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Listen to the full Book of Ecclesiastes in the King James Version (KJV) with text.
Audio Bible https://tienda.josepenacoto.com/products/the-bible-audiobook
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0:00 Ecclesiastes 1. The Vanity of Life and the Endless Cycle of Existence
2:55 Ecclesiastes 2. The Futility of Pleasure, Work, and Wealth
7:54 Ecclesiastes 3. A Time for Everything
11:11 Ecclesiastes 4. The Oppression and Emptiness of Life Without God
13:45 Ecclesiastes 5. The Proper Attitude Toward Worship and Wealth
17:11 Ecclesiastes 6. The Frustration of Riches Without Enjoyment
19:09 Ecclesiastes 7. Wisdom for Life and the Limits of Human Understanding
23:18 Ecclesiastes 8. Obey the King and Trust Godâs Justice
26:33 Ecclesiastes 9. The Certainty of Death and the Unpredictability of Life
30:07 Ecclesiastes 10. The Difference Between Wisdom and Foolishness
32:52 Ecclesiastes 11. Invest Wisely and Enjoy Life While You Can
34:29 Ecclesiastes 12. Remember Your Creator in Your Youth and the Conclusion of the Matter
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9nL9AX7_1DODTGB18Hh_JCJr2s-l2KnL
The Book of Ecclesiastes is a profound, contemplative text belonging to the wisdom literature genre within the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally attributed to King Solomonâthough modern scholars often suggest a later authorshipâthe book likely originated during the late Persian or early Hellenistic period, around the 4th to 3rd century BCE. Its Hebrew title, Qoheleth, meaning "assembler" or "teacher," reflects its function as the gathered teachings of a wise sage addressing an audience on life's deeper existential questions.
Unlike the optimistic and straightforward practical wisdom of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes engages deeply with life's ambiguities, complexities, and apparent contradictions. It grapples philosophically with universal human experiences: mortality, injustice, wealth, pleasure, work, suffering, and the relentless passage of time. The recurring phrase "vanity of vanities" (Hebrew: hevel, often translated as "vapor" or "meaningless") expresses the author's exploration of life's ephemeral and often enigmatic nature, highlighting human limitations in finding lasting meaning through worldly pursuits alone.
Ecclesiastes is unique within biblical literature for its skeptical, reflective tone, openly questioning the conventional religious belief that righteousness inevitably brings prosperity. The book candidly acknowledges life's uncertainties, the inevitability of death, and the difficulty in discerning clear moral outcomes or divine intentions in human affairs. Nevertheless, despite its critical and at times pessimistic perspective, Ecclesiastes consistently returns to an affirmation of life's value when lived with reverence toward God, humility regarding human understanding, and appreciation for simple pleasures and daily responsibilities.
Audio Bible https://tienda.josepenacoto.com/products/the-bible-audiobook
đ Chapters
0:00 Ecclesiastes 1. The Vanity of Life and the Endless Cycle of Existence
2:55 Ecclesiastes 2. The Futility of Pleasure, Work, and Wealth
7:54 Ecclesiastes 3. A Time for Everything
11:11 Ecclesiastes 4. The Oppression and Emptiness of Life Without God
13:45 Ecclesiastes 5. The Proper Attitude Toward Worship and Wealth
17:11 Ecclesiastes 6. The Frustration of Riches Without Enjoyment
19:09 Ecclesiastes 7. Wisdom for Life and the Limits of Human Understanding
23:18 Ecclesiastes 8. Obey the King and Trust Godâs Justice
26:33 Ecclesiastes 9. The Certainty of Death and the Unpredictability of Life
30:07 Ecclesiastes 10. The Difference Between Wisdom and Foolishness
32:52 Ecclesiastes 11. Invest Wisely and Enjoy Life While You Can
34:29 Ecclesiastes 12. Remember Your Creator in Your Youth and the Conclusion of the Matter
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9nL9AX7_1DODTGB18Hh_JCJr2s-l2KnL
The Book of Ecclesiastes is a profound, contemplative text belonging to the wisdom literature genre within the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. Traditionally attributed to King Solomonâthough modern scholars often suggest a later authorshipâthe book likely originated during the late Persian or early Hellenistic period, around the 4th to 3rd century BCE. Its Hebrew title, Qoheleth, meaning "assembler" or "teacher," reflects its function as the gathered teachings of a wise sage addressing an audience on life's deeper existential questions.
Unlike the optimistic and straightforward practical wisdom of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes engages deeply with life's ambiguities, complexities, and apparent contradictions. It grapples philosophically with universal human experiences: mortality, injustice, wealth, pleasure, work, suffering, and the relentless passage of time. The recurring phrase "vanity of vanities" (Hebrew: hevel, often translated as "vapor" or "meaningless") expresses the author's exploration of life's ephemeral and often enigmatic nature, highlighting human limitations in finding lasting meaning through worldly pursuits alone.
Ecclesiastes is unique within biblical literature for its skeptical, reflective tone, openly questioning the conventional religious belief that righteousness inevitably brings prosperity. The book candidly acknowledges life's uncertainties, the inevitability of death, and the difficulty in discerning clear moral outcomes or divine intentions in human affairs. Nevertheless, despite its critical and at times pessimistic perspective, Ecclesiastes consistently returns to an affirmation of life's value when lived with reverence toward God, humility regarding human understanding, and appreciation for simple pleasures and daily responsibilities.
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LearningTranscript
00:00Ecclesiastes or the Preacher
00:04Chapter 1
00:06The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King, in Jerusalem
00:12Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
00:20What profit hath a man of all his labor, which he taketh under the sun?
00:26One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh, but the earth abideth for ever.
00:33The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
00:41The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north.
00:46It whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
00:53All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.
00:58Unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
01:03All things are full of labor, man cannot utter it.
01:09The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
01:15The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done, is that which shall be done.
01:22And there is no new thing under the sun.
01:27Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new, it hath been already of old time, which was before us?
01:37There is no remembrance of former things, neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
01:46I the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.
01:58This sore travail hath God given to the sons of men, to be exercised therewith.
02:05I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
02:14That which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
02:20I 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.
02:32Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
02:37And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly.
02:42I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
02:46For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
02:55I said in mine heart, Go to now I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure, and behold, this also is vanity.
03:08I said of laughter it is mad, and of mirth what doeth it?
03:13I 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.
03:31I made me great works, I builded up houses, I planted me vineyards, I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits.
03:42I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.
03:48I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house.
03:53Also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me.
04:00I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces.
04:08I got me men singers, and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
04:18So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem.
04:23Also my wisdom remained with me, and whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them.
04:30I withheld not from my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion of all my labor.
04:39Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
04:54And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly.
05:00For what can the man do that cometh after the king, even that which hath been already done?
05:06Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as lighteth excelleth darkness.
05:13The 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.
05:24Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to the wise.
05:31And why was I then more wise?
05:34Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
05:39For 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 be all forgotten.
05:49And how dieth the wise man as the fool?
05:53Therefore I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous under me, for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
06:04Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun, because I should leave it under the man that shall be after me.
06:12And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool?
06:16Yet shall he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun.
06:25This is also vanity.
06:28Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labor which I took under the sun.
06:35For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge and in equity.
06:41Yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion.
06:46This also is vanity and a great evil.
06:50For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun?
07:00For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief, yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night.
07:08This is also vanity.
07:11There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.
07:21This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
07:26For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto more than I?
07:33For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom and knowledge and joy.
07:40But to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give it to him that is good before God.
07:48This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
07:53Chapter 3
07:56To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
08:00A time to be born, and a time to die.
08:03A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
08:07A time to kill, and a time to heal.
08:10A time to break down, and a time to build up.
08:14A time to weep, and a time to laugh.
08:17A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
08:20A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.
08:25A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
08:29A time to get, and a time to lose.
08:32A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
08:36A time to rend, and a time to sow.
08:39A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
08:43A time to love, and a time to hate.
08:46A time of war, and a time of peace.
08:49What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
08:53I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
09:00He hath made everything beautiful in his time.
09:05Also 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.
09:15I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
09:22And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour.
09:28It is the gift of God.
09:30I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever.
09:34Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it.
09:39And God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
09:43That which hath been is now, and that which is to be hath already been.
09:50And God requireth that which is past.
09:53And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there.
10:00And the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
10:03I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked.
10:08For there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work.
10:13I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them,
10:19And that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
10:23For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts, every one thing befalleth them.
10:30As the one dieth, so dieth the other.
10:33Yea, they have all one breath.
10:36So that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast, for all is vanity.
10:42All go unto one place, all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
10:49Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
10:57Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works.
11:04For that is his portion.
11:06For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
11:11Chapter 4
11:13So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun,
11:19And, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter.
11:25And on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter.
11:30Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
11:37Yea, better is he than both they which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
11:47Again I considered all travail and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.
11:55This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
11:59The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
12:03Better is an hand full with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
12:11Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
12:16There is one alone, and there is not a second.
12:20Yea, he hath neither child nor brother, yet is there no end of all his labour.
12:26Neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good.
12:35This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
12:40Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.
12:45For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.
12:48But woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.
12:54Again if two people lie together, then they have heat, but how can one be warm alone?
13:00And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13:08Better is a poor and a wise child, than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
13:16For out of prison he cometh to reign, whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
13:23I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
13:31There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them.
13:36They also that come after shall not rejoice in him.
13:40Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
13:45Chapter 5 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God,
13:51and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.
13:56For they consider not that they do evil.
14:00Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God.
14:06For God is in heaven, and vow upon earth.
14:10Therefore let thy words be few.
14:13For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
14:19When thou vowest to vow unto God, prefer not to pay it.
14:24For he hath no pleasure in fools.
14:26Pay that which thou hast vowed.
14:29Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
14:35Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin.
14:39Neither say thou, before the angel, that it was an error.
14:43Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?
14:48For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers' vanities.
14:54But fear thou God.
14:57If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter.
15:06For he that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher than they.
15:12Moreover the profit of the earth is for all.
15:16The king himself is served by the field.
15:19He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase.
15:26This is also vanity.
15:29When goods increase, they are increased that eat them.
15:33And what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
15:39The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much.
15:44But the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
15:47There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
15:55But those riches perish by evil travail.
15:58And he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
16:02As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.
16:14And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go.
16:21And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind?
16:25All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
16:32Behold that which I have seen!
16:35It is good and comely for one to eat, and to drink, and to enjoy good of all his labor, that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him.
16:48For it is his portion.
16:50Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat
16:56thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God.
17:03For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
17:11Chapter 6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men.
17:18A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth,
17:26yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it.
17:32This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
17:36If 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,
17:45and also that he have no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better than he.
17:52For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
17:59Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known anything, this hath more rest than the other.
18:07Yea, though he live a thousand years twice fold, yet hath he seen no good.
18:13Do not all go to one place.
18:16All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
18:22For what hath the wise more than the fool?
18:25What hath the poor that knoweth to walk before the living?
18:29Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of a desire.
18:34This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
18:39That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man.
18:45Neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
18:49Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
18:54For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow?
19:03For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
19:09Chapter 7
19:11A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of one's birth.
19:18It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting.
19:23For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
19:28Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
19:35The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
19:42It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
19:48For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool, this also is vanity.
19:55Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
20:02Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
20:11Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
20:18Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?
20:23For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
20:28Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
20:35For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence, but the excellency of knowledge is,
20:42that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
20:46Consider the work of God.
20:48For who can make that straight which he hath made crooked?
20:52In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider,
20:57God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
21:06All things have I seen in the days of my vanity.
21:10There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness,
21:14and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
21:19Be not righteous overmuch, neither make thyself overwise,
21:24Why shouldst thou destroy thyself?
21:28Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish,
21:32Why shouldst thou die before thy time?
21:35It is good that thou shouldst take hold of this,
21:39Yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand,
21:42For he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
21:47Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in a city.
21:53For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not.
21:59Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken,
22:03Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee,
22:06For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22:14All this have I proved by wisdom.
22:17I said, I will be wise, but it was far from thee.
22:22That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
22:27I applied mine heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom,
22:32And the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly,
22:36Even of foolishness and madness.
22:39And I find more bitter than death the woman,
22:42Whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands.
22:47Whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her,
22:50But the sinner shall be taken by her.
22:53Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher,
22:56Counting one by one to find out the account,
22:59Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not.
23:02One man among a thousand have I found,
23:05But a woman among all these have I not found.
23:09Lo, this only have I found,
23:12That God hath made man upright,
23:14But they have sought out many inventions.
23:19Chapter 8
23:20Who is as the wise man?
23:23And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?
23:26A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine,
23:29And the boldness of his face shall be changed.
23:33I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment,
23:36And that in regard of the oath of God.
23:39Be not hasty to go out of his sight,
23:42Stand not in an evil thing,
23:45For he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
23:48Where the word of a king is, there is power,
23:51And who may say unto him,
23:53What doest thou?
23:55Whoso keepeth the commandment
23:57Shall feel no evil thing,
23:59And a wise man's heart discerneth
24:02Both time and judgment.
24:04Because to every purpose there is a time and a judgment,
24:08Therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
24:11For he knoweth not that which shall be,
24:14For who can tell him when it shall be?
24:17There is no man that hath power over the spirit
24:21To retain the spirit,
24:23Neither hath he power in the day of death,
24:26And there is no discharge in that war,
24:29Neither shall wickedness deliver those
24:32That are given to it.
24:34All this have I seen,
24:36And applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun.
24:41There is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
24:47And so I saw the wicked buried,
24:50Who had come and gone from the place of the holy,
24:53And they were forgotten in the city where they had so done.
24:57This is also vanity.
24:59Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily,
25:04Therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
25:09Though a sinner do evil an hundred times,
25:12And his days be prolonged,
25:14Yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God,
25:19Which fear before him.
25:21But it shall not be well with the wicked,
25:24Neither shall he prolong his days,
25:26Which are as a shadow,
25:28Because he feareth not before God.
25:31There is a vanity which is done upon the earth,
25:35That there be just men,
25:37Unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked.
25:40Again there be wicked men,
25:42To whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous.
25:45I said that this also is vanity.
25:48Then I commended mirth,
25:51Because a man hath no better thing under the sun,
25:54Than to eat and to drink and to be merry,
25:57For that shall abide with him of his labor the days of his life,
26:00Which God giveth him under the sun.
26:03When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,
26:06And to see the business that is done upon the earth,
26:09For also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes,
26:14Then I beheld all the work of God,
26:17That a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun,
26:21Because though a man labor to seek it out,
26:24Yet he shall not find it.
26:26Yea, further, though a wise man think to know it,
26:30Yet shall he not be able to find it.
26:33Chapter 9
26:36For all this I considered in my heart,
26:39Even to declare all this,
26:41That the righteous and the wise and their works
26:44Are in the hand of God.
26:46No man knoweth either love or hatred
26:49By all that is before them.
26:52All things come alike to all,
26:54There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked,
26:58To the good and to the clean and to the unclean,
27:01To him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not.
27:05As is the good, so is the sinner,
27:08And he that sweareth as he that feareth an oath.
27:11This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun.
27:15But there is one event unto all,
27:18Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil,
27:22And madness is in their heart while they live,
27:25And after that they go to the dead.
27:28For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope,
27:33For a living dog is better than a dead lion.
27:37For the living know that they shall die,
27:39But the dead know not anything,
27:41Neither have they any more a reward,
27:44For the memory of them is forgotten,
27:47Also their love and their hatred and their envy is now perished,
27:52Neither have they any more a portion for ever
27:55In anything that is done under the sun.
27:58Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy,
28:01And drink thy wine with a merry heart,
28:04For God now accepteth thy works.
28:07Let thy garments be always white,
28:09And let thy head lack no ointment.
28:12Live joyfully with the wife
28:14Whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity,
28:17Which he hath given thee under the sun
28:19All the days of thy vanity,
28:21For that is thy portion in this life,
28:24And in thy labor which thou takest under the sun.
28:28Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
28:31Do it with thy might,
28:33For there is no work, nor device,
28:35Nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave
28:38Whither thou goest.
28:41I returned and saw under the sun,
28:44That the race is not to the swift,
28:46Nor the battle to the strong,
28:48Neither yet bread to the wise,
28:50Nor yet riches to men of understanding,
28:52Nor yet favor to men of skill,
28:55But time and chance happeneth to them all.
28:59For men also knoweth not his time,
29:02As the fishes that are taken in an evil net,
29:05And as the birds that are caught in the snare,
29:07So are the sons of men snared in an evil time,
29:11When it falleth suddenly upon them.
29:14This wisdom have I seen also under the sun,
29:17And it seemed great to me.
29:19There was a little city,
29:21And few men within it,
29:23And there came a great king against it,
29:25And besieged it,
29:27And built great bulwarks against it.
29:29Now there was found in it a poor wise man,
29:33And he by his wisdom delivered the city,
29:36Yet no man remembered that same poor man.
29:41Then said I,
29:42Wisdom is better than strength.
29:45Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised,
29:49And his words are not heard.
29:51The words of wise men are heard in quiet
29:55More than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
29:59Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
30:03But one sinner destroyeth much good.
30:08Chapter 10
30:10Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary
30:13To send forth a stinking savour,
30:16So doth a little folly him that is in reputation
30:19For wisdom and honour.
30:22A wise man's heart is at his right hand,
30:25But a fool's heart at his left.
30:28Yea, also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way,
30:32His wisdom faileth him,
30:34And he saith to every one that he is a fool.
30:37If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee,
30:40Leave not thy place,
30:42For yielding pacifieth great offences.
30:46There is an evil which I have seen under the sun,
30:50As an error which proceedeth from the ruler.
30:53Folly is set in great dignity,
30:56And the rich sit in low place.
31:00I have seen servants upon horses,
31:02And princes walking as servants upon the earth.
31:06He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it,
31:09And whosoever breaketh an hedge,
31:12A serpent shall bite him.
31:14Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt withal,
31:17And he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
31:20If the iron be blunt,
31:22And he do not whet the edge,
31:24Then must he put to more strength.
31:27But wisdom is profitable to direct.
31:30Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment,
31:33And a babbler is no better.
31:35The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious,
31:38But the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
31:42The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness,
31:45And the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
31:49A fool also is full of words.
31:52A man cannot tell what shall be,
31:54And what shall be after him who can tell.
31:57The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them,
32:01Because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
32:05Woe to thee, O land,
32:08When thy king is a child,
32:10And thy princes eat in the morning!
32:13Blessed art thou, O land,
32:15When thy king is the son of nobles,
32:18And thy princes eat in due season,
32:21For strength and not for drunkenness!
32:24By much slothfulness the building decayeth,
32:28And through idleness of the hands
32:30The house droppeth through.
32:32A feast is made for laughter,
32:35And wine maketh merry,
32:37But money answereth all things.
32:40Curse not the king,
32:42Know not in thy thought,
32:44And curse not the rich in thy bedchamber,
32:46For a bird of the air shall carry the voice,
32:49And that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
32:53Chapter 11
32:55Cast thy bread upon the waters,
32:58For thou shalt find it after many days.
33:01Give a portion to seven,
33:03And also to eight,
33:04For thou knowest not what evil
33:06Shall be upon the earth.
33:08If the clouds be full of rain,
33:10They empty themselves upon the earth,
33:12And if the tree fall toward the south
33:14Or toward the north,
33:15In the place where the tree falleth,
33:17There it shall be.
33:19He that observeth the wind shall not sow,
33:22And he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
33:25As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit,
33:28Nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her
33:30That is with child,
33:31Even so thou knowest not the works of God
33:34Who maketh all.
33:35In the morning sow thy seed,
33:38And in the evening withhold not thine hand,
33:40For thou knowest not whether shall prosper
33:43Either this or that,
33:44Or whether they both shall be alike good.
33:47Truly the light is sweet,
33:50And a pleasant thing it is
33:52For the eyes to behold the sun.
33:54But if a man live many years,
33:56And rejoice in them all,
33:58Yet let him remember the days of darkness,
34:01For they shall be many.
34:03All that cometh is vanity.
34:06Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth,
34:08And let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,
34:11And walk in the ways of thine heart,
34:13And in the sight of thine eyes.
34:15But know thou that for all these things
34:18God will bring thee into judgment.
34:21Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,
34:24And put away evil from thy flesh,
34:26For childhood and youth are vanity.
34:30Chapter 12
34:32Remember now thy Creator,
34:34In the days of thy youth,
34:36While the evil days come not,
34:38Nor the years draw nigh,
34:40When thou shalt say,
34:41I have no pleasure in them.
34:43While the sun, or the light,
34:45Or the moon, or the stars,
34:46Be not darkened,
34:48Nor the clouds return after the rain.
34:51In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
34:54And the strong men shall bow themselves,
34:57And the grinders cease,
34:58Because they are few,
35:00And those that look out of the windows be darkened.
35:03And the doors shall be shut in the streets,
35:06When the sound of the grinding is low,
35:08And he shall rise up the voice of the bird,
35:11And all the daughters of music shall be brought low.
35:14Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high,
35:17And fears shall be in the way,
35:19And the almond tree shall flourish,
35:21And the grasshopper shall be a burden,
35:23And a desire shall fail.
35:26Because man goeth to his long home,
35:29And the mourners go about the streets,
35:32Or ever the silver cord be loosed,
35:35Or the golden bowl be broken,
35:37Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain,
35:40Or the wheel broken at the cistern.
35:43Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was,
35:47And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
35:50Vanity of vanities saith the preacher,
35:54All is vanity.
35:56And moreover because the preacher was wise,
35:59He still taught the people knowledge.
36:02Yea, he gave good heed,
36:04And sought out and set in order many proverbs.
36:07The preacher sought to find out acceptable words,
36:10And that which was written was upright even words of truth.
36:15The words of the wise are as goads,
36:18And as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies,
36:21Which are given from one shepherd.
36:24And further by these, my son, be admonished,
36:28Of making many books there is no end,
36:31And much study is a weariness of the flesh.
36:35Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
36:39Fear God, and keep his commandments,
36:44For this is the whole duty of man.
36:47For God shall bring every work into judgment,
36:50With every secret thing,
36:53Whether it be good or whether it be evil.
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