16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. [1] 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her lamp goeth not out by night. [2] 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. [3] 21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. [4] 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it ; and delivereth waistbands to the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. [5] 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Ecclesiastes.
Before
CHRIST,
977.
CHAP. 1.
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of 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 riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. [6]
6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about to the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to its circuits.
7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; to the place from which the rivers come, there they return again. [7]
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 of which 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 grievous labour hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised with it. [8]
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 lacking cannot be numbered. [9]
16 I spoke to my own heart, saying, Lo, I have come to great estate, and have gained more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. [10]
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.
CHAP. 2.
I said in my heart, Come now, I will test thee with mirth, therefore en
