ginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And alfo that every man fhould eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." 14 I know that whatsoever God doeth, it fhall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it and God doeth it that men fhould 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 wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. falleth them as the one dieth, fo dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; fo that a man hath no pre-eminence 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 fpirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beaft that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man fhould rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who fhall bring him to fee what fhall be after him? CHAP. IV.: ΟΙ OI returned, and confidered all the oppreffions that are done under the fun: and behold, the tears of fuch as were oppreffed, and they had 17 I faid in mine heart, God fhall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every pur-no comforter; and on the pofe 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 them felves are beafts. 711 19 For that which befall+ eth the fons of men befalleth beafts; even one thing be 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 feen the the evil work that is done | againft him, two fhall with under the fun. 14 Again, I confidered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is alfo vanity and vexation of fpirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth kis own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of fpirit. 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 eyes 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; because they have a good reward for their labour. 110 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, bo Again, if two lie toge ther, then they have heat but how can one be warın' alone? 10 12And if one prevail modw ftand 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. 114 For out of prifon he cometh to reign; whereas alfo he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 15 I confidered all the living which walk under the fun, with the second 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. K CHAP. V. EEP thy foot when' thou goeft to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the facrifice of fools: for they confider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rafh 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 bufinefs, and a fool's voice is Dd 4 known known by multitude of words. 4 When thou voweft a wow unto God, defer not to faving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The fleep of a labour pay it, for he hath no plea-ing man is sweet, whether he fure in fools: pay that which thou haft vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou fhouldeft vow and not pay. 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 6 Suffer not thy mouth to caufe thy flesh to fin; nei-hurt. ther 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? 14 But those riches perifh 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 shall he return to go as he came, and fhall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are alfo divers vanities: but fear thou God. 8 If thou feeft the op-away in his hand. preffion of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and juftice 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 himfelf is ferved by the field. 10 He that loveth filver fhall not be fatisfied with filver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase. This alfo is vanity. II When goods increase, they are increased that eat them and what good is there to the owners thereof, 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? 17 All his days alfo he eateth in darkness, and be bath much forrow and wrath with his fickness. 18 Behold that which I have feen: 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 fun, all the days of his life which God giveth him; for it is his portion. 19 Every man alfo to whom 1 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; because God anfwereth him in the joy of his heart. T CHAP. VI. 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 wife more than the fool? what hath the poor that knoweth to walk before the living? 94 Better is the fight of the HERE is an evil which I have seen un-eyes, than the wandering of der the fun, and it is common among men: the defire. This is also va- 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, is named already, and it is and honour, so that he want-known that it is man: neieth nothing for his foul of all ther may he contend with that he defireth, yet God him that is mightier than giveth him not power to eat he. thereof, but a ftranger eateth it: this is vanity; and it is an evil disease. 3 If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his foul be not filled with good, II¶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 fhadow? for who can tell a and alfo that he have no bu-man what shall be after him rial; I fay, that an untimely under the fun? birth is better than he: 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darknefs, and his name fhall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover, he hath not feen the fun, nor known any thing; this hath more reft 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 fadnefs of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 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 alfo 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. 10 Say not thou, What is the caufe that the former days were better than these? for thou doft not enquire wifely concerning this. 11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that fee the fun... 12 For wisdom is a defence, and money 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 who can make that ftraight which he hath 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 1 seen in the days of my vanity: there is a juft man that perifheth in his righteoufnefs, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyfelf over-wife why fhouldest thou deftroy thyself? : 17 Be not overmuch wicked; neither be thou foolish: why shouldeft thou die before thy time?! 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 Wifdom ftrengtheneth the wife more than ten i |