Vanities in divine service.

CHAP. V, VI.

The vanity of riches.

than both the hands full with travail and poor, and violent perverting of judgment vexation of spirit. and justice in a province, marvel not at 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity the matter: for he that is higher than the under the sun. highest regardeth; and there be higher

8 There is one alone, and there is not a than they. second; yea, he hath neither child nor 9 Moreover, the profit of the earth is brother: yet is there no end of all his la- for all: the king himself is served by the bour; neither is his eye satisfied with field.

riches: neither saith he, For whom do I 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satislabour, and bereave my soul of good? fied with silver; nor he that loveth abunThis is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. dance with increase: this is also vanity. 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 wo 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.

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

16 There is no end of all the people, the wind? 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.

KEEP

CHAP. V.

EEP 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.

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.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let 19 Every man also to whom God hath not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing given riches and wealth, and hath given before God: for God is in heaven, and him power to eat thereof, and to take his thou upon earth: "therefore let thy words portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this be few. is the gift of God.

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

CHAP. VI.

under the sun, and it is common

HERE is an evil which I have seen

among men:

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 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, not pay. wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, to sin; neither say thou before the angel, yet God giveth him not power to eat therethat it was an error: wherefore should of, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, God be angry at thy voice, and destroy and it is an evil disease. the work of thine hands?

3¶ If a man beget a hundred children, 7 For in the multitude of dreams and and live many years, so that the days of his many words there are also divers vanities: years be many, and his soul be not filled but fear thou God. with good, and also that he have no burial; I 8 If thou seest the oppression of the say, that an untimely birth is better than he

Remedies against vanity.

ECCLESIASTES. Difficulty of getting wisdom

4 For he cometh in with vanity, and de-ledge is, that wisdom giveth life to then parteth in darkness, and his name shall be that have it. covered with darkness.

13 Consider the work of God: for who

5 Moreover he hath not seen the sun, can make that straight, which he hath made nor known any thing: this hath more rest crooked? 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 T 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?

A

CHAP. VII.

GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 T 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.

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: Isaid, 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:

5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools: 26 And I find more bitter than death 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a the woman whose heart is snares and nets, pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this and her hands as bands: whoso please th also is vanity. God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

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.

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.

10 Say not thou, What is the cause that 29 Lo, this only have I found, that God the former days were better than these? hath made man upright; but they have for thou dost not inquire wisely concern-sought out many inventions.

ing this.

11 ¶ Wisdom is good with an inherit

CHAP. VIII.

ance: and by it there is profit to them that WHO is as the wise man? and who

see the sun.

knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom inaketh his face to 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money shine, and the boldness of his face shall be is a defence: but the excellency of know-changed.

God's works unsearchable.

CHAP. IX.

Wisdom better than strength.

2 I counsel thee to keep the king's com-think to know it, yet shall he not be able mandment, and that in regard of the oath to find it. of God.

3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

FOR

CHAP. IX.

NOR all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the rightcous, and the wise, and their works, are 4 Where the word of a king is, there is in the hand of God: no man knoweth power and who may say unto him, What either love or hatred by all that is before doest thou? them.

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment| 2 All things come alike to all: there is shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's one event to the righteous and to the wickheart discerneth both time and judgment. ed; to the good, and to the clean, and to 6 ¶ Because to every purpose there is the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and time and judgment, therefore the misery to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, of man is great upon him. so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as

7 For he knoweth not that which shall he that feareth an oath. be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 3 This is an evil among all things that 8 There is no man that hath power over are done under the sun, that there is one the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath event unto all: yea, also the heart of the he power in the day of death: and there is sons of men is full of evil, and madness no discharge in that war; neither shall is in their heart while they live, and after wickedness deliver those that are given to it. that they go to the dead.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my 4 For to him that is joined to all the heart unto every work that is done under living there is hope: for a living dog is the sun there is a time wherein one man better than a dead lion. ruleth over another to his own hurt.

5 For the living know that they shall

10 And so I saw the wicked buried who die but the dead know not any thing, had come and gone from the place of the neither have they any more a reward; for holy, and they were forgotten in the city the memory of them is forgotten. where they had so done: this is also vanity. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and

11 Because sentence against an evil their envy, is now perished; neither have work is not executed speedily, therefore they any more a portion for ever in any the heart of the sons of men is fully set in thing that is done under the sun. them to do evil.

12 T Though a sinner do evil a 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.

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 14 There is a vanity which is done up-portion in this life, and in thy labour which on the earth; that there be just men, unto thou takest under the sun.

:

whom it happeneth according to the work 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, of the wicked: again, there be wicked do it with thy might; for there is no work, men, to whom it happeneth according to nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, the work of the righteous :. I said that this in the grave, whither thou goest. also is vanity. 11 I returned, and saw under the sun, 15 Then I commended mirth, because that the race is not to the swift, nor the a man hath no better thing under the sun, battle to the strong, neither yet bread to than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: the wise, nor yet riches to men of underfor that shall abide with him of his labour standing, nor yet favour to men of skill; but the days of his life, which God giveth him time and chance happeneth to them all. under the sun. 12 For man als knoweth not his time: 16 When I applied mine heart to as the fishes that re taken in an evil net, know wisdom, and to see the business that and as the birds that are caught in the snare; is done upon the earth: (for also there is so are the sons of men snared in an evil that neither day nor night seeth sleep with time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. his eyes :) 13¶ This wisdom have I seen also un17 Then I beheld all the work of God, der the sun, and it seemed great unto me: that a man cannot find out the work that 14 There was a little city, and few men is done under the sun: because, though a within it; and there came a great king man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not against it, and besieged it, and built great find it, yea further; though a wise man bulwarks against it:

Of wisdom, folly, riot, &c.

ECCLESIASTES.

Directions for charity. 15 Now there was found in it a poor decayeth; and through idleness of the wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered hands the house droppeth through. the city; yet no man remembered that 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth

same poor man.

16 Then said I, wisdom is better than all things. strength: nevertheless the poor man's wis- 20 Curse not the king, no,not in thy dom is despised, and his words are not thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedheard. chamber: for a bird of the air shall carry 17 The words of wise men are heard in the voice, and that which hath wings shall quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth tell the matter. among fools.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of

CHAP. XI.

war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. CAST thy bread upon the waters: for

DEAD

CHAP. X.

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.

EAD flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in 3 If the clouds-be full of rain, they empty reputation for wisdom and honour. themselves upon the earth: and if the tree 2 A wise man's heart is at his right fall toward the south, or toward the hand; but a fool's heart is at his left. north, in the place where the tree falleth, 3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walk-there it shall be. eth by the way, his wisdom faileth him, 4 He that observeth the wind shall not and he saith to every one that he is a sow; and he that regardeth the clouds fool. shall not reap.

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against 5 As thou knowest not what is the way thee, leave not thy place; for yielding of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow pacifieth great offences. in the womb of her that is with child: even 5 There is an evil which I have seen so thou knowest not the works of God who under the sun, as an error which proceed-maketh all. eth 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 a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

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.

10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; whet the edge, then must he put to more and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine 11 Surely the serpent will bite without heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but enchantment; and a babbler is no better. know thou, that for all these things God 12 The words of a wise man's mouth will bring thee into judgment. ure gracious; but the lips of a fool will 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy swallow up himself. heart, and put away evil from thy flesh 13 The beginning of the words of his for childhood and youth are vanity. mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

CHAP. XII.

REMEMBER now thy. Creator in the 14 A fool also is full of words: a man days of thy youth, while the evil days cannot tell what shall be; and what shall come not, nor the years draw nigh, when be after him, who can tell him? 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:

15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

16 T Wo to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders. 17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy cease because they are few, and those that king is the son of nobles, and thy princes look out of the windows be darkened, eat in due season, for strength, and not for 4 And the doors shall be shut in the drunkenness ! streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the

18 ¶ By much slothfulness the building

The Creator to be remembered. CHAP. I, II.

The church's love to Christ.

bird, and all the daughters of music shall ledge: yea, he gave good heed, and sought be brought low; out, and set in order many proverbs. 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that 10 The Preacher sought to find out acwhich is high, and fears shall be in the way, ceptable words: and that which was writand the almond-tree shall flourish, and the ten, was upright, even words of truth. grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire 11 The words of the wise are as goads, shall fail: because man goeth to his long and as nails fastened by the masters of ashome, and the mourners go about the semblies, which are given from one shepstreets: herd.

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or 12 And further, by these, my son, he the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher admonished: of making many books there be broken at the fountain, or the wheel is no end; and much study is a weariness broken at the cistern. of the flesh.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the as it was: and the spirit shall return unto whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty

God who gave it.

8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preach- of man.

er; all is vanity.

14 For God shall bring every work into 9 And moreover, because the Preacher judgment, with every secret thing, whewas wise, he still taught the people know-ther it be good, or whether it be evil.

T

I The Song of SOLOMON.

CHAP. I.

Junto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my

14 My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi. 15 Behold, thou art fair, my love; be

HE Song of songs, which is Solomon's. breasts. 2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine, 3 Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured hold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

4 Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

5 1 am black, but comely, Oye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

eyes.

16 Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green. 17 The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.

CHAP. II.

AM the rose of Sharon, and the lily of

2 As the lily among thorns, so is my

6 Look not upon me, because I am love among the daughters. black, because the sun hath looked upon 3 As the apple-tree among the trees of me: my mother's children were angry with the wood, so is my beloved among the me; they made me the keeper of the vine-sons. I sat down under his shadow with yards; but mine own vineyard have I not great delight, and his fruit was sweet to kept.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

8 T If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.

9 I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.

10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

12 ¶ While the King sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

13 A bundle of myrrh is my well-beloved

my taste.

4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 5 Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

7 I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

8 The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

9 My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.