14 I know that, whatever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be added 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. [1]
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 my 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 my heart concerning the state of the sons of men, that God might surely test them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. [2]
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 to 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? [3] [4]
22 Therefore 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?
CHAP. 4.
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. [5]
2 Therefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.
3 Yea, better is he than both they, who hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I considered all labour, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. [6] [7]
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 toil 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 grievous labour.
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 companion: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him to rise.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone ?
12 And if one prevaileth 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 longer be admonished. [8]
14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; though also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
15 I considered all the living who 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.
CHAP. 5.
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 thy heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. [9]
3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words.
4 When thou vowest a vow to 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 Permit not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: why should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also many vanities: but fear thou God.
8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, wonder not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there are higher than they. [10]
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
- ↑ that which is past: Heb. that which is driven away
- ↑ that God...: or, that they might clear God, and see, etc
- ↑ of man: Heb. of the sons of man
- ↑ goeth upward: Heb. is ascending, etc
- ↑ side: Heb. hand
- ↑ every...: Heb. all the rightness of work
- ↑ for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour
- ↑ who...: Heb. who knoweth not to be admonished
- ↑ thing: or, word
- ↑ at the... Heb. at the will, or, purpose
