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The vanity of pleasure.

Chap. ii, iii. The vanity of human labour. wife? Then I faid in my heart, that this alfo is vanity.

CHAP. II. I The vanity of human courfes in the works of pleasure. 12 Though the wife be better than the fool, yet both have one event. 18 The vanity of human labour in leaving it they know not to whom.

Said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I faid of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3 I fought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wifdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might fee what was that good for the fons 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 fervants and maidens, and had fervants born in my house; alfo I had great poffeffions of great and fmall cattle above all that were in Jerufalem | before me:

8 I gathered me also filver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men fingers and women fingers, and the delights of the fons of men, as mufical inftruments, and that of all forts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerufalem: alfo my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes defired I keep 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.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wife more than of the fool for ever; feeing that which now is in the days to come fhall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wife man? as the fool.

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the fun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of fpirit.

18 ¶ Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the fun: because I fhould leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wife man or a fool? yet fhall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have fhewed myfelf wife under the fun. This is alfo vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to caufe my heart to defpair of all the labour which I took under the fun.

21 For there is a man whofe labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equi ty; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein fhall he leave it for his portion. This alfo 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 fun?

23 For all his days are forrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not reft in the night. This is alfo vanity.

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he fhould make his foul enjoy good in his labour. This alfo I faw, that it was from the hand of God.

25 For who can eat, or who elle can haften hereunto, more than I?

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his fight wildom, and knowledge, and II Then I looked on all the works that joy: but to the finner he giveth travail, my hands had wrought, and on the la- to gather and to heap up, that he may bour that I had laboured to do: and, be-give to him that is good before God. This hold, all was vanity and vexation of fpi- alfo is vanity and vexation of spirit. rit, and there was no profit under the fun. CHAP. III.

12 ¶ And I turned myfelf to behold wifdom, and madnefs, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

Then I faw that wifdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

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By the necessary change of times vanity is increafed. 11 God's works are excellent. 16 But as for man, God ball judge his works hereafter, and here he shall be like a beast.

every to every purpose under the O every thing there is a season, and

14 The wife man's eyes are in his heaven: head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived alfo that one event happeneth to them all.

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;

15 Then faid I in my heart, As it 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; happeneth to the fool, fo it happeneth a time to break down, and a time to

even to me; and why was I then more build up;

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4 A time

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A time for every thing.

ECCLESIASTES.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to caft away ftones, and a time to gather ftones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lofe; a time to keep, and a time to caft away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to few; a time to keep filence, and a time to fpeak; 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?

Io I have feen the travail, which God hath given to the fons of men to be exercifed in it.

II He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: alfo he hath fet the world in their heart, fo 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 mun to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And alfo 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, whatfoever 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 thould 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 faw under the fun the place of judgment, that wicked

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Of oppreffion, envy, Sc.

CHAP. IV.

Vanity is increafed unto men by opreffion,. 4 by envy, 5 by idleness, 7 by covetousness, 9 by folitarinefs, 13 by wilfulness.

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OI returned, and confidered all the

fun and behold the tears of fuch as quere oppreffed, and they had no comforter; and on the fide of their oppreffors 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 fun.

4 ¶ Again, I confidered 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 quith travail and vexation of spirit.

7 ¶ Then I returned, and I faw vanity under the fun.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a fecond; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye fatisfied with riches; neither faith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my foul of good? This is alfo vanity, yea, it is a fore travail.

9 Two are better than one; benefs was there; and the place of righte-caufe they have a good reward for their oufnefs, that iniquity was there.

17 I faid in mine heart, God fhall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

18 I faid in mine heart concerning the eftate of the fons of men, that God might manifeft them, and that they might fee that they themselves are beafts.

19 For that which befalleth the fons of men befalleth beafts; even one thing befalleth them as the one dieth, fo dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; fo that a man hath no preeminence above a beaft: for all is vanity.

20 All go unto one place; all are of the duft, and all turn to duft again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beaft that goethdo wnward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man thould rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who fhall bring him to fee what shall be after him?

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.

II Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail againft him, two fhall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wife child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

14 For out of prifon he cometh to reign; whereas alfo be that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I confidered all the living which walk under the fun, with the fecond child that fhall ftand up in his ftead.

16 There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after fhall not rejoice in him. Surely this alfo is vanity and vexation of fpirit.

CHAP.

The vanity of riches.

CHAP. V.

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17 All his days alfo he eateth in dark1 Vanities in divine fervice, 8 in murmuring nefs, and he hath much forrow and wrath against oppreffion, 9 and in riches. 18 with his sickness. Joy in riches is the gift of God. EEP thy foot when thou goeft to the

18 Behold that which I have feen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to

Khoufe of God, and be more ready drink, and to enjoy the good of all his

to hear, than to give the facrifice of fools: for they confider not that they do evil.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hafty 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 knorun by a 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 halt vowed. 5 Better is it that thou fhouldest not VOW, than that thou fhouldeft vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to caufe thy flesh to fin; neither fay thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore fhould God be angry at thy voice, and deftroy the work of thine hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are alfo divers vanities: but fear thou God.

8 ¶ If thou feest 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 ferved by the field.

labour that he taketh under the fun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

19 Every man alfo 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 fhall not much remember the days of his life; becaufe God answereth him in the joy of his heart. CHAP.

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VI.

The vanity of riches without use, 3 of children, 6 and old age without riches. 9 The vanity of fight and wandering defires. II The conclufion of vanities. THERE is an evil which I have seen under the fun, and it is common among men :

2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, fo that he wanteth nothing for his foul of all that he defireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, it is an evil disease.

3 ¶ If a man begat an hundred chil dren; and live many years, fo that the days of his years be many, and his foul 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 fhall be covered with darkness.

10 He that loveth filver fhall not be fatiffied with filver; nor he that loveth abun-) 5 Moreover he hath not feen the fun, dance with increafe: this is alfo vanity. nor known any thing: this hath more rest

II When goods increase, they are in-than the other. creased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, faving the beholding of them with their eyes?

12 The fleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not fuffer him to fleep.

13 There is a fore evil which I have feen under the fun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

14 But thofe riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a fon, and there is nothing in his hand.

15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked fhall 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 alfo is a fore evil, that in all points as he came, fo fhall he go and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

61 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 wife more than the fool; what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?

9 ¶ Better is the fight of the eyes than the wandering of the defire: this is alfo vanity and vexation of fpirit.

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.

IT 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 Nn 2

life

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The heart of the wife is in the houfe of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wife, than for a man to hear the fong of fools.

6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, fo is the laughter of the fool: this allo is vanity.

7 ¶ Surely oppreffion maketh a wife man mad; and a gift deftroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in fpirit is better than the proud in fpirit.

9 Be not hafty in thy fpirit to be angry: for anger refteth in the bofom of fools."

To Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than thefe for thou dost not enquire wifely concerning this.

11 ¶ Wisdom is good with an inheritance and by it there is profit to them that fee the fun.

Kings to be refpected

18 It is good that thou fhouldest take hold of this; yea, alfo from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God fhall come forth of them all.

19 Wildom ftrengtheneth the wife more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 20 For there is not ajuft man upon earth, that doeth good, and finneth not.

21 Alfo take no heed unto all words that are spoken; left thou hear thy fervant curfe thee:

22 For oftentimes alfo thine own heart knoweth that thon thyself likewife haftTM curfed others.

23 All this have I proved by wif dom: I faid, I will be wife; 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 fearch, and to feek out wifdom, and the reafon of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and maduels :

26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whofe heart is fiares and nets, and her hands as bands: whofo pleafeth God fhall escape from her; but the finner fhall be taken by her.

12 For wisdom is a defence, and mo-1 ney is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

13 Confider the work of God: for

27 Behold, this have I found, faith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account :

28 Which yet my foul feeketh, but I find not: one man among a' thousand have I found; but a woman among all thofe have I not found.

29 Lo, this only have I found, thať God hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions.

CHAP. VIII

Kings are greatly to be respected. 6 The divine providence is to be obferved. 12 It is better with the godly in adverfity than with the wicked in profperity. 16 The work of God is unfearchable.

who can make that straight, which he hath WHO is as the wife man? and who

I made crooked?

14 In the day of profperity be joyful, but in the day of adverfity confider: God alfo hath fet the one over against the other, to the end that man fhould find nothing after him.

15 All things have I feen in the days of my vantity: there is a juft man that perifheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

Knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wifdom maketh his face to fhine, and the boldness of his face fhall be changed.

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

3 Be not hafty to go out of his fight: ftand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4 Where the word of a king is, there 16 Be not righteous overmuch; nei-is power: and who may fay unto him, ther make thyfelf overwife: why fhould- What doest thou?

cit thou destroy thyself?

Whofo keepeth the commandment 17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither fhall feel no evil thing: and a wife man's be thou foolish: why fhouldeft thou die heart difcerneth both time and judgebefore thy time?

ment.

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69 Because

God's providence to be observed: Chap. ix.

He ruleth over all things. all this I confidered in my heart

61 Because to every purpose there is FOR to declare all this, that the rightetime and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

7 For he knoweth not that which fhall 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 fhall wickedness deliver thofe that are given to it.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the fun 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 liad fo done: this is alfo vanity.

11 Becaufe fentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the fons of men is fully fet in them to do evil.

42 Though a finner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet furely I know that it thall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it fhall not be well with the wicked, neither fhall he prolong his days, which are as a fhadow; because he feareth not before God.

ous, and the wife, 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 facrificeth, and to him that facrificeth not: as is the good, fo is the finner; and he that fweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the fun, that there is one event unto all: yea, alfo the heart of the fons 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 Alfo 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 fun.

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; 14 There is a vanity which is done up-and let thy head lack no ointment. on'the earth; that there be juft men, unto 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom whom it happenethaccording to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: 1 faid that this alfo is vanity.

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the fun, than to cat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that fhall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the fun.

16 When I applied mine heart to know wifdem, and to fee the bufinefs that is done upon the earth: (for alfo there is that neither day nor night feeth fleep 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 fun because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he fhall not find it; yea farther; though a wife man think to know it, yet fhall he not be able to find it.

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thou loveft all the days of thy life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the fun, all the days of thy vanity for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the fun.

Jo Whatfoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; forthere is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goeft.

III returned, and faw under the fun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wife, nor yet riches to men of underftanding, nor yet favour to men of kill; but time and chance happeneth to

them all.

12 For man alfo knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the fnare; fo are the fons of men fnared in an evil time, when it falleth fuddenly upon them.

13 This wisdom have I seen alfo under the fun, 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 befieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now

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