Previous Home Next
Book 21 Ecclesiastes21:001:001 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in 21:001:002 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; 21:001:003 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under 21:001:004 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: 21:001:005 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to 21:001:006 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the 21:001:007 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto 21:001:008 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is 21:001:009 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that 21:001:010 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? 21:001:011 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there 21:001:012 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 21:001:013 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom 21:001:014 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, 21:001:015 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which 21:001:016 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great 21:001:017 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and 21:001:018 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth 21:002:001 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, 21:002:002 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 21:002:003 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet 21:002:004 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me 21:002:005 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of 21:002:006 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that 21:002:007 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my 21:002:008 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure 21:002:009 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before 21:002:010 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I 21:002:011 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and 21:002:012 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: 21:002:013 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light 21:002:014 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in 21:002:015 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it 21:002:016 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool 21:002:017 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under 21:002:018 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: 21:002:019 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet 21:002:020 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the 21:002:021 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in 21:002:022 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of 21:002:023 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his 21:002:024 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and 21:002:025 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 21:002:026 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and 21:003:001 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose 21:003:002 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a 21:003:003 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and 21:003:004 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a 21:003:005 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones 21:003:006 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time 21:003:007 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and 21:003:008 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time 21:003:009 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 21:003:010 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of 21:003:011 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath 21:003:012 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to 21:003:013 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the 21:003:014 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: 21:003:015 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath 21:003:016 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that 21:003:017 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the 21:003:018 I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, 21:003:019 For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; 21:003:020 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to 21:003:021 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the 21:003:022 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a 21:004:001 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are 21:004:002 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than 21:004:003 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who 21:004:004 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that 21:004:005 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. 21:004:006 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full 21:004:007 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 21:004:008 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath 21:004:009 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for 21:004:010 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to 21:004:011 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can 21:004:012 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a 21:004:013 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish 21:004:014 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is 21:004:015 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the 21:004:016 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been 21:005:001 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more 21:005:002 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty 21:005:003 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a 21:005:004 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he 21:005:005 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou 21:005:006 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say 21:005:007 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also 21:005:008 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent 21:005:009 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself 21:005:010 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor 21:005:011 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and 21:005:012 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little 21:005:013 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, 21:005:014 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a 21:005:015 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return 21:005:016 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, 21:005:017 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much 21:005:018 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one 21:005:019 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and 21:005:020 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because 21:006:001 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is 21:006:002 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so 21:006:003 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so 21:006:004 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and 21:006:005 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this 21:006:006 Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he 21:006:007 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite 21:006:008 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, 21:006:009 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the 21:006:010 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it 21:006:011 Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man 21:006:012 For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the 21:007:001 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of 21:007:002 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the 21:007:003 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the 21:007:004 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the 21:007:005 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to 21:007:006 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter 21:007:007 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth 21:007:008 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and 21:007:009 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in 21:007:010 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were 21:007:011 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit 21:007:012 For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the 21:007:013 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, 21:007:014 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of 21:007:015 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a 21:007:016 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: 21:007:017 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why 21:007:018 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also 21:007:019 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which 21:007:020 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and 21:007:021 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou 21:007:022 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself 21:007:023 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but 21:007:024 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it 21:007:025 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out 21:007:026 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is 21:007:027 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by 21:007:028 Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a 21:007:029 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; 21:008:001 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of 21:008:002 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in 21:008:003 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil 21:008:004 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say 21:008:005 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a 21:008:006 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore 21:008:007 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him 21:008:008 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the 21:008:009 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work 21:008:010 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the 21:008:011 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed 21:008:012 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be 21:008:013 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he 21:008:014 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be 21:008:015 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing 21:008:016 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the 21:008:017 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out 21:009:001 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all 21:009:002 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the 21:009:003 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, 21:009:004 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for 21:009:005 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not 21:009:006 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now 21:009:007 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a 21:009:008 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no 21:009:009 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of 21:009:010 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for 21:009:011 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the 21:009:012 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are 21:009:013 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed 21:009:014 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came 21:009:015 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his 21:009:016 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the 21:009:017 The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of 21:009:018 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner 21:010:001 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth 21:010:002 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at 21:010:003 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his 21:010:004 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy 21:010:005 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error 21:010:006 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 21:010:007 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as 21:010:008 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh 21:010:009 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that 21:010:010 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must 21:010:011 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a 21:010:012 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of 21:010:013 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and 21:010:014 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; 21:010:015 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 21:010:016 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes 21:010:017 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, 21:010:018 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through 21:010:019 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money 21:010:020 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the 21:011:001 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after 21:011:002 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest 21:011:003 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the 21:011:004 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that 21:011:005 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the 21:011:006 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not 21:011:007 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the 21:011:008 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let 21:011:009 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer 21:011:010 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from 21:012:001 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the 21:012:002 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not 21:012:003 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and 21:012:004 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of 21:012:005 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and 21:012:006 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be 21:012:007 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the 21:012:008 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. 21:012:009 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught 21:012:010 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that 21:012:011 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by 21:012:012 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many 21:012:013 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and 21:012:014 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every |