GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:21urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.darby:21The words of the Preacher , the son of David , king in Jerusalem . Vanity of vanities , saith the Preacher , vanity of vanities ! all is vanity . What profit hath man of all his labour wherewith he laboureth under the sun ? [ One ] generation passeth away , and [ another ] generation cometh , but the earth standeth for ever . The sun also riseth , and the sun goeth down , and hasteth to its place where it ariseth . The wind goeth towards the south , and turneth about towards the north : it turneth about continually , and the wind returneth again to its circuits . All the rivers run into the sea , yet the sea is not full : unto the place whither the rivers go , thither they go again . All things are full of toil ; none can express it . The eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing . That which hath been is that which shall be ; and that which hath been done is that which will be done : and there is nothing new under the sun . Is there a thing whereof it may be said , See , this is new ? It hath been already in the ages which were before us . There is no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be remembrance of things that are to come with those who shall live afterwards . I , the Preacher , was king over Israel in Jerusalem . And I applied my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens : this grievous occupation hath God given to the children of men to weary themselves therewith . I have seen all the works that are done under the sun , and behold , all is vanity and pursuit of the wind . That which is crooked cannot be made straight ; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered . I communed with mine own heart , saying , Lo , I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem ; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge . And I applied my heart to the knowledge of wisdom , and to the knowledge of madness and folly : I perceived that this also is a striving after the wind . For in much wisdom is much vexation , and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow . I said in my heart , Come now , I will try thee with mirth , therefore enjoy pleasure . But behold , this also is vanity . I said of laughter , Madness ! and of mirth , What availeth it ? I searched in my heart how to cherish my flesh with wine , while practising my heart with wisdom ; and how to lay hold on folly , till I should see what was that good for the children of men which they should do under the heavens all the days of their life . I made me great works ; I builded me houses ; I planted me vineyards ; I made me gardens and parks , and I planted trees in them of every kind of fruit ; I made me ponds of water , to water therewith the wood , where the trees are reared . I acquired servants and maidens , and had servants born in my house ; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks , above all that had been in Jerusalem before me . I gathered me also silver and gold , and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces ; I got me men-singers and women-singers , and the delights of the children of men , a wife and concubines . And I became great , and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem : also my wisdom remained with me . And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them : I withheld not my heart from any joy ; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour , and this was my portion from all my labour . Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought , and on the labour that it had cost me to do [ them ] ; and behold , all was vanity and pursuit of the wind , and there was no profit under the sun . And I turned myself to behold wisdom , and madness , and folly ; for what shall the man [ do ] that cometh after the king ? -- that which hath already been done . And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly , as light excelleth darkness . The wise man's eyes are in his head , and the fool walketh in darkness ; but I myself also perceived that one event happeneth to them all . And I said in my heart , As it happeneth to the fool so will it happen even to me ; and why was I then so wise ? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity . For there shall be no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever ; because everything is already forgotten in the days which come . And how dieth the wise even as the fool ? And I hated life ; for the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me ; for all is vanity and pursuit of the wind . And I hated all my labour wherewith I had been toiling under the sun , because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me . And who knoweth whether he will be a wise [ man ] or a fool ? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured , and wherein I have been wise under the sun . This also is vanity . Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun . For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom , and with knowledge , and with skill , and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein , to be his portion . This also is vanity and a great evil . For what will man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart , wherewith he hath wearied himself under the sun ? For all his days are sorrows , and his travail vexation : even in the night his heart taketh no rest . This also is vanity . There is nothing good for man , but that he should eat and drink , and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour . This also I saw , that it was from the hand of God . For who can eat , or who be eager , more than I ? For he giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom , and knowledge , and joy ; but to the sinner he giveth travail to gather and to heap up , that he may give to him that is good in God's sight . This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind . To everything there is a season , and a time to every purpose under the heavens : A time to be born , and a time to die ; A time to plant , and a time to pluck up that which is planted ; A time to kill , and a time to heal ; A time to break down , and a time to build up ; A time to weep , and a time to laugh ; A time to mourn , and a time to dance ; A time to cast away stones , and a time to gather stones together ; A time to embrace , and a time to refrain from embracing ; A time to seek , and a time to lose ; A time to keep , and a time to cast away ; A time to rend , and a time to sew ; A time to keep silence , and a time to speak ; A time to love , and a time to hate ; A time of war , and a time of peace . What profit hath he that worketh from that wherein he laboureth ? I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men to toil in . He hath made everything beautiful in its time ; also he hath set the world in their heart , so that man findeth not out from the beginning to the end the work that God doeth . I know that there is nothing good for them but to rejoice and to do well in their life ; yea also that every man should eat and drink , and enjoy good in all his labour , it is the gift of God . I know that whatever God doeth , it shall be for ever ; there is nothing to be added to it , nor anything to be taken from it ; and God doeth [ it ] , that [ men ] should fear before him . That which is was long ago , and that which is to be hath already been ; and God bringeth back again that which is past . And moreover I saw under the sun , that in the place of judgment , wickedness was there ; and in the place of righteousness , wickedness was there . I said in my heart , God will judge the righteous and the wicked ; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work . I said in my heart , It is thus with the children of men , that God may prove them , and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts . For what befalleth the children of men befalleth beasts ; even one thing befalleth them : as the one dieth , so dieth the other , and they have all one breath ; and man hath no pre-eminence above the beast : for all is vanity . All go unto one place : all are of the dust , and all return to dust . Who knoweth the spirit of the children of men ? Doth it go upwards ? and the spirit of the beasts , doth it go downwards to the earth ? And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man should rejoice in his own works ; for that is his portion ; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him ? And I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun : and behold , the tears of the oppressed , and they had no comforter ; and on the side of their oppressors was power , and they had no comforter . Then I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive ; and more fortunate than both is he who hath not yet been , who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun . And I saw all labour , and all success of work , that it is man's jealousy of his neighbour . This also is vanity and pursuit of the wind . The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh . Better is a handful with quietness , than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind . And I returned and saw vanity under the sun . There is one [ alone ] and without a second ; also he hath neither son nor brother : yet is there no end of all his labour , neither is his eye satisfied with riches , and [ he saith not ] , For whom then am I labouring , and depriving my soul of good ? This also is vanity and a grievous occupation . Two are better than one ; because they have a good reward for their labour . For if they fall , the one will lift up his fellow ; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth , and who hath not another to lift him up ! Again , if two lie together , then they have warmth ; but how can one alone be warm ? And if a [ man ] overpower the one , the two shall withstand him ; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken . Better is a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king , who knoweth no more how to be admonished . For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign , although he was born poor in his kingdom . I saw all the living that walk under the sun , with the child , the second , that should stand up in his stead . [ There is ] no end of all the people , of all that stood before them ; those however that come after shall not rejoice in him . Surely this also is vanity and a striving after the wind . Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God , and draw near to hear , rather than to give the sacrifice of fools : for they know not that they do evil . Be not rash with thy mouth , and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God : for God is in the heavens , and thou upon earth ; therefore let thy words be few . For a dream cometh through the multitude of business , and a fool's voice through a multitude of words . 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 . Better is it that thou shouldest not vow , than that thou shouldest vow and not pay . Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin ; neither say thou before the angel , that it was an inadvertence . Wherefore should God be wroth at thy voice , and destroy the work of thy hands ? For in the multitude of dreams are vanities ; so with many words : but fear God . If thou seest the oppression of the poor , and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province , marvel not at the matter ; for a higher than the high is watching , and there are higher than they . Moreover the earth is every way profitable : the king [ himself ] is dependent upon the field . He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver , nor he that loveth abundance with increase . This also is vanity . When goods increase , they are increased that eat them ; and what profit is there to the owner thereof , except the beholding [ of them ] with his eyes ? The sleep of the labourer is sweet , whether he have eaten little or much ; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep . There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun : riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt ; or those riches perish by some evil circumstance , and if he have begotten a son , there is nothing in his hand . As he came forth from his mother's womb , naked shall he go away again as he came , and shall take nothing of his labour , which he may carry away in his hand . And this also is a grievous evil , that in all points as he came so doth he go away , and what profit hath he , in having laboured for the wind ? All his days also he eateth in darkness , and hath much vexation , and sickness , and irritation . Behold what I have seen good and comely : [ it is ] to eat and to drink , and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith [ man ] laboureth under the sun , all the days of his life which God hath given him : for that is his portion . Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth , and power to eat thereof , and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour : that is a gift of God . For he will not much remember the days of his life , because God answereth [ him ] with the joy of his heart . There is an evil that I have seen under the sun , and it is frequent among men : one to whom God giveth riches , wealth , and honour , and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth , yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof , but a stranger eateth it : this is vanity , and a sore evil . If a man beget a hundred [ sons ] , and live many years , so that the days of his years be many , but his soul be not filled with good , and also he have no burial , I say an untimely birth is better than he . For it cometh in vanity , and departeth in darkness , and its name is covered with darkness ; moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun : this hath rest rather than the other . Yea , though he live twice a thousand years , yet hath he seen no good : do not all go to one place ? All the labour of man is for his mouth , and yet the appetite is not filled . For what advantage hath the wise above the fool ? what hath the poor , that knoweth to walk before the living ? Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire : this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind . That which is hath already been named ; and what man is , is known , and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he . For there are many things that increase vanity : what is man advantaged ? For who knoweth what is good for man in life , all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow ? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun ? A [ good ] name is better than precious ointment , and the day of death than the day of one's birth . It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting : in that that is the end of all men , and the living taketh it to heart . Vexation is better than laughter ; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better . The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning , but the heart of fools in the house of mirth . It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise , than to hear the song of fools . For as the crackling of thorns under a pot , so is the laughter of the fool . This also is vanity . Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad , and a gift destroyeth the heart . Better is the end of a thing than its beginning ; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit . Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed ; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools . Say not , How is it that the former days were better than these ? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this . Wisdom is as good as an inheritance , and profitable to them that see the sun . For wisdom is a defence [ as ] money is a defence ; but the excellency of knowledge is , [ that ] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live . Consider the work of God ; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked ? In the day of prosperity enjoy good , and in the day of adversity consider : God hath also set the one beside the other , to the end that man should find out nothing [ of what shall be ] after him . All [ this ] have I seen in the days of my vanity : there is a righteous [ man ] that perisheth by his righteousness , and there is a wicked [ man ] that prolongeth [ his days ] by his wickedness . Be not righteous overmuch ; neither make thyself overwise : why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Be not overmuch wicked , neither be thou foolish : why shouldest thou die before thy time ? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this ; yea , also from that withdraw not thy hand : for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all . Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [ men ] that are in a city . Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth , that doeth good and sinneth not . Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken , lest thou hear thy servant curse thee . For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others . All this have I tried by wisdom : I said , I will be wise ; but it was far from me . Whatever hath been , is far off , and exceeding deep : who will find it out ? I turned , I and my heart , to know , and to search , and to seek out wisdom and reason , and to know wickedness to be folly , and foolishness to be madness ; and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares , [ and ] whose hands are bands : whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her ; but the sinner shall be caught by her . See this which I have found , saith the Preacher , [ searching ] one by one to find out the reason ; which my soul yet seeketh , and I have not found : one man among a thousand have I found , but a woman among all those have I not found . Only see this which I have found : that God made man upright , but they have sought out many devices . Who is as the wise ? and who knoweth the explanation of things ? A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine , and the boldness of his face is changed . I [ say ] , Keep the king's commandment , and [ that ] on account of the oath of God . Be not hasty to go out of his sight ; persist not in an evil thing : for he doeth whatever pleaseth him , because the word of a king is power ; and who may say unto him , What doest thou ? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing ; and a wise man's heart knoweth time and manner . For to every purpose there is time and manner . For the misery of man is great upon him ; for he knoweth not that which shall be ; for who can tell him how it shall be ? There is no man who hath control over the spirit to retain the spirit ; and no one hath control over the day of death ; and there is no discharge in that war , neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it . All this have I seen , and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun : there is a time when man ruleth man to his hurt . And I have also seen the wicked buried and going away ; and such as had acted rightly went from [ the ] holy place , and were forgotten in the city . This also is vanity . Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily , therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil . Though a sinner do evil a hundred times , and prolong his [ days ] , yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear God , because they fear before him ; but it shall not be well with the wicked , neither shall he prolong [ his ] days as a shadow , because he feareth not before God . There is a vanity which is done upon the earth ; that there are righteous [ men ] unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked ; and there are wicked [ men ] to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous . I said that this also is vanity . And I commended mirth , because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat , and to drink , and to be merry ; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life , which God hath given him under the sun . When I applied my heart to know wisdom , and to see the business that is done upon the earth ( for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes ) , then I saw that all [ is ] the work of God , [ and ] that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun : because however man may labour to seek [ it ] out , yet doth he not find [ it ] ; and even , if a wise [ man ] think to know [ it ] , he shall not be able to find [ it ] out . For all this I laid to my heart and [ indeed ] to investigate all this , that the righteous , and the wise , and their works , are in the hand of God ; man knoweth neither love nor hatred : all is before them . All things [ come ] alike to all : one event to the righteous and to the wicked , to the good , and to the clean , and to the unclean , to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not : as is the good , so is the sinner ; he that sweareth , as he that feareth an oath . This is an evil among all that is done under the sun , that one thing befalleth all : yea , also the heart of the children of men is full of evil , and madness is in their heart while they live ; and after that , [ they have to go ] to the dead . For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope ; for a living dog is better than a dead lion . For the living know that they shall die ; but the dead know not anything , neither have they any more a reward , for the memory of them is forgotten . Their love also , and their hatred , and their envy is already perished ; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun . Go , eat thy bread with joy , and drink thy wine with a merry heart ; for God hath already accepted thy works . Let thy garments be always white , and let not thy head lack oil . Enjoy life 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 portion in life , and in thy labour wherein thou art labouring under the sun . Whatever thy hand findeth to do , do with thy might ; for there is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in Sheol , whither thou goest . I returned , and saw under the sun , that the race is not to the swift , nor the battle to the strong , neither yet bread to the wise , nor yet riches to the intelligent , nor yet favour to men of knowledge ; but time and chance happeneth to them all . For man also knoweth not his time : as the fishes that are taken in an evil net , and as the birds that are taken with the snare , like them are the children of men snared in an evil time , when it falleth suddenly upon them . This also have I seen as wisdom under the sun , and it was great unto me . There was a little city , and few men within it ; and there came a great king against it , and encompassed it , and built great bulwarks against it : and there was found in it a poor wise man , who by his wisdom delivered the city ; but no man remembered that poor man . Then said I , Wisdom is better than strength ; but the poor man's wisdom is despised , and his words are not heard . The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools . Wisdom is better than weapons of war ; but one sinner destroyeth much good . Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [ and ] ferment ; [ so ] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [ and ] honour . The heart of a wise [ man ] is at his right hand ; but a fool's heart at his left . Yea also , when he that is a fool walketh by the way , his sense faileth [ him ] , and he saith to every one [ that ] he is a fool . If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee , leave not thy place ; for quietness pacifieth great offences . There is an evil that I have seen under the sun , as an error [ that ] proceedeth from the ruler : folly is set in great dignities , but the rich sit in a low place . I have seen servants upon horses , and princes walking as servants upon the earth . He that diggeth a pit falleth into it ; and whoso breaketh down a hedge , a serpent biteth him . Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith ; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby . If the iron be blunt , and one do not whet the edge , then must he apply more strength ; but wisdom is profitable to give success . If the serpent bite before enchantment , then the charmer hath no advantage . The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself . The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly ; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness . And the fool multiplieth words : [ yet ] man knoweth not what shall be ; and what shall be after him , who will tell him ? The labour of fools wearieth them , because they know not how to go to the city . Woe to thee , O land , when thy king is a child , and thy princes eat in the morning ! Happy art thou , O land , when thy king is a son of nobles , and thy princes eat in [ due ] season , for strength , and not for drunkenness ! By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in ; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth . A feast is made for laughter , and wine maketh life merry ; but money answereth everything . Curse not the king , no , not in thy thought ; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber : for the bird of the air will carry the voice , and that which hath wings will tell the matter . Cast thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find it after many days . Give a portion to seven , and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth . If the clouds be full of rain , they empty themselves upon the earth ; and if a tree fall toward the south , or toward the north , in the place where the tree falleth , there it shall be . He that observeth the wind will not sow ; and he that regardeth the clouds will not reap . As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit , how the bones [ grow ] in the womb of her that is with child , even so thou knowest not the work of God who maketh all . In the morning sow thy seed , and in the evening withhold not thy hand ; for thou knowest not which shall prosper , whether this or that , or whether they both shall be alike good . Now the light is sweet , and pleasant is it to the eyes to see the sun ; 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 . Rejoice , young man , in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth , and walk in the ways of thy heart , and in the sight of thine eyes ; but know that for all these [ things ] God will bring thee into judgment . Then remove discontent from thy heart , and put away evil from thy flesh ; for childhood and youth are vanity . And remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth , before the evil days come , and the years draw nigh , of which thou shalt say , I have no pleasure in them ; before the sun , and the light , and the moon , and the stars , be darkened , and the clouds return after the rain ; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble , and the strong men bow themselves , and the grinders cease because they are few , and those that look out of the windows are darkened , and the doors are shut toward the street ; when the sound of the grinding is subdued , and they rise up at the voice of the bird , and all the daughters of song are brought low ; they are also afraid of what is high , and terrors are in the way , and the almond is despised , and the grasshopper is a burden , and the caper-berry is without effect ; ( for man goeth to his age-long home , and the mourners go about the streets ; ) -- before the silver cord be loosed , or the golden bowl be broken , or the pitcher be shattered at the fountain , or the wheel be broken at the cistern ; and the dust return to the earth as it was , and the spirit return unto God who gave it . Vanity of vanities , saith the Preacher : all is vanity . And moreover , because the Preacher was wise , he still taught the people knowledge ; and he pondered , and sought out , [ and ] set in order many proverbs . The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words ; and that which was written is upright , words of truth . The words of the wise are as goads , and the collections [ of them ] as nails fastened in : they are given from one shepherd . And besides , my son , be warned by them : of making many books there is no end , and much study is a weariness of the flesh . Let us hear the end of the whole matter : Fear God , and keep his commandments ; for this is the whole of man . For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing , whether it be good or whether it be evil .