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A. V.

* ch. 15. 18.

& 26. 21.

* Job 22.
29.
ch. 15.33.
& 18. 12.
Matt. 23.
12.
Luke 14.
11.
+ Heb.
shall be

set on
high.
*ch.19.6.

+ Heb.

the face

of a ruler.

+ Heb. know.

* John 3. 13.

* Job 38.
4.

Ps. 104.3.
Is. 40. 12.

*Ps.12.6.

& 18. 30. & 19. 8. &119.140. + Heb. purified.

* Deut. 4. 2.

& 12. 32. Rev. 22. 18, 19.

+ Heb. withhold not from me.

* Matt. 6.

11.

+ Heb.
of my al-
lowance.

* Deut.
32. 15.
+ Heb.
belie
thee.

+ Heb. Hurt

not with thy tongue.

*ch. 6.17.

* Job 29. 17. Ps. 52. 2. & 57. 4. + Heb. Wealth.

!! Or, the brook.

+ Heb.

heart.

22* An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

23 *A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it

not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

26 * Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just : and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

3 I neither learned wisdom, nor † have the knowledge of the holy.

4* Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

5 * Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 * Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things have I required of thee; † deny me them not before I die:

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; *feed me with food + convenient for me:

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.

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression. 23 A man's pride shall bring him low:

But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honour.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul:

1 He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing. 25 The fear of man bringeth a snare:

But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD 2 shall be safe.

26 Many seek the ruler's favour:

But a man's judgement cometh from the LORD. 27 An unjust man is an abomination to the right

eous:

And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

30 The words of Agur the son of 3 Jakeh; the * oracle.

The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal: 2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man:

3 And I have not learned wisdom,
"Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and de-
scended?

Who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
Who hath bound the waters in his garment?
Who hath established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son's name,
if thou knowest ?

57 Every word of God is 8 tried:

He is a shield unto them that trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words,

Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

7 Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me them not before I die :

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is needful for me:

R.V.

1 See Lev. v. 1.

2 Heb. shall be set on high.

3 Or, Jakeh,

of Massa
See Gen.
XXV. 14.
4 Or,
burden

5 Or, as
other-
wise
read,
I have
wearied
myself,
O God,
I have
wearied
myself,
O God,
and am
con-

sumed:
for I am
&c.

6 Or,
That

I should
have the
know-

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who ledge &c. is the LORD?

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and steal,

And 10 use profanely the name of my God. 10 Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be held 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 filthi-12

ness.

13 There is a generation, O how *lofty are their eyes and their eyelids 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 horseleach 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 eagles 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.

There is a generation that are pure in their

own eyes,

And yet are not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, Oh how lofty are their eyes!

And their eyelids 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 horseleach hath two daughters, 12 crying, Give, give.

There are three things that are never satisfied,
Yea, four that say not, Enough:

16 18 The grave; and the barren womb;

The earth that is not satisfied with water;
And the fire that saith not, Enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father,
And despiseth to obey his mother,
The ravens of 14 the valley shall pick it out,
And the 15 young eagles 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.

7 See Ps.
xii. 6,
xviii. 30.

8 Heb. purified. • Heb. the

bread of my portion.

10 Heb. handle the

name.

11 Or, vampire 12 Or,

called

13 Heb.

Sheol.

14 Or, the

brook

15 Or, vultures

A.V.

* ch. 19.

10.

+ Heb. wise, made wise.

* ch. 6. 6.

+ Heb. gathered together.

Il Or, horse.

+ Heb. girt in the loins.

*Job 21. 5.

& 10. 4.

+ Heb.
alter.

+ Heb.
of all the
sons of
affic-
tion.

Ps. 104.

15.

+ Heb. bitter

of soul. + Heb. the

sons of destruction.

* Lev. 19. 15. Deut. 1. 16.

* ch.12.4.

+ Heb. taketh.

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 mar ried; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are t 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+ greyhound; 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.

31 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 † per-
vert the judgment † of any of the afflicted.

6 *Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those 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.

20 So 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 doth tremble,
And for four, which it cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he is king;

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 provide their meat in the summer; 26 The 2 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 lizard 3 taketh hold with her hands,
Yet is she in kings' palaces.

29 There be three things which are stately in
their march,

Yea, four which are stately in going:

30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts,
And turneth not away for any;

31 The greyhound; the he-goat also;
And the king,

rising up.

R.V.

1 Heb. Under.

2 See Lev.xi.5.

3 Or,

thou

canst

seize

with thy hands

4 Or, war

horse Heb.

well girt (or, well

against whom there is no

knit) in the loins.

5 Or,

when his

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, army is Or if thou hast thought evil,

Lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 For the churning of milk bringeth forth
butter,

31

And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth
blood:

So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

The words of king Lemuel; the oracle
which his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb?
And what, O 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 10 to say, Where is strong drink?

5 Lest they drink, and forget 11 the law,

And pervert the judgement 12 of any that is
afflicted.

6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to
perish,

And wine unto the bitter in soul:

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 18 left desolate.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously,

with

him

6 Heb. pressing.

7 Or, The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which &c. See ch.xxx.1, margin. s Or. burden

9 Or, as other

wise

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10 A virtuous woman who can find?
For her price is far above 14 rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her,
And he shall have no lack of 15 gain.
12 She doeth him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool and flax,

And worketh 16 willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant-ships;
She bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night,
And giveth meat to her household,
And their 17 task to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
With the fruit of her hands she planteth a
vineyard.

16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it:
with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vine-
yard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and 17 She girdeth her loins with strength,
strengtheneth her arms.

And maketh strong her arms.

all the

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A.V.

+ Heb. She tasteth.

+ Heb.

She

spreadeth.

Il Or. double garments.

Il Or, have gotten riches.

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 merchant.

25 Strength and honour 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 idle

ness.

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 Favour 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.

18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable:

Her lamp goeth not out by night.

19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.

20 She spreadeth out her 2 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 for herself 3 carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates,

When he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them; And delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And the law of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all.

30 Favour 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 works praise her in the gates.

R.V.

1 Heb. palms.

2 Heb. palm.

3 Or, cushions

4 Heb. Canaanite.

5 Or. teaching

ECCLESIASTES;

OR, THE PREACHER.

* Ps. 39.

5. 6.

& 62.9.

& 144. 4. ch. 12. 8. *ch.2.22. & 3. 9.

* Ps. 101. 5.

& 119.90. + Heb. panteth.

* [1611

the]

* Job 38. 10.

Ps. 104. 8,9.

+ Heb. return

to go. *ch, 3.15.

11 Or,
to afflict
them.

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2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

*

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: *but the earth abideth for ever. 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 labour; 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 travail hath God given to the sons of man" to be exercised therewith.

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3 nity of vanities, all is vanity. What profit hath man of all his labour wherein he la4 boureth under the sun? One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; and 5 the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth 6 to his place where he ariseth. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth 7 again to its circuits. All the 2 rivers rup into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again. 8 3 All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it the eye is not satisfied with seeing, 9 nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be; and that feeble which hath been done is that which shall be

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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.

2 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 doeth it?

3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven tall the days of their life.

4 I made me great works; I builded 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 labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

*

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 to 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 for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

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 labour 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 labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

2

R.V.

1 Or, a feeding

on wind
(see Hos.
xii. 1)
Or,

vexation

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and 1a striving 15 after wind. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting can16 not be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart hath had great experience of spirit 17 of wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly I perceived that this also was a 18 striving after wind. For in much wisdom is defect. much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

6

8

7

2 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: 2 and, behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth 3 it? I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven 9 all 4 the days of their life. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted 6 trees in them of all kinds of fruit: I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest 7 where trees were reared: I bought menservants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before 8 me in Jerusalem: 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 9 sons of men, 10 concubines very many. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom 10 11 remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour; and this was my 11 portion from all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun

12

and so elsewhere. 2 Heb.

3 Or, yea,

more
than all

4 Heb.

over.

5 Heb.
hath
seen
abun-
dantly.

6 Or, and
thou
shall

enjoy
good

7 Or,

8 Or, holding its

course

9 Heb. the number of the days of their life.

10 Or,
musical

instru-
ments,
and that
of all

sorts

The
Sept.
and
Syriac
render,

cupbear

ers, male
and
female.
The
meaning
of the
Hebrew

is very

uncer-
tain.

11 Or,

me 12 Or, after the king, even him whom they made

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly: for what can the man do that cometh 12 after the king? even that which 13 hath been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that stood by 15 one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also 16 was vanity. For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been already forgotten. And how doth the wise man die 17 even as the fool! So I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me for all is vanity and a striving after wind. 18 And I hated all my labour wherein I laboured under the sun seeing that I must leave it unto 19 the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

king long ago? Or, anter the king, in those things which have been already done?

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20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the

sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 * For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are * sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

This

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. 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 travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the 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 rend, 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 laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given

to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

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 labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

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 mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men," that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

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.

20 Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour wherein I 21 had laboured under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he 2 leave it for his portion. This also is vanity 22 and a great evil. For what hath a man of all his labour, and of the 3 striving of his heart, 23 wherein he laboureth under the sun? For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.

24

R.V.

1 Or, success

2 Heb. give. 3 Or, vexation

4 Or,

There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, 25 that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, 5 more than 26-I? For to the man that pleaseth him God giv- hasten eth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap cording up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. To every thing there is a season, and a time

3

2 to every purpose under the heaven: 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 4 break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, 5 and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from 6 embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; 7 a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep 8 silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time 9 for peace. What profit hath he that worketh 10 in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the

11 men to be exercised therewith. He hath made travail which God hath given to the sons of every thing beautiful in its time: also he hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done 12 from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labour, is the gift of 14 God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God hath done 15 it, that men should fear before him. 9 That

16

which is hath been already; and that which is to be hath already been: and God seeketh again that which is 10 passed away.

6

thereto 5 Ac

to some ancient autho rities, apart from him. • Or,

[blocks in formation]

is now
10 Heb.

driven
away.

11 Or, I said

in mine

heart

concern

sons of men, It is that

God ac. 12 Or, the sons of

And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of judgement, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wicked-ing the 17 ness was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and 18 for every work. I said in mine heart, It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they 19 themselves are but as beasts. For 12 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 13 breath; chance, and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: 20 for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. spirit

men are a

chance, and the beasts are a

and one &c.

13 Or,

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