stones together; a time to embrace, | 20 All go to one place; all were formed and a time to abstain from embracing; of the dust, and all will return to dust. 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. "And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? 22 And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him? ness of work. 9 What advantage has he that works in those things wherein he labours? 10 I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with. "All the things which 4. So I returned, and saw all the he has made are beautiful in his time: oppressions that were done under the + Gr. age. he has also set the whole world sun: and behold the tear of the opin their heart, that man might not find pressed, and they had no comforter; out the work which God has wrought and on the side of them that oppressed from the beginning even to the end. them was there power; but they had 12 I know that there is no good in no comforter: 2 and I praised all the them, except for a man to rejoice, and dead that had already died more than to do good in his life. 13 Also in the the living, as many as are alive until case of every man who shall eat and now. 3 And better than both these is drink, and see good in all his labour, he who has not yet been, who has not this is a gift of God. 14 I know that seen all the evil work that is done whatsoever things God has done, they under the sun. And I saw all labour, shall be for ever: it is impossible to and all the 'diligent work, Gr. manliadd to it, and it is impossible to take that this is a man's envy . comaway from it: and God has done it from his neighbour. This panion. that men may fear before him. 15 That is also vanity and waywardness of which has been is now; and whatever spirit. 5 The fool folds his hands things are appointed to be have already together, and cats his own flesh. been; and God will seek out that Better is a handful of rest than two which is past. 16 And moreover I saw handfuls of trouble and waywardness under the sun the place of judgment, of spirit. there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one. "And I said in my heart, + Or, the God will judge the rightrighteous one. eous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work. 18 I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to show that they are beasts. 19 Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity. 6 says not, For So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and *for whom do I labour, and de- Possibly, he prive my soul of good? whom,' &c. this is also vanity, and an evil 'trouble. Two are better than one, + Gr. distracseeing they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone, when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up. 11 Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how 9 tion. + 9 shall one be warmed alone? 12And if and high ones over them. 17 Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and when thou art near to hear, let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil. + Or, been content with. +q. d. of those, or, such things. 8 Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field. He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity. 10 In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding it with his eyes? + Gr. ȧpxn. "The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep. 12 There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt. 13 And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 14 As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing 5. Be not hasty with thy mouth, for his labour, that it should go with and let not thine heart be swift to utter him in his hand. 15 And this is also anything before God; for God is in an evil infirmity: for as he came, so heaven above, and thou upon earth: also shall he return: and what is his therefore let thy words be few. 2 For gain, for which he vainly labours? through the multitude of trial a dream 16 Yea, all his days are in darkness, comes; and a fool's voice is with a and in mourning, and much sorrow, multitude of words. 3 Whenever thou and infirmity, and wrath. Or, anger. shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to 17 Behold! I have seen good, that it is pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: a fine thing for a man to eat and to thou therefore pay whatsoever thou drink, and to see good in all his labour shalt have vowed. It is better that in which he may labour under the sun thou shouldest not vow, than that thou all the number of the days of his life shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer which God has given to him: for it is not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; his portion. 18 Yea, and as for every and say not in the presence of God, It man to whom God has given wealth was an error: lest God be angry at thy and possessions, and has given him voice, and destroy the works of thy power to eat thereof, and to receive hands. For there is evil in a multi-his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; tude of dreams and vanities and many this is the gift of God. 19 For he shall words: but fear thou God. not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart. 6 7 If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to keep watch over him that is high, + 6. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant Alex. ènì, upon man. 2 4 *with man: a man to whom God Gr. nò, but shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity. 3 If a 3 If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet if his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he. For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness. 5 Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is no more rest to this one than another. +Alex. begins 6+ Though he has lived to Kai ei enge, the return of a thousand lived, &c. years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place? All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life? The sight the face of. of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit. 10 If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he. "For there are many things which increase vanity. the verse thus and if he has + Gr. before 7. What advantage has a man? for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has + Gr. in. spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth. 3 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the 5 7 living man will apply good warning to his heart. 4 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools. As the sound of thorns. under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity. For oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart. Gr. heart of "The end of a matter is better his nobility. than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded. 10 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools. "Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire in wisdom concerning this. 12 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun. 13 For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it. Gr. Tov Tap' 14 Behold the works of God: 5.12: 8. 8. for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked? 15 In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused theone to agree with the other *for this reason, that man should find + Lit. connothing after him. 16I have speech. Heb. seen all things in the days of in order that.' my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness. 17 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded. 18 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time. 19 It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: Alex. he that for to them that fear God all come forth things shall 'come forth well. well in all re20 Wisdom will help the wise man more αὐτῆς chap. cerning fears God shall spects. + Comp. Heb. with Gr. what was, and a + + and דעה tween 8 than ten mighty men which are in the keeps the commandment shall not know city. 21 For there is not a righteous man an evil thing: and the heart of the in the earth, who will do good, and wise knows the time of judgment. For not sin. 22 Also take no heed to all to every thing there is time and judgthe words which ungodly men shall ment; for the knowledge of a man is speak; lest thou hear thy servant great to him. For there + Seeming cursing thee. 23 For many times he is no one that knows what confusion beshall trespass against thee, and repeat- is going to be: for who edly shall he afflict thine heart; for shall tell him how it shall be? There thus also hast thou cursed others. 24 All is no man that has power over the these things have I proved in wisdom: spirit to retain the spirit; and there is I said, I will be wise; but it was far no power in the day of death: and from me. 25 That which is far beyond there is no discharge in the day of great battle; neither shall ungodliness save depth, who shall find it out? her votary. 9 So I saw all this, and I 26 I and my heart went round about applied my heart to every work that to know, and to examine, and to seek has been done under the sun; all the wisdom, and the account of things, things wherein man has power over and to know the folly and trouble and man to afflict him. 10And then I saw madness of the ungodly man. 27 And the ungodly carried into the tombs, I find her to be, and I will pronounce and that out of the holy place: and her more bitter than death the woman they departed, and were praised in the which is a snare, and her heart nets, city, because they had done thus: this who has a band in her hands: he that is also is vanity. 11 Because there is no good in the sight of God shall be de- contradiction made on the part of those livered from her; but the sinner shall who do evil quickly, therefore the be caught by her. 28 Behold, this heart of the children of men is fully have I found, said the Preacher, determined in them to do evil. 12 He seeking by one at a time to find that has sinned has done evil from that out the account, 29 which my soul time, and long from beforehand : neversought after, but I found not: for I theless I know, that it is well with have found one man of a thousand; them that fear God, that they may fear but a woman in all these I have not before him: 13 but it shall not be well found. 30 But, behold, this have I with the ungodly, and he shall not found, that God made man upright; prolong his days, which are as a shadow; but they have sought out many de- forasmuch as he fears not before God. 14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly; and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity. 15 Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry: and this shall attend him in his labour all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun. vices. Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying? 3 8. A man's wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated. 2 Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word of the oath of God. Be not hasty; thou shalt go forth out of his presence: stand not in an evil matter; for he will do whatsoever he shall please, even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou? 5 He that 4 16 Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought upon the earth: for there is that neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes. 17 And I beheld all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun whatsoever things a man shall endeavour to seek, however a man may labour to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yea, however much a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it: for I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this. 2 thou lovest all the days of the life of "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet wealth to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; for time and chance will happen to them all. 12 For surely man also knows not his time: as fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as birds that are caught in a snare; even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them. 13 This I also saw to be wisdom under the sun, and it is great before me: 14 suppose there were a little city, and few men in it; and there should come against it a great king, and surround it, and build great mounds against it; 15 and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city by his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man. 16 And I said, Wisdom is better than power: yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nought, and his words not listened to. 17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of them that rule in folly. 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: and one sinner will destroy much good. 9. I saw that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: yea, there is no man that knows either love or hatred, though all are before their face. Vanity is in all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good, and to the bad; both to the pure, and to the impure; both to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not: as is the good, so is the sinner: as is the swearer, even so is he that fears an oath. 3 There is this evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yea, the heart of the sons of men is filled with evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after that they go to the dead. 4 For who is he that has fellowship with all the living? there is hope of him: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living will know that they shall die: but the dead know nothing, and there is no longer any reward to them; for their memory is lost. Also +Gr.forgotten. their love, and their hatred, and their envy, have now perished; 10. Pestilent flies will corrupt a yea, there is no portion for them any preparation of sweet ointment: and a more for ever in all that is done under little wisdom is more precious than the sun. 7 Go, eat thy bread with great glory of folly. A wise man's mirth, and drink thy wine with a joy-heart is at his right hand; but a fool's ful heart; for now God has favourably heart at his left. 3 Yea, and whenever accepted thy works. Let thy gar- a fool walks by the way, his Gr. heart. ments be always white; and let not oil wisdom will fail him, and think of. So the Heb. be wanting on thine head. all that he thinks of is folly. "And see life with the wife whom Gr. will 4If the spirit of the ruler rise up |