\NormalFont\ShortTitle{Ecclesiastes}

{\MT Ecclesiastes



\par }\PoetryChap{1}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\SC{The}} words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher,

\par }{\Q Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}What advantage
{\ADD{is there}} to a man

\par }{\Q In all his labor that he takes under the sun?


\par }{\Q \VS{4}A generation goes, and a generation comes:

\par }{\Q But the earth stands forever.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}And the sun arises, and the sun goes down

\par }{\Q And draws toward its place;


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Arising there it proceeds southward,

\par }{\Q And goes round toward the north.

\par }{\Q The wind goes round and round,

\par }{\Q And the wind returns to its circuits.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}All the rivers run into the sea;

\par }{\Q And yet the sea is not filled:

\par }{\Q To the place whence the rivers come,

\par }{\Q Thither they return again.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}All things are full of labor;

\par }{\Q A man will not be able to speak
{\ADD{of them}}:

\par }{\Q Neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing,

\par }{\Q Neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be:

\par }{\Q And what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done:

\par }{\Q And there is no new thing under the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{Who is he}} that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new?

\par }{\Q It has already been in the ages

\par }{\Q That have passed before us.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}There is no memorial to the first things;

\par }{\Q Neither to the things that have been last

\par }{\Q Shall their memorial be

\par }{\Q With them that shall be at the last
{\ADD{time}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}I the Preacher

\par }{\Q Was king over Israel in Jerusalem.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}And I applied my heart to seek out

\par }{\Q And examine by wisdom concerning all things

\par }{\Q That are done under heaven,

\par }{\Q For God has given to the sons of men

\par }{\Q An evil trouble

\par }{\Q To be troubled therewith.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}I beheld all the works

\par }{\Q That were wrought under the sun;

\par }{\Q And, behold, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}That which is crooked cannot be made straight:

\par }{\Q And deficiency cannot be numbered.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}I spoke in my heart, saying,

\par }{\Q Behold, I am increased,

\par }{\Q And have acquired wisdom beyond all

\par }{\Q Who were before me in Jerusalem:

\par }{\Q Also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}And my heart knew much—wisdom, and knowledge,

\par }{\Q Parables and understanding:

\par }{\Q I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge;

\par }{\Q And he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{2}{\Q \VerseOne{1}I said in my heart,

\par }{\Q Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good:

\par }{\Q And, behold, this is also vanity.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}I said to laughter, Madness:

\par }{\Q And to mirth, Why doest thou this?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}And I examined whether my heart

\par }{\Q Would excite my flesh as
{\ADD{with}} wine

\par }{\Q (Though my heart guided
{\ADD{me}} in wisdom),

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{I desired}} to lay hold of mirth,

\par }{\Q Until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men,

\par }{\Q Which they should do under the sun

\par }{\Q All the days of their life.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}I enlarged my work;

\par }{\Q I built me houses;

\par }{\Q I planted me vineyards.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}I made me gardens and orchards,

\par }{\Q And planted in them every kind of fruit tree.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}I made me pools of water,

\par }{\Q To water from them the timber-bearing wood.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}I got servants and maidens,

\par }{\Q And servants were born to me in the house:

\par }{\Q Also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds,

\par }{\Q Beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also,

\par }{\Q And the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces:

\par }{\Q I procured me singing men and singing women,

\par }{\Q And delights of the sons of men,

\par }{\Q A butler and female cupbearers.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}So I became great,

\par }{\Q And advanced beyond all

\par }{\Q That were before me in Jerusalem:

\par }{\Q Also my wisdom was established to me.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}And whatever mine eyes desired,

\par }{\Q I withheld not from them,

\par }{\Q I withheld not my heart

\par }{\Q From all my mirth:

\par }{\Q For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;

\par }{\Q And this was my portion

\par }{\Q Of all my labor.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}And I looked on all my works

\par }{\Q Which my hands had wrought,

\par }{\Q And on my labor which I labored to perform:

\par }{\Q And, behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit,

\par }{\Q And there is no advantage under the sun.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}Then I looked on to see wisdom,

\par }{\Q And madness, and folly:

\par }{\Q For who is the man who will follow after counsel,

\par }{\Q In all things wherein he employs it?


\par }{\Q \VS{13}And I saw that wisdom excels folly,

\par }{\Q As much as light excels darkness.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}The wise man’s eyes are in his head;

\par }{\Q But the fool walks in darkness:

\par }{\Q And I perceived, even I,

\par }{\Q That one event shall happen to them all.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}And I said in my heart,

\par }{\Q As the event of the fool is,

\par }{\Q So shall it be to me, even to me;

\par }{\Q And to what purpose have I gained wisdom?

\par }{\Q I said moreover in my heart,

\par }{\Q This is also vanity,

\par }{\Q Because the fool speaks of his abundance.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}For there is no remembrance of the wise man

\par }{\Q With the fool forever;

\par }{\Q Forasmuch as now
{\ADD{in}} the coming days

\par }{\Q All things are forgotten:

\par }{\Q And how shall the wise man die with the fool?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}So I hated life;

\par }{\Q Because the work that was wrought under the sun

\par }{\Q Was evil before me:

\par }{\Q For all is vanity and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}And I hated the whole of my labor

\par }{\Q Which I took under the sun;

\par }{\Q Because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}And who knows whether he will be a wise
{\ADD{man}} or a fool?

\par }{\Q And whether he will have power over all my labor

\par }{\Q In which I labored, and wherein I grew wise under the sun?

\par }{\Q This is also vanity.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}So I went about to dismiss from my heart

\par }{\Q All my labor wherein I had labored under the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}For there is
{\ADD{such}} a man that his labor

\par }{\Q Is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude;

\par }{\Q Yet
{\ADD{this}} man shall give his portion

\par }{\Q To one who has not labored therein.

\par }{\Q This is also vanity and great evil.


\par }{\Q \VS{22}For it happens to a man in all his labor,

\par }{\Q And in the purpose of his heart

\par }{\Q Wherein he labors under the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}For all his days

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Are days}} of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his;

\par }{\Q In the night also his heart rests not.

\par }{\Q This is also vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{24}A man has nothing
{\ADD{really}} good

\par }{\Q To eat, and to drink, and to show his soul

\par }{\Q {\ADD{As}} good in his trouble.

\par }{\Q This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.


\par }{\Q \VS{25}For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him?


\par }{\Q \VS{26}For
{\ADD{God}} has given to the man

\par }{\Q Who is good in his sight,

\par }{\Q Wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:

\par }{\Q But he has given to the sinner trouble,

\par }{\Q To add and to heap up,

\par }{\Q That he may give to him that is good before God;

\par }{\Q For this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{3}{\Q \VerseOne{1}To all things there is a time,

\par }{\Q And a season for every matter under heaven.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}A time of birth, and a time to die;

\par }{\Q A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted;


\par }{\Q \VS{3}A time to kill, and a time to heal;

\par }{\Q A time to pull down, and a time to build up;


\par }{\Q \VS{4}A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

\par }{\Q A time to lament, and a time to dance;


\par }{\Q \VS{5}A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together;

\par }{\Q A time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing;


\par }{\Q \VS{6}A time to seek, and a time to lose;

\par }{\Q A time to keep, and a time to cast away;


\par }{\Q \VS{7}A time to rend, and a time to sew;

\par }{\Q A time to be silent, and a time to speak;


\par }{\Q \VS{8}A time to love, and a time to hate;

\par }{\Q A time of war, and a time of peace.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}What advantage
{\ADD{has}} he that works in those things wherein he labors?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}I have seen all the trouble,

\par }{\Q Which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time:

\par }{\Q He has also set the whole world in their heart,

\par }{\Q That man might not find out

\par }{\Q The work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}I know that there is no good in them,

\par }{\Q Except
{\ADD{for a man}} to rejoice, and to do good in his life.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Also
{\ADD{in the case of}} every man who shall eat and drink,

\par }{\Q And see good in all his labor,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{This}} is a gift of God.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}I know that whatsoever things God has done,

\par }{\Q They shall be forever:

\par }{\Q It is impossible to add to it,

\par }{\Q And it is impossible to take away from it:

\par }{\Q And God has done
{\ADD{it}}, that
{\ADD{men}} may fear before him.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}That which has been is now;

\par }{\Q And whatever things
{\ADD{are appointed}} to be have already been;

\par }{\Q And God will seek out that which is past.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment,

\par }{\Q There was the ungodly one;

\par }{\Q And the place of righteousness,

\par }{\Q There was the godly one.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}And I said in my heart,

\par }{\Q God will judge the righteous and the ungodly:

\par }{\Q For there is a time there for every action

\par }{\Q And for every work.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}I said in my heart,

\par }{\Q Concerning the speech of the sons of man,

\par }{\Q God will judge them,

\par }{\Q And that to show that they are beasts.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}Also to them is the event of the sons of man,

\par }{\Q And the event of the brute;

\par }{\Q One event befalls them:

\par }{\Q As is the death of the one, so also the death of the other;

\par }{\Q And there is one breath to all:

\par }{\Q And what has the man more than the brute?

\par }{\Q Nothing; for all is vanity.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}All
{\ADD{go}} to one place;

\par }{\Q All were formed of the dust,

\par }{\Q And all will return to dust.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man,

\par }{\Q Whether it goes upward?

\par }{\Q And the spirit of the beast,

\par }{\Q Whether it goes downward to the earth?


\par }{\Q \VS{22}And I saw that there was no good,

\par }{\Q But that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works,

\par }{\Q For it is his portion,

\par }{\Q For who shall bring him to see anything of that which shall be after him?


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{4}{\Q \VerseOne{1}So I returned,

\par }{\Q And saw all the oppressions

\par }{\Q That were done under the sun:

\par }{\Q And behold the tear of the oppressed,

\par }{\Q And they had no comforter;

\par }{\Q And on the side of them that oppressed them was power;

\par }{\Q But they had no comforter:


\par }{\Q \VS{2}And I praised all the dead that had already died

\par }{\Q More than the living,

\par }{\Q As many as are alive until now.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Better also than both these

\par }{\Q Is he who has not yet been,

\par }{\Q Who has not seen all the evil work

\par }{\Q That is done under the sun.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}And I saw all labor,

\par }{\Q And all the diligent work,

\par }{\Q That this is a man’s envy from his neighbor.

\par }{\Q This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}The fool folds his hands together,

\par }{\Q And eats his own flesh.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Better is a handful of rest

\par }{\Q Than two handfuls of trouble

\par }{\Q And waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}There is one
{\ADD{alone}}, and there is not a second;

\par }{\Q Yea, he has neither son nor brother:

\par }{\Q Yet there is no end to all his labor;

\par }{\Q Neither is his eye satisfied with wealth;

\par }{\Q And for whom do I labor,

\par }{\Q And deprive my soul of good?

\par }{\Q This is also vanity,

\par }{\Q And an evil trouble.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Two
{\ADD{are}} better than one,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Seeing}} they have a good reward for their labor.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:

\par }{\Q But woe to him that is alone when he falls,

\par }{\Q And there is not a second to lift him up.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}Also if two should lie together, they also get heat:

\par }{\Q But how shall one be warmed
{\ADD{alone}}?


\par }{\Q \VS{12}And if one should prevail against
{\ADD{him}},

\par }{\Q The two shall withstand him;

\par }{\Q And a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Better is a poor and wise child

\par }{\Q Than an old and foolish king,

\par }{\Q Who knows not how to take heed any longer.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign,

\par }{\Q Because
{\ADD{he}} also that was in his kingdom has become poor.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}I beheld all the living

\par }{\Q Who were walking under the sun,

\par }{\Q With the second youth

\par }{\Q Who shall stand up in each one’s place.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}There is no end to all the people,

\par }{\Q To all who were before them:

\par }{\Q And the last shall not rejoice in him:

\par }{\Q For this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God;

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{when thou art}} near to hear,

\par }{\Q Let thy sacrifice
{\ADD{be}} better than the gift of fools:

\par }{\Q For they know not that they are doing evil.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{5}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Be not hasty with thy mouth,

\par }{\Q And let not thy heart be swift

\par }{\Q To utter anything before God;

\par }{\Q For God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth:

\par }{\Q Therefore let thy words be few.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}For through the multitude of trial a dream comes;

\par }{\Q And a fool’s voice is with a multitude of words.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God,

\par }{\Q Defer not to pay it;

\par }{\Q For
{\ADD{he has}} no pleasure in fools:

\par }{\Q Pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{It is}} better that thou shouldest not vow,

\par }{\Q Than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin;

\par }{\Q And say not in the presence of God, It was an error:

\par }{\Q Lest God be angry at thy voice,

\par }{\Q And destroy the works of thy hands.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}For
{\ADD{there is evil}} in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words:

\par }{\Q But fear thou God.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land,

\par }{\Q Wonder not at the matter:

\par }{\Q For
{\ADD{there is}} a high one to watch over him that is high,

\par }{\Q And high ones over them.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Also the abundance of the earth is for everyone:

\par }{\Q The king
{\ADD{is dependent on}} the tilled field.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver:

\par }{\Q And who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof?

\par }{\Q This is also vanity.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it:

\par }{\Q And what virtue has the owner,

\par }{\Q But the right of beholding
{\ADD{it}} with his eyes?


\par }{\Q \VS{11}The sleep of a servant is sweet,

\par }{\Q Whether he eat little or much:

\par }{\Q But to one who is satiated with wealth,

\par }{\Q There is none that suffers him to sleep.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Namely}}, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble:

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{the man}} begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb,

\par }{\Q He shall return back as he came,

\par }{\Q And he shall receive nothing for his labor,

\par }{\Q That it should go
{\ADD{with him}} in his hand.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}And this is also an evil infirmity:

\par }{\Q For as he came, so also shall he return:

\par }{\Q And what is his gain, for which he vainly labors?


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning,

\par }{\Q And much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing
{\ADD{for a man}}

\par }{\Q To eat and to drink,

\par }{\Q And to see good

\par }{\Q In all his labor in

\par }{\Q Which he may labor under the sun,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{All}} the number of the days of his life

\par }{\Q Which God has given to him:

\par }{\Q For it is his portion.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}Yea, and
{\ADD{as for}} every man to whom God has given

\par }{\Q Wealth and possessions, and has given him

\par }{\Q Power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion,

\par }{\Q And to rejoice in his labor;

\par }{\Q This is the gift of God.


\par }{\Q \VS{19}For he shall not much remember the days of his life;

\par }{\Q For God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{6}{\Q \VerseOne{1}There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,

\par }{\Q And it is abundant with man:


\par }{\Q \VS{2}A man to whom God shall give

\par }{\Q Wealth, and substance, and honor,

\par }{\Q And he wants nothing for his soul

\par }{\Q Of all things that he shall desire,

\par }{\Q Yet God shall not give him power to eat of it,

\par }{\Q For a stranger shall devour it:

\par }{\Q This is vanity, and an evil infirmity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}If a man beget a hundred
{\ADD{children}}, and live many years,

\par }{\Q Yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be,

\par }{\Q Yet
{\ADD{if}} his soul shall not be satisfied with good,

\par }{\Q And also he have no burial;

\par }{\Q I said, An untimely birth is better than he.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness,

\par }{\Q And his name shall be covered in darkness.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest:

\par }{\Q There is
{\ADD{no more rest}} to this one than another.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years,

\par }{\Q Yet he has seen no good:

\par }{\Q Do not all go to one place?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}All the labor of a man is for his mouth,

\par }{\Q And yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}For
{\ADD{what}} advantage has the wise man over the fool,

\par }{\Q Since
{\ADD{even}} the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?


\par }{\Q \VS{9}The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul:

\par }{\Q This is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}If anything has been, its name has already been called:

\par }{\Q And it is known what man is;

\par }{\Q Neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}For there are many things which increase vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{12}What advantage has a man?

\par }{\Q For who knows
{\ADD{what is}} good for a man in his life,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{During}} the number of the life of the days of his vanity?

\par }{\Q And he has spent them as a shadow;

\par }{\Q For who shall tell a man

\par }{\Q What shall be after him under the sun?


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{7}{\Q \VerseOne{1}A good name is better than good oil;

\par }{\Q And the day of death than the day of birth.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{It is}} better to go to the house of mourning,

\par }{\Q Than to go to the banquet house:

\par }{\Q Since this is the end of every man;

\par }{\Q And the living man will apply good
{\ADD{warning}} to his heart.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Sorrow is better than laughter:

\par }{\Q For by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning;

\par }{\Q But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{It is}} better to hear a reproof of a wise man,

\par }{\Q Than for a man to hear the song of fools.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}As the sound of thorns under a caldron,

\par }{\Q So is the laughter of fools:

\par }{\Q This is also vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}For oppression makes a wise man mad,

\par }{\Q And destroys his noble heart.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof:

\par }{\Q The patient is better than the high-minded.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:

\par }{\Q For anger will rest in the bosom of fools.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Say not, What has happened,

\par }{\Q That the former days were better than these?

\par }{\Q For thou dost not inquire in wisdom concerning this.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Wisdom is good with an inheritance:

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{there is}} an advantage
{\ADD{by it}} to them that see the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver:

\par }{\Q And the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom

\par }{\Q Will give life to him that has it.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Behold the works of God:

\par }{\Q For who shall be able to straighten

\par }{\Q Him whom God has made crooked?


\par }{\Q \VS{14}In the day of prosperity live joyfully,

\par }{\Q And consider in the day of adversity:

\par }{\Q Consider,
{\ADD{I say}}, God also has caused

\par }{\Q The one to agree with the other for
{\ADD{this}} reason,

\par }{\Q That man should find nothing after him.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{15}I have seen all things in the days of my vanity:

\par }{\Q There is a just man perishing in his justice,

\par }{\Q And there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}Be not very just;

\par }{\Q Neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn:

\par }{\Q Lest thou shouldest die before thy time.


\par }{\Q \VS{18}It is well for thee to hold fast by this;

\par }{\Q Also by this defile not thy hand:

\par }{\Q For to them that fear God all things shall come forth
{\ADD{well}}.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}Wisdom will help the wise man

\par }{\Q More than ten mighty men which are in the city.


\par }{\Q \VS{20}For there is not a righteous man in the earth,

\par }{\Q Who will do good, and not sin.


\par }{\Q \VS{21}Also take no heed

\par }{\Q To all the words which ungodly men shall speak;

\par }{\Q Lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.


\par }{\Q \VS{22}For many times he shall trespass against thee,

\par }{\Q And repeatedly shall he afflict thy heart;

\par }{\Q For thus also hast thou cursed others.


\par }{\Q \VS{23}All these things have I proved in wisdom:

\par }{\Q I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.


\par }{\Q \VS{24}{\ADD{That which is}} far beyond what was,

\par }{\Q And a great depth, who shall find it out?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{25}I and my heart went round about to know,

\par }{\Q And to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account
{\ADD{of things}},

\par }{\Q And to know the folly and trouble

\par }{\Q And madness of the ungodly man.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{26}And I find her
{\ADD{to be}}, and I will pronounce
{\ADD{to be}}

\par }{\Q More bitter than death the woman which is a snare,

\par }{\Q And her heart nets,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Who has}} a band in her hands:

\par }{\Q {\ADD{He that is}} good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her;

\par }{\Q But the sinner shall be caught by her.


\par }{\Q \VS{27}Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Seeking}} by one at a time to find out the account,


\par }{\Q \VS{28}Which my soul sought after, but I found not:

\par }{\Q For I have found one man of a thousand;

\par }{\Q But a woman in all these I have not found.


\par }{\Q \VS{29}But, behold, this have I found,

\par }{\Q That God made man upright;

\par }{\Q But they have sought out many devices.

\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q Who knows the wise?

\par }{\Q And who knows the interpretation of a saying?


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{8}{\Q \VerseOne{1}A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance;

\par }{\Q But a man of shameless countenance will be hated.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}Observe the commandment of the king,

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{that}} because of the word of the oath of God.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Be not hasty; thou shalt go forth out of his presence:

\par }{\Q Stand not in an evil matter;

\par }{\Q For he will do whatsoever he shall please,


\par }{\Q \VS{4}Even as a king having power:

\par }{\Q And who will say to him, What doest thou?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{5}He that keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing:

\par }{\Q And the heart of the wise knows the time of judgment.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}For to everything there is time and judgment;

\par }{\Q For the knowledge of a man is great to him.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}For there is no one that knows what is going to be:

\par }{\Q For who shall tell him how it shall be?


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}There is no man that has power over the spirit

\par }{\Q To retain the spirit;

\par }{\Q And there is no power in the day of death:

\par }{\Q And there is no discharge in the day of battle;

\par }{\Q Neither shall ungodliness save her votary.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}So I saw all this,

\par }{\Q And I applied my heart to every work

\par }{\Q That has been done under the sun;

\par }{\Q All the things wherein man has power

\par }{\Q Over man to afflict him.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs,

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{that}} out of the holy place:

\par }{\Q And they departed, and were praised in the city,

\par }{\Q Because they had done thus:

\par }{\Q This also is vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}Because there is no contradiction made

\par }{\Q On the part of those who do evil quickly,

\par }{\Q Therefore the heart of the children of men

\par }{\Q Is fully determined in them to do evil.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}He that has sinned has done evil from that time,

\par }{\Q And long from beforehand:

\par }{\Q Nevertheless I know,

\par }{\Q That it is well with them that fear God,

\par }{\Q That they may fear before him:


\par }{\Q \VS{13}But it shall not be well with the ungodly,

\par }{\Q And he shall not prolong his days,
{\ADD{which are}} as a shadow;

\par }{\Q Forasmuch as he fears not before God.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{14}There is a vanity which is done upon the earth;

\par }{\Q That there are righteous persons to whom it happens

\par }{\Q According to the doing of the ungodly;

\par }{\Q And there are ungodly men, to whom it happens

\par }{\Q According to the doing of the just:

\par }{\Q I said, This is also vanity.


\par }{\Q \VS{15}Then I praised mirth,

\par }{\Q Because there is no good for a man under the sun,

\par }{\Q But to eat, and drink, and be merry:

\par }{\Q And this shall attend him

\par }{\Q In his labor all the days of his life,

\par }{\Q Which God has given him under the sun.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom,

\par }{\Q And to perceive the trouble

\par }{\Q That was wrought upon the earth:

\par }{\Q For there is that neither by day nor night

\par }{\Q Sees sleep with his eyes.


\par }{\Q \VS{17}And I beheld all the works of God,

\par }{\Q That a man shall not be able to discover

\par }{\Q The work which is wrought under the sun;

\par }{\Q Whatsoever things a man shall endeavor to seek,

\par }{\Q However a man may labor to seek it,

\par }{\Q Yet he shall not find it;

\par }{\Q Yea, how much soever a wise man may speak of knowing it,

\par }{\Q He shall not be able to find it:

\par }{\Q For I applied all this to my heart,

\par }{\Q And my heart has seen all this.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{9}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{I saw}} that the righteous, and the wise,

\par }{\Q And their works, are in the hand of God:

\par }{\Q Yea, there is no man that knows either love or hatred,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Though}} all are before their face.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Vanity is in all:

\par }{\Q There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked;

\par }{\Q To the good, and to the bad;

\par }{\Q Both to the pure, and to the impure;

\par }{\Q Both to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not:

\par }{\Q As is the good, so is the sinner:

\par }{\Q As is the swearer, even so is he that fears an oath.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{3}There is this evil in all that is done under the sun,

\par }{\Q That there is one event to all:

\par }{\Q Yea, the heart of the sons of men is filled with evil,

\par }{\Q And madness is in their heart during their life,

\par }{\Q And after that
{\ADD{they go}} to the dead.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}For who is he that has fellowship with all the living?

\par }{\Q There is hope
{\ADD{of him}}:

\par }{\Q For a living dog is better than a dead lion.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}For the living will know that they shall die:

\par }{\Q But the dead know nothing,

\par }{\Q And there is no longer any reward to them;

\par }{\Q For their memory is lost.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Also their love, and their hatred,

\par }{\Q And their envy, have now perished;

\par }{\Q Yea, there is no portion for them anymore forever

\par }{\Q In all that is done under the sun.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}Go, eat thy bread with mirth,

\par }{\Q And drink thy wine with a joyful heart;

\par }{\Q For now God has favorably accepted thy works.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}Let thy garments be always white;

\par }{\Q And let not oil be wanting on thy head.


\par }{\Q \VS{9}And see life with the wife whom thou lovest

\par }{\Q All the days of the life of thy vanity,

\par }{\Q Which are given thee under the sun:

\par }{\Q For that is thy portion in thy life,

\par }{\Q And in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}Whatsoever thy hand shall find to do,

\par }{\Q Do with all thy might;

\par }{\Q For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge,

\par }{\Q Nor wisdom, in Hades whither thou goest.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}I returned, and saw under the sun,

\par }{\Q That the race is not to the swift,

\par }{\Q Nor the battle to the strong,

\par }{\Q Nor yet bread to the wise,

\par }{\Q Nor yet wealth to men of understanding,

\par }{\Q Nor yet favor to men of knowledge;

\par }{\Q For time and chance will happen to them all.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}For surely man also knows not his time:

\par }{\Q As fish that are taken in an evil net,

\par }{\Q And as birds that are caught in a snare;

\par }{\Q Even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time,

\par }{\Q When it falls suddenly upon them.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}This I also saw
{\ADD{to be}} wisdom under the sun,

\par }{\Q And it is great before me:


\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{Suppose there were}} a little city, and few men in it;

\par }{\Q And there should come against it a great king, and surround it,

\par }{\Q And build great mounds against it;


\par }{\Q \VS{15}And should find in it a poor wise man,

\par }{\Q And he should save the city through his wisdom:

\par }{\Q Yet no man would remember that poor man.


\par }{\Q \VS{16}And I said, Wisdom is better than power:

\par }{\Q Yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nought,

\par }{\Q And his words not listened to.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{17}The words of the wise are heard in quiet

\par }{\Q More than the cry of them that rule in folly.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}Wisdom is better than weapons of war:

\par }{\Q And one sinner will destroy much good.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{10}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment:

\par }{\Q {\ADD{And}} a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{2}A wise man’s heart is at his right hand;

\par }{\Q But a fool’s heart at his left.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way,

\par }{\Q His heart will fail him,

\par }{\Q And all that he thinks of is folly.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{4}If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,

\par }{\Q Leave not thy place;

\par }{\Q For soothing will put an end to great offenses.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,

\par }{\Q Wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}The fool has been set in very high places,

\par }{\Q While rich men would sit in a low one.


\par }{\Q \VS{7}I have seen servants upon horses,

\par }{\Q And princes walking as servants on the earth.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}He that digs a pit shall fall into it;

\par }{\Q And him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby;

\par }{\Q He that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{10}If the axe-head should fall off,

\par }{\Q Then the man troubles his countenance,

\par }{\Q And he must put forth more strength:

\par }{\Q And
{\ADD{in that case}} skill is of no advantage to a man.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{11}If a serpent bite when there is no
{\ADD{charmer’s}} whisper,

\par }{\Q Then there is no advantage to the charmer.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}The words of a wise mouth are gracious:

\par }{\Q But the lips of a fool will swallow him up.


\par }{\Q \VS{13}The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly:

\par }{\Q And the end of his talk mischievous madness.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}A fool moreover multiplies words:

\par }{\Q Man knows not what has been, nor what will be:

\par }{\Q Who shall tell him what will come after him?


\par }{\Q \VS{15}The labor of fools will afflict them,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{As that of one}} who knows not to go to the city.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{16}Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young,

\par }{\Q And thy princes eat in the morning!


\par }{\Q \VS{17}Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles,

\par }{\Q And whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength,

\par }{\Q And shall not be ashamed.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{18}By slothful neglect a building will be brought low:

\par }{\Q And by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{19}Men prepare bread for laughter,

\par }{\Q And wine and oil that the living should rejoice:

\par }{\Q But to money all things will humbly yield obedience.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{20}Even in thy conscience, curse not the king;

\par }{\Q And curse not the rich in thy bedchamber:

\par }{\Q For a bird of the air shall carry thy voice,

\par }{\Q And that which has wings shall report thy speech.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{11}{\Q \VerseOne{1}Send forth thy bread upon the face of the water:

\par }{\Q For thou shalt find it after many days.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;

\par }{\Q For thou knowest not what evil there shall be upon the earth.


\par }{\Q \VS{3}If the clouds be filled with rain,

\par }{\Q They pour
{\ADD{it}} out upon the earth:

\par }{\Q And if a tree fall southward, or if it fall northward,

\par }{\Q In the place where the tree shall fall, there it shall be.


\par }{\Q \VS{4}He that observes the wind sows not;

\par }{\Q And he that looks at the clouds will not reap.


\par }{\Q \VS{5}Among whom none knows what is the way of the wind:

\par }{\Q As the bones
{\ADD{are hidden}} in the womb of a pregnant
{\ADD{woman}},

\par }{\Q So thou shalt not know the works of God,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{Even}} all things whatsoever he shall do.


\par }{\Q \VS{6}In the morning sow thy seed,

\par }{\Q And in the evening let not thy hand be slack:

\par }{\Q For thou knowest not what sort shall prosper, whether this or that,

\par }{\Q Or whether both shall be good alike.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{7}Moreover the light is sweet,

\par }{\Q And it is good for the eyes to see the sun.


\par }{\Q \VS{8}For even if a man should live many years,

\par }{\Q {\ADD{And}} rejoice in them all;

\par }{\Q Yet let him remember the days of darkness;

\par }{\Q For they shall be many.

\par }{\Q All that comes is vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth;

\par }{\Q And let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,

\par }{\Q And walk in the ways of thy heart blameless,

\par }{\Q But not in the sight of thine eyes:

\par }{\Q Yet know that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,

\par }{\Q And put away evil from thy flesh:

\par }{\Q For youth and folly are vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }


\PoetryChap{12}{\Q \VerseOne{1}And remember thy Creator

\par }{\Q In the days of thy youth,

\par }{\Q Before the days of evil come,

\par }{\Q And the years overtake
{\ADD{thee}} in which thou shalt say,

\par }{\Q I have no pleasure in them.


\par }{\Q \VS{2}While the sun and light are not darkened,

\par }{\Q Nor the moon and the stars;

\par }{\Q Nor the clouds return after the rain:


\par }{\Q \VS{3}In the day wherein the keepers of the house shall tremble,

\par }{\Q And the mighty men shall become bent,

\par }{\Q And the grinding
{\ADD{women}} cease because they have become few,

\par }{\Q And the
{\ADD{women}} looking out at the windows be dark;


\par }{\Q \VS{4}And they shall shut the doors in the marketplace,

\par }{\Q Because of the weakness of the voice of her that grinds
{\ADD{at the mill}};

\par }{\Q And he shall rise up at the voice of the sparrow,

\par }{\Q And all the daughters of song shall be brought low;


\par }{\Q \VS{5}And they shall look up, and fears
{\ADD{shall be}} in the way,

\par }{\Q And the almond tree shall blossom,

\par }{\Q And the locust shall increase,

\par }{\Q And the caper shall be scattered:

\par }{\Q Because man has gone to his eternal home,

\par }{\Q And the mourners have gone about the market:


\par }{\Q \VS{6}Before the silver cord be
{\ADD{let go}},

\par }{\Q Or the choice gold be broken,

\par }{\Q Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain,

\par }{\Q Or the wheel run down to the cistern;


\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{Before}} the dust also return to the earth as it was,

\par }{\Q And the spirit return to God who gave it.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{8}Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher;

\par }{\Q All is vanity.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{9}And because the Preacher was wise above
{\ADD{others,}}

\par }{\Q {\ADD{So it was}} that he taught man excellent knowledge,

\par }{\Q And the ear will trace out the parables.


\par }{\Q \VS{10}The Preacher sought diligently

\par }{\Q To find out acceptable words,

\par }{\Q And a correct writing,
{\ADD{even}} words of truth.


\par }{\Q \VS{11}The words of the wise are as goads,

\par }{\Q And as nails firmly fastened,

\par }{\Q Which have been given from one shepherd by agreement.


\par }{\Q \VS{12}And moreover, my son, guard thyself by means of them:

\par }{\Q Of making many books there is no end;

\par }{\Q And much study is a weariness of the flesh.


\par }{\BB \par }
{\Q \VS{13}Hear the end of the matter, the sum:

\par }{\Q Fear God, and keep his commandments:

\par }{\Q For this is the whole man.


\par }{\Q \VS{14}For God will bring every work into judgment,

\par }{\Q With everything that has been overlooked,

\par }{\Q Whether
{\ADD{it be}} good, or whether
{\ADD{it be}} evil.


\par }