.
4:5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
4:6 Better
is
an handful
with
quietness, than both the hands full
with
travail and vexation of spirit.
4:7¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
4:8 There is one
alone
, and
there is
not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet
is there
no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither
saith he
, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This
is
also vanity, yea, it
is
a sore travail.
4:9¶ Two
are
better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
4:10 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.
4:11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm
alone
?
4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold
cord is not quickly broken.
4:13¶ Better
is
a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be
admonished.
4:14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also
he that is
born in his kingdom becometh poor.
4:15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second
child that shall stand up in his stead.
4:16
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.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5
5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to
hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do
evil.
5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter
any
thing before God: for God
is
in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice
is known
by multitude of words.
5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for
he hath
no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
5:5 Better
is it
that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
5:6 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?
5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words
there are
also
divers
vanities: but fear thou God.
5:8¶ 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.
5:9¶ Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king
himself
is served by the field.
5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that
loveth abundance with increase: this
is
also vanity.
5:11 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?
5:12 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.
5:13 There is a sore evil
which
I have seen under the sun,
namely
, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
5:14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and
there is
nothing in his hand.
5:15 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.
5:16 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?
5:17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and
he hath
much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
5:18¶ Behold
that
which I have seen:
it is
good and comely
for one
to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh
under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it
is
his portion.
5:19 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.
5:20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth
him
in the joy of his heart.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 6
6:1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it
is
common among men:
6:2 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.
6:3¶ If a man beget an hundred
children
, and live many years, so that the days of 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.
6:4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall
be covered with darkness.
Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known
any thing
: this hath more rest than the other.
6:6¶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice
told
, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
6:7 All the labour of man
is
for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
6:8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth
to walk before the living?
6:9¶ Better
is
the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this
is
also vanity and vexation of spirit.
6:10 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.
6:11¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what
is
man the better?
6:12 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?
Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
7:1 A good name
is
better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's
birth.
7:2¶
It is
better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting:
for that
is
the end of all men; and the living will lay
it
to his heart.
7:3 Sorrow
is
better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made
better.
7:4 The heart of the wise
is
in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools
is
in the house of mirth.
7:5
It is
better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of
fools.
7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so
is
the laughter of the fool: this also
is
vanity.
7:7¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the
heart.
7:8 Better
is
the end of a thing than the beginning thereof:
and
the patient in spirit
is
better than the proud in spirit.
7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of
fools.
7:10 Say not thou, What is
the cause
that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely
concerning this.
7:11¶ Wisdom
is
good with an inheritance: and
by it there is
profit to them that see the sun.
7:12 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.
7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make
that
straight, which he hath made crooked?
7:14 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.
7:15 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.
7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest
thou destroy thyself?
7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die
before thy time?
7:18
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.
7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty
men
which are in the city.
7:20 For
there is
not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
7:21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy
servant curse thee:
7:22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise
hast cursed others.
7:23¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it
was
far from me.
7:24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and
the reason
of things
, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness
and
madness:
7:26 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.
7:27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher,
counting
one by one, to find out the account:
7:28 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.
7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have
sought out many inventions.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 8
8:1 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.
8:2 I
counsel thee
to keep the king's commandment, and
that
in regard of the oath of God.
8:3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he
doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
8:4 Where the word of a king
is
,
there is
power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's
heart discerneth both time and judgment.
8:6¶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the
misery of man
is
great upon him.
8:7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall
be?
8:8
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 discharge in
that
war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
8:9 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.
8:10 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.
8:11 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.
8:12¶ 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:
8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong
his
days,
which are
as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
8:14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just
men
, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be
wicked
men
, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this
also
is
vanity.
8:15 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.
8:16¶ 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:)
8:17 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 further; though a wise
man
think to know
it
, yet shall he not be able to find
it
.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
9:1 For 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.
9:2 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.
9:3 This
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.
9:4¶ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a
living dog is better than a dead lion.
9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing,
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
9:6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither
have they any more a portion for ever in any
thing
that is done under the sun.
9:7¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry
heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
9:8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of
thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity:
for that
is
thy portion in
this
life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
it
with thy might; for
there is
no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou
goest.
9:11¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race
is
not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise,
nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but
time and chance happeneth to them all.
9:12 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.
9:13¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it
seemed
great unto me:
9:14
There was
a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it,
and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
9:15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered
the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
9:16 Then said I, Wisdom
is
better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom
is
despised, and his words are not heard.
9:17 The words of wise
men are
heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
9:18 Wisdom
is
better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 10
10:1 Dead flies 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.
10:2 A wise man's heart
is
at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
10:3 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.
10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for
yielding pacifieth great offences.
10:5 There is an evil
which
I have seen under the sun, as an error
which
proceedeth from the ruler:
10:6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
10:7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the
earth.
10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a
serpent shall bite him.
10:9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith;
and
he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
10:10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to
more strength: but wisdom
is
profitable to direct.
10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no
better.
10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth
are
gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth
is
foolishness: and the end of his talk
is
mischievous madness.
10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what
shall be after him, who can tell him?
10:15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth
not how to go to the city.
10:16¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king
is
a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
10:17 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!
10:18¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of
the hands the house droppeth through.
10:19¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money
answereth all
things
.
10:20¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich
in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which
hath wings shall tell the matter.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 11
11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil
shall be upon the earth.
11:3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty
themselves
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.
11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds
shall not reap.
11:5 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.
11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand:
for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether
they both
shall be
alike good.
11:7¶ Truly the light
is
sweet, and a pleasant
thing it is
for the eyes to behold the sun:
11:8 But if a man live many years,
and
rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall
be many. All that cometh
is
vanity.
11:9¶ 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.
11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh:
for childhood and youth
are
vanity.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
12:1 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;
12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,
nor the clouds return after the rain:
12:3 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,
12:4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding
is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of
musick shall be brought low;
12:5 Also
when
they shall be afraid of
that which is
high, and fears
shall be
in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a
burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the
mourners go about the streets:
12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the
pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall
return unto God who gave it.
12:8¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all
is
vanity.
12:9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people
knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out,
and
set in order many proverbs.
12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and
that which was
written
was
upright,
even
words of truth.
12:11 The words of the wise
are
as goads, and as nails fastened
by
the masters of assemblies,
which
are given from one shepherd.
12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books
there is
no end; and much study
is
a weariness of the flesh.
12:13¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this
is
the whole
duty
of man.
12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether
it be
good, or whether
it be
evil.
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