Annotations on the Bible Volume 1
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee , and say, who is the LORD ? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain .
10 Accuse not a servant unto his Master, lest he curse thee , and thou be found guilty .
11 There is a generation that curseth their father , and doth not bless their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness .
13. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eye-lids are lifted up .
14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw-teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horse-leach hath two daughters , crying, Give, give : There are three things that are never satisfied , yea, four things say not , It is enough.
16 The grave, and the barren womb , the earth that is not filled with water, and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father , and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out , and the young eagle shall eat it.
18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me , yea, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent upon a rock , the way of a ship in the midst of the sea , and the way of a man with a maid .
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman ; she eateth , and wipeth her mouth , and saith, I have done no wickedness .
21 For three things the Earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear :
22 For a servant when he reigneth , and a fool when he is filled with meat ;
23 For an odious woman when she is married , and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress .
24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise .
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer .
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks .
27 The locusts have no king , yet go they forth all of them by bands .
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands , and is in kings palaces .
29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going :
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any .
31 A grey-hound , an he-goat also, and a king, against whom there is no rising up .
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself , or if thou hast thought evil , lay thine hand upon thy mouth .
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife .
CHAP. XXXI.
1 THe words of king Lemuel , the prophecy that his mother taught him.
2 What , my son! and what, the son of my womb ! and what the son of my vows !
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings .
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine , nor for princes strong drink.
5 Lest they drink and forget the law , and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted .
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish , and wine to th •… se that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty , and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction .
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her , so that he shall have no need of spoil .
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax , and worketh willingly with her hands .
14 She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afar .
15 She riseth also while it is yet night , and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard .
17 She girdeth her loins with strength , and strengtheneth her arms .
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good : her candle goeth not out by night .
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle , and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor ; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet .
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry , her clothing is silk and purple .
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the Elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing , and she shall rejoice in time to come .
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom , and in her tongue is the law of kindness .
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household , and eateth not the bread of idleness .
28 Her children arise up , and call her blessed , her husband also, and he praiseth her .
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all .
30 Favor is deceitful , and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD , she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands , and let her own works praise her in the gates .
ECCLESIASTES.
THree things in general are to be noted concerning this Book. 1. The Author of it. Who was Solomon, as is manifest, both from the common consent of Jewish and Christian Writers, and from the express words of the first Verse. Nor can anything be opposed to it, but bold and groundless conjectures. That he wrote it in his old Age, is more than probable from divers passages in it, as that he did it after his buildings, Ch. 2. 4. which yet took up Twenty Years of his life, 1 King. 9. 10. and after some considerable enjoyment of them, and planting of Gardens, and Orchards, and reaping the Fruit of them, Ch. 2. v. 5, 6. and after long and much consideration and experience of all those Methods in which men expected to find happiness, and after he had been deeply plunged in impure and inordinate loves, Ch. 7. 27, &c. and from many other places, which may be observed by any diligent Reader. And so this Book was written by him as a public Testimony of his Repentance and Detestation of all those vain and wicked courses to which he had addicted himself: wherein he followed the example of his Father David, who after his sad fall penned the Fifty and First Psalm. And the truth of this Opinion may be confirmed by that expression, 2 Chron. 11. 17. they walked in the way of David and Solomon, i. e. wherein they walked both before their falls, and after their Repentance. 2. The form or method of it. For whereas there are some passages in it which may seem offensive and impious, for which some few Persons have suspected its Authority, it must be considered that it is in part dramatical, as was said before of the Book of Proverbs, and that Solomon speaks some and most things in his own Name, but some other things in the Names, and according to the opinions of those worldly and ungodly men, as is undeniably manifest both from the scope and design of the Book, as it is expressed both in the beginning, and in the conclusion of it, and from his serious and large disputation against those wicked Principles and Courses. And this way of writing is not unusual amongst both Sacred and Profane Writers. 3. The design and business of it: Which is to describe Man's true happiness, and the way leading to it. Which he doth both Negatively, asserting, and proving, that it is not to be found either in secular Wisdom, or in sensual Pleasures, or in worldly Greatness and Glory, or in abundance of Riches, or in a vain profession of Religion; and positively, showing that it is to be had only by the fear of God and obedience to his Laws, which alone can give a Man a contented and cheerful enjoyment of his present comforts, and assurance of his future and everlasting happiness.
1 THe words of the preacher , the son of David, king in Jerusalem .
2. Vanity of vanities , saith the preacher , vanity of vanities; all is vanity .
3 What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the Sun .
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh but the earth abideth forever .
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose .
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 .
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.
8 All things are full of labor , man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing .
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.
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.
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 .
12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem .
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven : this sore travel hath God given to the sons of man , to be exercised therewith .
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit .
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight : and that which is wanting cannot be numbered .
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 .
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit .
18 For in much wisdom is much grief : and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow .
CHAP. II.
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 I said of laughter , It is mad : and of mirth, What doth it ?
3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine , (yet acquainting my 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 .
4 I made me great works , I built me houses , I planted me vineyards .
5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits .
6 I made me pools of water , to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees .
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.
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.
9 So I was great , and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me .
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 labor , and this was my portion of my labor .
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do : and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; and there was no profit under the sun.
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 .
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly , as far as light excelleth darkness .
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 unto them all .
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.
16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever ; seeing that which now is, in the days to come shall all be forgotten: and how dieth the wise man? as the fool .
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.
18 Yea, I hated all my labor, which I had taken under the sun : because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me .
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool ? yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.
21 For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity : yet to a man that hath not labored therein , shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity, and a great evil .
22 For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart wherein he hath labored under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows , and his travel grief ; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night . This is also vanity.
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 all his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God .
25 For who can eat , or who else can hasten hereunto more than I?
26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight , wisdom and knowledge , and joy : but to the sinner he giveth travel, 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.
CHAP. III.
1 TO every thing there is a season , and a time to every purpose under heaven.
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 A time to kill , and a time to heal : a time to break down , and a time to build up:
4 A time to weep , and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
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 :
6 A time to get, and a time to lose : a time to keep, and a time to cast away :
7 A time to rent , and a time to sew: a 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 laboreth ?
10 I have seen the travel which God hath given to the sons of men , to be exercised in it .
11 He hath made everything 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 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 labor, it is the gift of God .
14 I know that whatsoever God doth, it shall be forever : nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it : and God doth 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 my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men , that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves are beasts .
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.
20 All go unto one place , all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again .
21 Who knoweth the spirit of 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 upward, and the spirit of the 〈◊〉 that goeth downward to the earth:
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 ?
CHAP. IV.
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 .
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead , more than the living which are yet alive .
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 Again I considered all travel, and every right work , that for this a man is envied of his neighbor . This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh .
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travel and vexation of spirit .
7 Then I returned, and I saw † vanity under the sun.
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 labor , neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither saith he , For whom do I labor , and bereave my soul of good ? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travel .
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor .
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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no quickly broken .
〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉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 .
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun , with the second child 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.
CHAP. V.
The Seven first Verses of this Chapter are inserted partly as the only effectual remedy against all the foregoing vanities and partly as a caution to take heed of bringing vanity into the Service of God, or of worshipping God vainly and foolishly.
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 .
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.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business , and a fools voice is known by multitude of words .
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 Better is it that thou shouldst not vow , than that thou should 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 field .
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 laboring man is sweet , whether he eat little , or much : but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 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 travel , and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand .
15 As he came forth of his mothers womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand c.
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 labored for the wind ?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness , and he hath much sorrow, and wrath with his sickness .
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 labor that he taketh under the sun, all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion .
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 labor, 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 .
CHAP. VI.
1 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 and wealth , and honor ▪ 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.
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.
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 anything : 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 labor 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 ?
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.
Having largely discoursed of the vanity of all worldly things, and having now said in the foregoing verse, that no man knew what was best for him, he now proceeds to prescribe some Remedies against these Vanities, and to direct men to the right method of obtaining that felicity which is not to be expected or found in this World.
1 A Good name is better than precious Ointment : and the day of death , than the day of ones birth.
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 .
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better .
4 The heart of the wi •… e 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 wi •… e , 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.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart .
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.
10 Say not thou , What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this .
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun .
12 For wisdom is a defense , and money is a defense: 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 joiful , but in the day of Adversity consider : God also hath set the •… ne over against the other , to the end that man should find nothing after him .
15 All things r 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 overmuch , neither make thyself over-wise : why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
17 Be not overmuch 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 .
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 All this have I proved by wisdom : I said, I will be wise , but it was far from me .
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out ?
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.
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 y, 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 WHo is as the wise man ? 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 kings commandment , and that in regard of the oath of God .
3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight : stand not in an evil thing , for he doth whatsoever pleaseth him .
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power : and who may say ▪ unto him, What dost 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 be.
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 .
9 All this I have seen, and apply my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another .
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 .
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 .
14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, but 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 .
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 labor , 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 labor 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.
CHAP. IX.
1 FOr all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this e, that the righteous, and the wi •… e , 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 eve •… t to the righteous and the wicked; to the good and 〈◊〉 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 m as he that feareth an oath .
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 .
4 For to him that is joined to all the living , there is hope : for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die : but the dead know not anything , neither have they anymore a reward , for the memory of them is forgotten .
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished ; neither have they anymore a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun .
7 Go thy way , eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart : for God now accepteth thy works .
8 Let thy garments be always white ; and let thy head lack no ointment .
9 Live joyfully with the wise 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 labor which thou takest under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with all thy might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.
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 favor to men of skill , but time and chance happeneth to them all .
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 .
13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me .
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:
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 .
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.
1 DEad flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor .
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand ; but a fools heart is at his left .
3 Yea also when he that is a fool walketh by the way , his wisdom •… aileth him , and he saith to everyone that he is a fool .
4 If the spirit of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place , for yielding pacifieth great offenses .
5 There is an evil which I have seen 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 Earth .
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it ; and whoso breaketh an 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 whet the edge, then must he put to more strength ; but Wisdom is profitable to direct .
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment , and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious : but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself .
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 labor of the foolish wearieth everyone of them , because he knoweth not how to go to the city .
16 Woe 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 By much slothfulness the building decayeth, and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through .
19 A feast is made for laughter, and Wine maketh merry : but money answereth all things .
20 Curse not the king , no not in thy thought , and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber : for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter .
CHAP. XI.
1 CAst thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find it after many days .
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth .
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 .
4 He that observeth the wind, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds, shall not reap .
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.
6 In the morning sow thy seed , and in the evening with-hold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good .
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun .
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.
9 Rejoice , O young man , in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth; and walk in the way of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment .
10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh ; for childhood and youth are vanity .
CHAP. XII.
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 ;
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 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 music shall •… e brought low .
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:
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 .
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it .
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity .
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 .
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words , and that which was written was upright , even words of truth .
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 And further, by these , my son, be admonished : of making many books there is no end , and much study is a weariness to the flesh .
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter , Fear God , and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing , whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
1 THe words of the preacher , the son of David, king in Jerusalem .
2. Vanity of vanities , saith the preacher , vanity of vanities; all is vanity .
3 What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the Sun .
4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh but the earth abideth forever .
5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose .
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 .
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.
8 All things are full of labor , man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing .
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.
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.
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 .
12 I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem .
13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven : this sore travel hath God given to the sons of man , to be exercised therewith .
14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit .
15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight : and that which is wanting cannot be numbered .
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 .
17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit .
18 For in much wisdom is much grief : and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow .
CHAP. II.
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 I said of laughter , It is mad : and of mirth, What doth it ?
3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine , (yet acquainting my 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 .
4 I made me great works , I built me houses , I planted me vineyards .
5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits .
6 I made me pools of water , to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees .
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.
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.
9 So I was great , and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me .
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 labor , and this was my portion of my labor .
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do : and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; and there was no profit under the sun.
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 .
13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly , as far as light excelleth darkness .
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 unto them all .
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.
16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever ; seeing that which now is, in the days to come shall all be forgotten: and how dieth the wise man? as the fool .
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.
18 Yea, I hated all my labor, which I had taken under the sun : because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me .
19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool ? yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.
21 For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity : yet to a man that hath not labored therein , shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity, and a great evil .
22 For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart wherein he hath labored under the sun?
23 For all his days are sorrows , and his travel grief ; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night . This is also vanity.
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 all his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God .
25 For who can eat , or who else can hasten hereunto more than I?
26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight , wisdom and knowledge , and joy : but to the sinner he giveth travel, 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.
CHAP. III.
1 TO every thing there is a season , and a time to every purpose under heaven.
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 A time to kill , and a time to heal : a time to break down , and a time to build up:
4 A time to weep , and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance:
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 :
6 A time to get, and a time to lose : a time to keep, and a time to cast away :
7 A time to rent , and a time to sew: a 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 laboreth ?
10 I have seen the travel which God hath given to the sons of men , to be exercised in it .
11 He hath made everything 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 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 labor, it is the gift of God .
14 I know that whatsoever God doth, it shall be forever : nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it : and God doth 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 my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men , that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves are beasts .
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.
20 All go unto one place , all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again .
21 Who knoweth the spirit of 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 upward, and the spirit of the 〈◊〉 that goeth downward to the earth:
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 ?
CHAP. IV.
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 .
2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead , more than the living which are yet alive .
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 Again I considered all travel, and every right work , that for this a man is envied of his neighbor . This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh .
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travel and vexation of spirit .
7 Then I returned, and I saw † vanity under the sun.
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 labor , neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither saith he , For whom do I labor , and bereave my soul of good ? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travel .
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor .
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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no quickly broken .
〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉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 .
15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun , with the second child 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.
CHAP. V.
The Seven first Verses of this Chapter are inserted partly as the only effectual remedy against all the foregoing vanities and partly as a caution to take heed of bringing vanity into the Service of God, or of worshipping God vainly and foolishly.
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 .
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.
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business , and a fools voice is known by multitude of words .
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 Better is it that thou shouldst not vow , than that thou should 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 field .
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 laboring man is sweet , whether he eat little , or much : but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 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 travel , and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand .
15 As he came forth of his mothers womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand c.
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 labored for the wind ?
17 All his days also he eateth in darkness , and he hath much sorrow, and wrath with his sickness .
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 labor that he taketh under the sun, all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion .
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 labor, 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 .
CHAP. VI.
1 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 and wealth , and honor ▪ 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.
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.
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 anything : 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 labor 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 ?
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.
Having largely discoursed of the vanity of all worldly things, and having now said in the foregoing verse, that no man knew what was best for him, he now proceeds to prescribe some Remedies against these Vanities, and to direct men to the right method of obtaining that felicity which is not to be expected or found in this World.
1 A Good name is better than precious Ointment : and the day of death , than the day of ones birth.
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 .
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better .
4 The heart of the wi •… e 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 wi •… e , 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.
7 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart .
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.
10 Say not thou , What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this .
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun .
12 For wisdom is a defense , and money is a defense: 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 joiful , but in the day of Adversity consider : God also hath set the •… ne over against the other , to the end that man should find nothing after him .
15 All things r 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 overmuch , neither make thyself over-wise : why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
17 Be not overmuch 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 .
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 All this have I proved by wisdom : I said, I will be wise , but it was far from me .
24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out ?
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.
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 y, 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 WHo is as the wise man ? 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 kings commandment , and that in regard of the oath of God .
3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight : stand not in an evil thing , for he doth whatsoever pleaseth him .
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power : and who may say ▪ unto him, What dost 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 be.
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 .
9 All this I have seen, and apply my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another .
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 .
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 .
14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, but 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 .
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 labor , 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 labor 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.
CHAP. IX.
1 FOr all this I considered in my heart, even to declare all this e, that the righteous, and the wi •… e , 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 eve •… t to the righteous and the wicked; to the good and 〈◊〉 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 m as he that feareth an oath .
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 .
4 For to him that is joined to all the living , there is hope : for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die : but the dead know not anything , neither have they anymore a reward , for the memory of them is forgotten .
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished ; neither have they anymore a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun .
7 Go thy way , eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart : for God now accepteth thy works .
8 Let thy garments be always white ; and let thy head lack no ointment .
9 Live joyfully with the wise 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 labor which thou takest under the sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with all thy might ; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.
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 favor to men of skill , but time and chance happeneth to them all .
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 .
13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me .
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:
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 .
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.
1 DEad flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor .
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand ; but a fools heart is at his left .
3 Yea also when he that is a fool walketh by the way , his wisdom •… aileth him , and he saith to everyone that he is a fool .
4 If the spirit of a ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place , for yielding pacifieth great offenses .
5 There is an evil which I have seen 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 Earth .
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it ; and whoso breaketh an 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 whet the edge, then must he put to more strength ; but Wisdom is profitable to direct .
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment , and a babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious : but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself .
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 labor of the foolish wearieth everyone of them , because he knoweth not how to go to the city .
16 Woe 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 By much slothfulness the building decayeth, and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through .
19 A feast is made for laughter, and Wine maketh merry : but money answereth all things .
20 Curse not the king , no not in thy thought , and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber : for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter .
CHAP. XI.
1 CAst thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find it after many days .
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth .
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 .
4 He that observeth the wind, shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds, shall not reap .
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.
6 In the morning sow thy seed , and in the evening with-hold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good .
7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun .
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.
9 Rejoice , O young man , in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth; and walk in the way of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment .
10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh ; for childhood and youth are vanity .
CHAP. XII.
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 ;
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 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 music shall •… e brought low .
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:
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 .
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it .
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity .
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 .
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words , and that which was written was upright , even words of truth .
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 And further, by these , my son, be admonished : of making many books there is no end , and much study is a weariness to the flesh .
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter , Fear God , and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing , whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
CANTICLES.
BEfore I come to the Explication of this Book, some things must be premised concerning it. 1. That it was of Divine Inspiration is so clear and certain, that as the Jewish Writers note, none ever questioned it, although some doubted of some other of Solomon' s Writings. And the same Arguments which prove the Divinity of other Books, are found here, such as the quality of the Penman, who was confessedly a man inspired by God; the Excellency and Usefulness of the Matter; the sacred and sublime Majesty of the style; and the singular efficacy of it upon the Hearts of sober and serious Persons, who read it with due preparation; and those other Characters which are commonly known, and therefore it is needless here to enumerate. 2. The form of this Book is dramatical, wherein several parts or parcels of it are uttered by, or in, the Name of several persons, which are chiefly Four, the Bridegroom and the Bride, and the Friends or Companions of the one, and of the other. Nor is it declared what or when each of them speak, but that is secretly couched, and is left to the observation of the prudent Reader, as is usual in Writings of this Nature. 3. The design of the Book in general is to describe the passionate Loves and happy Marriage of two persons, and their mutual Satisfaction therein, and the blessed Fruits and Effects thereof. But then it is not to be understood carnally concerning Solomon and Pharaoh' s Daughter, as some have fancied, although the occasion of this Love and Marriage may be taken from that, or rather he makes an allusion to that, but spiritually concerning God, or Christ, and his Church and People. This is sufficiently evident from the descriptions of this Bridegroom and Bride, which are such as could not with any decency be used or meant concerning Solomon and Pharaoh' s Daughter, as when he is brought in like a Country Shepherd, Ch. 1. 7. and is called his Brides Brother, Ch. 5. 2. and when he gives such high and excessive Commendations to himself, as we shall see, and when she is made the keeper of Vineyards and of Sheep, Ch. 1. 6, 8. and is said to be smitten and abused by the Watchmen, Ch. 5. 7. and to be terrible as an Army, Ch. 6. 4. and to be like Pharaoh's Horses, and to have an Head like Carmel, a Nose like a Tower, Eyes like Fishpools, Teeth like a flock of Sheep, &c. Ch. 7. 4, 5. And there are many such like Expressions and Descriptions, which being applied to them, are absurd and monstrous. Hence it follows that this Book is to be understood mystically or Allegorically concerning that spiritual Love and Marriage which is between God or Christ, and his Church, or every believing Soul. And this will be more than probable to any man who shall consider the following particulars. 1. That the Scriptures both of the Old and New Testament are full of mystical and Allegorical passages; which being known and confessed, it is needless to prove. 2. That the Doctrine of Christ, or the Messias, and of his being the Head, and Husband, and Savior of God's Church or People, was well known, at least to the Prophets, and the wise and pious Israelites, in the time of the Old Testament; whereof we have many manifest and unquestionable evidences, not only in the New Testament, but in the Writings of Moses, in the Books of Psalms and Proverbs, and in the Prophets, as hath been noted in part, and will, God assisting, be further observed in the proper places. 3. That God compares himself to a Bridegroom, and his Church to a Bride, Isa. 62. 5. and calls, and owns himself the