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The Holy
Bible
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1
1 The words of the
Preacher, the son of David, king
in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities,
saith the Preacher, vanity of
vanities; all is vanity.
3 What profit hath a man
of all his 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.
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.
Chapter 2
1 I said in mine heart,
Go to now, I will prove thee with
mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure:
and, behold, this also is
vanity.
2 I said of laughter, It
is mad: and of mirth, What 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
all 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.
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.
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. This also I saw, that it
was from the hand of God.
25 For who can eat, or who
else can hasten hereunto, more
than I?
26 For God giveth to a man
that is good in his sight wisdom,
and knowledge, and joy: but to
the sinner he giveth 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.
Chapter 3
1 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.
21 Who knoweth the spirit
of man that goeth upward, and the
spirit of the beast that goeth
downward to the earth?
22 Wherefore I perceive
that there is nothing better,
than that a man should rejoice in
his own works; for that is his
portion: for who shall bring him
to see what shall be after
him?
Chapter 4
1 So I returned, and
considered all the oppressions
that are done under the sun: and
behold the tears of such as were
oppressed, and they had no
comforter; and on the side of
their oppressors there was power;
but they had no comforter.
2 Wherefore I praised the
dead which are already dead more
than the living which are yet
alive.
3 Yea, better is he than
both they, which hath not yet
been, who hath not seen the evil
work that is done under the
sun.
4 Again, I considered all
travail, and every right work,
that for this a man is envied of
his neighbour. This is also
vanity and vexation of
spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his
hands together, and eateth his
own flesh.
6 Better is an handful
with quietness, than both the
hands full with travail and
vexation of spirit.
7 Then I returned, and I
saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and
there is not a second; yea, he
hath neither child nor brother:
yet is there no end of all his
labour; neither is his eye
satisfied with riches; neither
saith he, For whom do I labour,
and bereave my soul of good? This
is also vanity, yea, it is a sore
travail.
9 Two are better than one;
because 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
falleth; for he hath not another
to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie
together, then they have heat:
but how can one be warm
alone?
12 And if one prevail
against him, two shall withstand
him; and a threefold cord is not
quickly broken.
13 Better is a poor and a
wise child than an old and
foolish king, who will no more be
admonished.
14 For out of prison he
cometh to reign; whereas also he
that is born in his kingdom
becometh poor.
15 I considered all the
living which walk under the sun,
with the second child that shall
stand up in his stead.
16 There is no end of all
the people, even of all that have
been before them: they also that
come after shall not rejoice in
him. Surely this also is vanity
and vexation of spirit.
Chapter 5
1 Keep thy foot when
thou goest to the house of God,
and be more ready to hear, than
to give the sacrifice of fools:
for they consider not that they
do evil.
2 Be not rash with thy
mouth, and let not thine heart be
hasty to utter any thing before
God: for God is in heaven, and
thou upon earth: therefore let
thy words be few.
3 For a dream cometh
through the multitude of
business; and a fool's voice is
known by multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow
unto God, defer not to pay it;
for he hath no pleasure in fools:
pay that which thou hast
vowed.
5 Better is it that thou
shouldest not vow, than that thou
shouldest vow and not pay.
6 Suffer not thy mouth to
cause thy flesh to sin; neither
say thou before the angel, that
it was an error: wherefore should
God be angry at thy voice, and
destroy the work of thine
hands?
7 For in the multitude of
dreams and many words there are
also divers vanities: but fear
thou God.
8 If thou seest the
oppression of the poor, and
violent perverting of judgment
and justice in a province, marvel
not at the matter: for he that is
higher than the highest
regardeth; and there be higher
than they.
9 Moreover the profit of
the earth is for all: the king
himself is served by the
field.
10 He that loveth silver
shall not be satisfied with
silver; nor he that loveth
abundance with increase: this is
also vanity.
11 When goods increase,
they are increased that eat them:
and what good is there to the
owners thereof, saving the
beholding of them with their
eyes?
12 The sleep of a
labouring man is sweet, whether
he eat little or much: but the
abundance of the rich will not
suffer him to sleep.
13 There is a sore evil
which I have seen under the sun,
namely, riches kept for the
owners thereof to their hurt.
14 But those riches perish
by evil travail: and he begetteth
a son, and there is nothing in
his hand.
15 As he came forth of his
mother's womb, naked shall he
return to go as he came, and
shall take nothing of his labour,
which he may carry away in his
hand.
16 And this also is a sore
evil, that in all points as he
came, so shall he go: and what
profit hath he that hath laboured
for the wind?
17 All his days also he
eateth in darkness, and he hath
much sorrow and wrath with his
sickness.
18 Behold that which I
have seen: it is good and comely
for one to eat and to drink, and
to enjoy the good of all his
labour that he taketh under the
sun all the days of his life,
which God giveth him: for it is
his portion.
19 Every man also to whom
God hath given riches and wealth,
and hath given him power to eat
thereof, and to take his portion,
and to rejoice in his labour;
this is the gift of God.
20 For he shall not much
remember the days of his life;
because God answereth him in the
joy of his heart.
Chapter 6
1 There is an evil
which I have seen under the sun,
and it is common among men:
2 A man to whom God hath
given riches, wealth, and honour,
so that he wanteth nothing for
his soul of all that he desireth,
yet God giveth him not power to
eat thereof, but a stranger
eateth it: this is vanity, and it
is an evil disease.
3 If a man beget an
hundred children, and live many
years, so that the days of his
years be many, and his soul be
not filled with good, and also
that he have no burial; I say,
that an untimely birth is better
than he.
4 For he cometh in with
vanity, and departeth in
darkness, and his name shall be
covered with darkness.
5 Moreover he hath not
seen the sun, nor known any
thing: this hath more rest than
the other.
6 Yea, though he live a
thousand years twice told, yet
hath he seen no good: do not all
go to one place?
7 All the labour of man is
for his mouth, and yet the
appetite is not filled.
8 For what hath the wise
more than the fool? what hath the
poor, that knoweth to walk before
the living?
9 Better is the sight of
the eyes than the wandering of
the desire: this is also vanity
and vexation of spirit.
10 That which hath been is
named already, and it is known
that it is man: neither may he
contend with him that is mightier
than he.
11 Seeing there be many
things that increase vanity, what
is man the better?
12 For who knoweth what is
good for man in this life, all
the days of his vain life which
he spendeth as a shadow? for who
can tell a man what shall be
after him under the sun?
Chapter 7
1 A good name is better
than precious ointment; and the
day of death than the day of
one's birth.
2 It is better to go to
the house of mourning, than to go
to the house of feasting: for
that is the end of all men; and
the living will lay it to his
heart.
3 Sorrow is better than
laughter: for by the sadness of
the countenance the heart is made
better.
4 The heart of the wise is
in the house of mourning; but the
heart of fools is in the house of
mirth.
5 It is better to hear the
rebuke of the wise, than for a
man to hear the song of
fools.
6 For as the crackling of
thorns under a pot, so is the
laughter of the fool: this also
is vanity.
7 Surely oppression maketh
a wise man mad; and a gift
destroyeth the heart.
8 Better is the end of a
thing than the beginning thereof:
and the patient in spirit is
better than the proud in
spirit.
9 Be not hasty in thy
spirit to be angry: for anger
resteth in the bosom of
fools.
10 Say not thou, What is
the cause that the former days
were better than these? for thou
dost not inquire wisely
concerning this.
11 Wisdom is good with an
inheritance: and by it there is
profit to them that see the
sun.
12 For wisdom is a
defence, and money is a defence:
but the excellency of knowledge
is, that wisdom giveth life to
them that have it.
13 Consider the work of
God: for who can make that
straight, which he hath made
crooked?
14 In the day of
prosperity be joyful, but in the
day of adversity consider: God
also hath set the one over
against the other, to the end
that man should find nothing
after him.
15 All things have I seen
in the days of my vanity: there
is a just man that perisheth in
his righteousness, and there is a
wicked man that prolongeth his
life in his wickedness.
16 Be not righteous over
much; neither make thyself over
wise: why shouldest thou destroy
thyself?
17 Be not over much
wicked, neither be thou foolish:
why shouldest thou die before thy
time?
18 It is good that thou
shouldest take hold of this; yea,
also from this withdraw not thine
hand: for he that feareth God
shall come forth of them all.
19 Wisdom strengtheneth
the wise more than ten mighty men
which are in the city.
20 For there is not a just
man upon earth, that doeth good,
and sinneth not.
21 Also take no heed unto
all words that are spoken; lest
thou hear thy servant curse
thee:
22 For oftentimes also
thine own heart knoweth that thou
thyself likewise hast cursed
others.
23 All this have I proved
by wisdom: I said, I will be
wise; but it was far from me.
24 That which is far off,
and exceeding deep, who can find
it out?
25 I applied mine heart to
know, and to search, and to seek
out wisdom, and the reason of
things, and to know the
wickedness of folly, even of
foolishness and madness:
26 And I find more bitter
than death the woman, whose heart
is snares and nets, and her hands
as bands: whoso pleaseth God
shall escape from her; but the
sinner shall be taken by her.
27 Behold, this have I
found, saith the preacher,
counting one by one, to find out
the account:
28 Which yet my soul
seeketh, but I find not: one man
among a thousand have I found;
but a woman among all those have
I not found.
29 Lo, this only have I
found, that God hath made man
upright; but they have sought out
many inventions.
Chapter 8
1 Who is as the wise
man? and who knoweth the
interpretation of a thing? a
man's wisdom maketh his face to
shine, and the boldness of his
face shall be changed.
2 I counsel thee to keep
the king's commandment, and that
in regard of the oath of God.
3 Be not hasty to go out
of his sight: stand not in an
evil thing; for he doeth
whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 Where the word of a king
is, there is power: and who may
say unto him, What doest
thou?
5 Whoso keepeth the
commandment shall feel no evil
thing: and a wise man's heart
discerneth both time and
judgment.
6 Because to every purpose
there is time and judgment,
therefore the misery of man is
great upon him.
7 For he knoweth not that
which shall be: for who can tell
him when it shall be?
8 There is no man that
hath power over the spirit to
retain the spirit; neither hath
he power in the day of death: and
there is no discharge in that
war; neither shall wickedness
deliver those that are given to
it.
9 All this have I seen,
and applied my heart unto every
work that is done under the sun:
there is a time wherein one man
ruleth over another to his own
hurt.
10 And so I saw the wicked
buried, who had come and gone
from the place of the holy, and
they were forgotten in the city
where they had so done: this is
also vanity.
11 Because sentence
against an evil work is not
executed speedily, therefore the
heart of the sons of men is fully
set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner do evil
an hundred times, and his days be
prolonged, yet surely I know that
it shall be well with them that
fear God, which fear before
him:
13 But it shall not be
well with the wicked, neither
shall he prolong his days, which
are as a shadow; because he
feareth not before God.
14 There is a vanity which
is done upon the earth; that
there be just men, unto whom it
happeneth according to the work
of the wicked; again, there be
wicked men, to whom it happeneth
according to the work of the
righteous: I said that this also
is vanity.
15 Then I commended mirth,
because a man hath no better
thing under the sun, than to eat,
and to drink, and to be merry:
for that shall abide with him of
his labour the days of his life,
which God giveth him under the
sun.
16 When I applied mine
heart to know wisdom, and to see
the business that is done upon
the earth: (for also there is
that neither day nor night seeth
sleep with his eyes:)
17 Then I beheld all the
work of God, that a man cannot
find out the work that is done
under the sun: because though a
man labour to seek it out, yet he
shall not find it; yea further;
though a wise man think to know
it, yet shall he not be able to
find it.
Chapter 9
1 For all this I
considered in my heart even to
declare all this, that the
righteous, and the wise, and
their works, are in the hand of
God: no man knoweth either love
or hatred by all that is before
them.
2 All things come alike to
all: there is one event to the
righteous, and to the wicked; to
the good and to the clean, and to
the unclean; to him that
sacrificeth, and to him that
sacrificeth not: as is the good,
so is the sinner; and he that
sweareth, as he that feareth an
oath.
3 This is an evil among
all things that are done under
the sun, that there is one event
unto all: yea, also the heart of
the sons of men is full of evil,
and madness is in their heart
while they live, and after that
they go to the dead.
4 For to him that is
joined to all the living there is
hope: for a living dog is better
than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that
they shall die: but the dead know
not any thing, neither have they
any more a reward; for the memory
of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and
their hatred, and their envy, is
now perished; neither have they
any more a portion for ever in
any thing that is done under the
sun.
7 Go thy way, eat thy
bread with joy, and drink thy
wine with a merry heart; for God
now accepteth thy works.
8 Let thy garments be
always white; and let thy head
lack no ointment.
9 Live joyfully with the
wife whom thou lovest all the
days of the life of thy vanity,
which he hath given thee under
the sun, all the days of thy
vanity: for that is thy portion
in this life, and in thy labour
which thou takest under the
sun.
10 Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy
might; for there is no work, nor
device, nor knowledge, nor
wisdom, in the grave, whither
thou goest.
11 I returned, and saw
under the sun, that the race is
not to the swift, nor the battle
to the strong, neither yet bread
to the wise, nor yet riches to
men of understanding, nor yet
favour to men of skill; but time
and chance happeneth to them
all.
12 For man also knoweth
not his time: as the fishes that
are taken in an evil net, and as
the birds that are caught in the
snare; so are the sons of men
snared in an evil time, when it
falleth suddenly upon them.
13 This wisdom have I seen
also under the sun, and it seemed
great unto me:
14 There was a little
city, and few men within it; and
there came a great king against
it, and besieged it, and built
great bulwarks against it:
15 Now there was found in
it a poor wise man, and he by his
wisdom delivered the city; yet no
man remembered that same poor
man.
16 Then said I, Wisdom is
better than strength:
nevertheless the poor man's
wisdom is despised, and his words
are not heard.
17 The words of wise men
are heard in quiet more than the
cry of him that ruleth among
fools.
18 Wisdom is better than
weapons of war: but one sinner
destroyeth much good.
Chapter 10
1 Dead flies cause the
ointment of the apothecary to
send forth a stinking savour: so
doth a little folly him that is
in reputation for wisdom and
honour.
2 A wise man's heart is at
his right hand; but a fool's
heart at his left.
3 Yea also, when he that
is a fool walketh by the way, his
wisdom faileth him, and he saith
to every one that he is a
fool.
4 If the spirit of the
ruler rise up against thee, leave
not thy place; for yielding
pacifieth great offences.
5 There is an evil which I
have seen under the sun, as an
error which proceedeth from the
ruler:
6 Folly is set in great
dignity, and the rich sit in low
place.
7 I have seen servants
upon horses, and princes walking
as servants upon the earth.
8 He that diggeth a pit
shall fall into it; and whoso
breaketh an hedge, a serpent
shall bite him.
9 Whoso removeth stones
shall be hurt therewith; and he
that cleaveth wood shall be
endangered thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt,
and he do not whet the edge, then
must he put to more strength: but
wisdom is profitable to
direct.
11 Surely the serpent will
bite without enchantment; and a
babbler is no better.
12 The words of a wise
man's mouth are gracious; but the
lips of a fool will swallow up
himself.
13 The beginning of the
words of his mouth is
foolishness: and the end of his
talk is mischievous madness.
14 A fool also is full of
words: a man cannot tell what
shall be; and what shall be after
him, who can tell him?
15 The labour of the
foolish wearieth every one of
them, because he knoweth not how
to go to the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land,
when thy king is a child, and thy
princes eat in the morning!
17 Blessed art thou, O
land, when thy king is the son of
nobles, and thy princes eat in
due season, for strength, and not
for drunkenness!
18 By much slothfulness
the building decayeth; and
through idleness of the hands the
house droppeth through.
19 A feast is made for
laughter, and wine maketh merry:
but money answereth all
things.
20 Curse not the king, no
not in thy thought; and curse not
the rich in thy bedchamber: for a
bird of the air shall carry the
voice, and that which hath wings
shall tell the matter.
Chapter 11
1 Cast thy bread upon
the waters: for thou shalt find
it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven,
and also to eight; for thou
knowest not what evil shall be
upon the earth.
3 If the clouds be full of
rain, they empty themselves upon
the earth: and if the tree fall
toward the south, or toward the
north, in the place where the
tree falleth, there it shall
be.
4 He that observeth the
wind shall not sow; and he that
regardeth the clouds shall not
reap.
5 As thou knowest not what
is the way of the spirit, nor how
the bones do grow in the womb of
her that is with child: even so
thou knowest not the works of God
who maketh all.
6 In the morning sow thy
seed, and in the evening withhold
not thine hand: for thou knowest
not whether shall prosper, either
this or that, or whether they
both shall be alike good.
7 Truly the light is
sweet, and a pleasant thing it is
for the eyes to behold the
sun:
8 But if a man live many
years, and rejoice in them all;
yet let him remember the days of
darkness; for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in
thy youth; and let thy heart
cheer thee in the days of thy
youth, and walk in the ways of
thine heart, and in the sight of
thine eyes: but know thou, that
for all these things God will
bring thee into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow
from thy heart, and put away evil
from thy flesh: for childhood and
youth are vanity.
Chapter 12
1 Remember now thy
Creator in the days of thy youth,
while the evil days come not, nor
the years draw nigh, when thou
shalt say, I have no pleasure in
them;
2 While the sun, or the
light, or the moon, or the stars,
be not darkened, nor the clouds
return after the rain:
3 In the day when the
keepers of the house shall
tremble, and the strong men shall
bow themselves, and the grinders
cease because they are few, and
those that look out of the
windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be
shut in the streets, when the
sound of the grinding is low, and
he shall rise up at the voice of
the bird, and all the daughters
of musick shall be brought
low;
5 Also when they shall be
afraid of that which is high, and
fears shall be in the way, and
the almond tree shall flourish,
and the grasshopper shall be a
burden, and desire shall fail:
because man goeth to his long
home, and the mourners go about
the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord
be loosed, or the golden bowl be
broken, or the pitcher be broken
at the fountain, or the wheel
broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust
return to the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities,
saith the preacher; all is
vanity.
9 And moreover, because
the preacher was wise, he still
taught the people knowledge; yea,
he gave good heed, and sought
out, and set in order many
proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to
find out acceptable words: and
that which was written was
upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise
are as goads, and as nails
fastened by the masters of
assemblies, which are given from
one shepherd.
12 And further, by these,
my son, be admonished: of making
many books there is no end; and
much study is a weariness of the
flesh.
13 Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the
whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring
every work into judgment, with
every secret thing, whether it be
good, or whether it be evil.
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