THE PREACHER. 4 CHAPTER I-II. VERSE 6. 7 1. THE words of the Preacher, the | done under heaven, for God has given son of David, king of Israel in Jeru- to the sons of men an evil trouble to salem. 2 Vanity of vanities, said the be troubled therewith. 14 I beheld all Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is the works that were wrought under vanity. What advantage is there to the sun; and, behold, all were vanity a man in all his labour that he takes and wilful choice of spirit. 15 That under the sun? One generation goes, which is crooked cannot be made and another generation comes: but straight: and deficiency cannot be the earth stands for ever. 5 And the numbered. 16 I spoke in my heart, sun arises, and the sun goes down saying, Behold, I am increased, and and draws towards its place; arising have acquired wisdom beyond all who there it proceeds southward, and goes were before me in Jerusalem: also I round about towards the north. The applied my heart to know wisdom and wind goes round and round, and the knowledge. 17 And my heart knew wind returns to its circuits. All the much-wisdom, and knowledge, pa+ Gr. torrents. *rivers run into the sea; rables and understanding: I perceived and yet the sca is not filled: to the that this also is wayward-Lit. delibe place whence the rivers come, thither ness of spirit. 18 For in the rate choice. they return again. All things are abundance of wisdom is abundance of full of labour; a man will not be able knowledge; and he that increases knowto speak of them: neither shall the eye ledge will increase sorrow. be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing. 9 What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Who is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us. 11 There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall be at the last time. 8 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are 2. I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity. I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, What doest thou! And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life. I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards. I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every + Lit. baths. kind of fruit-tree. I made me *pools 5 6 9 of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood. I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house; also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem. 8 Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers. So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me. 10 And whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. "And I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I laboured to perform: and, behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun. + See Chaldee man 12 Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the *who will follow after use of in counsel, in all things whereNeh. 5. 7. and in he employs it? 13 And Dan. 4. 27 (24). I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived, even I, that one event shall happen to them all. 15And I said in my heart, as the event of the fool is, so shall it be to me, even to me; and to what purpose have I gained wisdom? I said moreover in my heart, This is also vanity, because the fool speaks of + See Mat. his abundance. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wise man or the fool for ever; forasmuch as now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with the fool! 17 So I hated life; because every work that was wrought under the sun was 12. 34. + Gr. with. + + evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit. + Gr. toward, 18 And I hated the whole of or, upon me. my labour which I took under the sun; because I must leave it to the man who should come after me. 19 And who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? and if he will have power over all my labour with which I laboured, and wherein I grew wise under the sun? this is also vanity. 20 So I went about to dismiss from my heart all my labour wherein I had laboured under the sun. 21 For there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil. 22 For + Gr. wickedit happens to a man in all ness. his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun. 23 For all his days are days of sorrows, and vexation of Or, distracspirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity. 24A man has nothing really good to eat, and to drink, Gr. which he and to show his soul as good which, &c. in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. 25 For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him? 26 For God has +i.e. God. given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God, for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. a 3 tion. shall eat and 3. To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven. 2A time of birth, and a time to die; time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to pull down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to lament, and a time to dance; a time to throw stones, and a time to gather 4 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; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 12 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 he has made are beautiful in his time: + Gr. age. he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end. 2 I know that there is no good in them, except for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 Also in the case of every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, this is a gift of God. 14 I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done it that men may fear before him. 15 That which has been is now; and whatever things are appointed to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past. 16 And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, 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. 21And 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? 4. So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was there power; but they had no comforter: 2 and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now. 3 And better than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun. And I saw all labour, and all the 'diligent work, that this is a man's envy r. comfrom his neighbour. This panion. is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. 5 The fool folds his hands. together, and cats his own flesh. Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit. 6 4 + Gr. manliness of work. says not, For 7 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, seeing they have a good reward for their labour. fall, the one will lift 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 up 10 + Gr. distraction. For if they his fellow: shall one be warmed alone? 12 And if 17 11 9 Or, been content with. +q. d. of those, or, such things. + and high ones over them. 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. àpxò. up 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 for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand. 15 And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours? 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. 5. Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 2 For through the multitude of trial a dream 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. 5 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 words: but fear thou God. 4 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, this is the gift of God. 19 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart. 6. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant Alex. inì, upon man. the verse thus and if he has 5 2 7 8 6 For with man: a man to whom God living man will apply good warning to Gr. nò, but shall give wealth, and sub- his heart. 4 Sorrow is better than stance, and honour, and he laughter: for by the sadness of the wants nothing for his soul of all things countenance the heart will be made that he shall desire, yet God shall not better. 5 The heart of the wise is in give him power to eat of it, for a the house of mourning; but the heart stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, of fools is in the house of mirth. It and an evil infirmity. 3 If a man is better to hear a reproof of a wise beget a hundred children, and live man, than for a man to hear the song many years, yea, however abundant of fools. As the sound of thorns. the days of his years shall be, yet if under a caldron, so is the laughter his soul shall not be satisfied with good, of fools: this is also vanity. and also he have no burial; I said, An oppression makes a wise man mad, and untimely birth is better than he. For destroys his noble heart. Gr. heart of he came in vanity, and departs in dark- The end of a matter is better his nobility. ness, and his name shall be covered in than the beginning thereof: the patient darkness. Moreover he has not seen is better than the high-minded. 10 Be the sun, nor known rest: there is no not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for more rest to this one than another. anger will rest in the bosom of fools. Alex. begins 6+ Though he has lived to "Say not, What has happened, that Kai ei enge, the return of a thousand the former days were better than these? lived, &c. years, yet he has seen no for thou dost not inquire in wisdom congood: do not all go to one place? cerning this. place? cerning this. 12 Wisdom is good with All the labour of a man is for his an inheritance: and there is an admouth, and yet the appetite shall not be vantage by it to them that see the sun. satisfied. For what advantage has the 13 For wisdom in its shadow is as the wise man over the fool, since even the shadow of silver: and the excellence poor knows how to walk in the di- of the knowledge of wisdom will give + Gr. before rection of life? The sight life to him that has it. Gr. To ap of the eyes is better than 14 Behold the works of God: 5. 12: 8. 8. that which wanders in soul: this is for who shall be able to straighten him also vanity, and waywardness of spirit. whom God has made crooked? 15 In 10 If anything has been, its name has the day of prosperity live joyfully, already been called: and it is known and consider in the day of adversity: what man is; neither can he contend consider, I say, God also has caused with him who is stronger than he. the one to agree with the other *for this 11For there are many things which reason, that man should find + Lit. conincrease vanity. nothing after him. 16 I 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 things shall come forth well. well in all re20 Wisdom will help the wise man more the face of. 9 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 + αὐτῆς chap. cerning |