GetPassageurn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames:21urn:cts:pbc:bible.parallel.eng.kingjames: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 a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun ? One generation passeth away , and another generation cometh : but the earth abideth for ever . The sun also ariseth , and the sun goeth down , and hasteth to his place where he arose . The wind goeth toward the south , and turneth about unto the north ; it whirleth about continually , and the wind returneth again according to his circuits . All the rivers run into the sea ; yet the sea is not full ; unto the place from whence the rivers come , thither they return again . All things are full of labour ; man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing . 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 . Is there any thing whereof it may be said , See , this is new ? it hath been already of old time , which was before us . 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 . I 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 : this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith . I have seen all the works that are done under the sun ; and , behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit . 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 am come to great estate , and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem : yea , my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge . And I gave my heart to know wisdom , and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit . For in much wisdom is much grief : and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow . I said in mine heart , Go to now , I will prove thee with mirth , therefore enjoy pleasure : and , behold , this also is vanity . I said of laughter , It is mad : and of mirth , What doeth it ? I 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 . I made me great works ; I builded me houses ; I planted me vineyards : I made me gardens and orchards , and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits : I made me pools of water , to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees : I got me servants and maidens , and had servants born in my house ; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me : I gathered me also silver and gold , and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces : I gat me men singers and women singers , and the delights of the sons of men , as musical instruments , and that of all sorts . So I was great , and increased more than all that were 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 of all my labour . Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought , and on the labour that I had laboured to do : and , behold , all was vanity and vexation of spirit , and there was no profit under the sun . And I turned myself to behold wisdom , and madness , and folly : for what can the man do that cometh after the king ? even that which hath been already done . Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly , as far as light excelleth darkness . The 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 . Then said I in my heart , As it happeneth to the fool , so it happeneth even to me ; and why was I then more wise ? Then I said in my heart , that this also is vanity . For 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 all be forgotten . And how dieth the wise man ? as the fool . Therefore I hated life ; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me : for all is vanity and vexation of spirit . Yea , I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun : because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me . And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool ? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured , and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun . This is also vanity . Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun . For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom , and in knowledge , and in equity ; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion . This also is vanity and a great evil . For what hath man of all his labour , and of the vexation of his heart , wherein he hath laboured under the sun ? For all his days are sorrows , and his travail grief ; yea , his heart taketh not rest in the night . This is also vanity . There is nothing better for a man , than 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 else can hasten hereunto , more than I ? For God 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 before God . This also is vanity and vexation of spirit . To every thing there is a season , and a time to every purpose under the heaven : 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 get , 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 in that wherein he laboureth ? I have seen the travail , which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it . He hath made every thing beautiful in his time : also 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 . I know that there is no good in them , but for a man to rejoice , and to do good in his life . And also that every man should eat and drink , and enjoy the good of all his labour , it is the gift of God . I know that , whatsoever God doeth , it shall be for ever : nothing can be put to it , nor any thing taken from it : and God doeth it , that men should fear before him . That which hath been is now ; and that which is to be hath already been ; and God requireth that which is past . And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment , that wickedness was there ; and the place of righteousness , that iniquity was there . I said in mine heart , God shall judge the righteous and the wicked : for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work . I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men , that God might manifest them , and that they might see that they themselves are beasts . 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 . All go unto one place ; all are of the dust , and all turn to dust again . Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward , and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth ? Wherefore 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 ? 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 . Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive . Yea , better is he than both they , which hath not yet been , who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun . Again , I considered all travail , and every right work , that for this a man is envied of his neighbour . This is also vanity and vexation of spirit . The fool foldeth his hands together , and eateth his own flesh . Better is an handful with quietness , than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit . Then I returned , and I saw vanity under the sun . 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 sore travail . 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 ; for he hath not another to help him up . Again , if two lie together , then they have heat : but how can one be warm alone ? And if one prevail against him , two shall withstand him ; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken . Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king , who will no more be admonished . For out of prison he cometh to reign ; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor . I considered all the living which walk under the sun , with the second child that shall stand up in his stead . 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 . 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 . Be not rash with thy mouth , and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God : for God is in heaven , and thou upon earth : therefore let thy words be few . For a dream cometh through the multitude of business ; and a fool's voice is known by 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 error : wherefore should God be angry at thy voice , and destroy the work of thine hands ? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities : but fear thou 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 he that is higher than the highest regardeth ; and there be higher than they . Moreover the profit of the earth is for all : the king himself is served by the field . He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver ; nor he that loveth abundance with increase : this is also vanity . When goods increase , they are increased that eat them : and what good is there to the owners thereof , saving the beholding of them with their eyes ? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet , whether he eat little or much : but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep . There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun , namely , riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt . But those riches perish by evil travail : and he begetteth a son , and there is nothing in his hand . As he came forth of his mother's womb , naked shall he return to go as he came , and shall take nothing of his labour , which he may carry away in his hand . And this also is a sore evil , that in all points as he came , so shall he go : and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind ? All his days also he eateth in darkness , and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness . Behold that which I have seen : 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 sun all the days of his life , which God giveth him : for it is his portion . Every man also to 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 . For he shall not much remember the days of his life ; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart . There is an evil which I have seen under the sun , and it is common among men : A man to whom God hath given riches , wealth , and honour , so that 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 it is an evil disease . If 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 , and also that he have no burial ; I say , that an untimely birth is better than he . For he cometh in with vanity , and departeth in darkness , and his name shall be covered with darkness . Moreover he hath not seen the sun , nor known any thing : this hath more rest than the other . Yea , though he live a thousand years twice told , 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 hath the wise more than the fool ? what hath the poor , that knoweth to walk before the living ? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire : this is also vanity and vexation of spirit . That which hath been is named already , and it is known that it is man : neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he . Seeing there be many things that increase vanity , what is man the better ? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life , all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow ? for who can tell a 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 : for that is the end of all men ; and the living will lay it to his heart . Sorrow 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 is in the house of mirth . It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise , than for a man 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 the beginning thereof : and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit . Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry : for anger resteth in the bosom of fools . Say not thou , What is the cause that the former days were better than these ? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this . Wisdom is good with an inheritance : and by it there is profit to them that see the sun . 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 . Consider the work of God : for who can make that straight , which he hath made crooked ? In the day of prosperity be joyful , but in the day of adversity consider : God also hath set the one over against the other , to the end that man should find nothing after him . All things have I seen in the days of my vanity : there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness , and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness . Be not righteous over much ; neither make thyself over wise : why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Be not over much 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 this withdraw not thine hand : for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all . Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city . For there is not a just man upon earth , that doeth good , and sinneth not . Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken ; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee : For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others . All this have I proved by wisdom : I said , I will be wise ; but it was far from me . That which is far off , and exceeding deep , who can find it out ? I applied mine heart to know , and to search , and to seek out wisdom , and the reason of things , and to know the wickedness of folly , even of foolishness and madness : And I find more bitter than death the woman , whose heart is snares and nets , and her hands as bands : whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her ; but the sinner shall be taken by her . Behold , this have I found , saith the preacher , counting one by one , to find out the account : Which yet my soul seeketh , but I find not : one man among a thousand have I found ; but a woman among all those have I not found . Lo , this only have I found , that God hath made man upright ; but they have sought out many inventions . Who is as the wise man ? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing ? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine , and the boldness of his face shall be changed . I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment , and that in regard of the oath of God . Be not hasty to go out of his sight : stand not in an evil thing ; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him . Where the word of a king is , there is power : and who may say unto him , What doest thou ? Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing : and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment . Because to every purpose there is time and judgment , therefore the misery of man is great upon him . For he knoweth not that which shall be : for who can tell him when it shall be ? There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit ; neither hath he power in 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 wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt . And so I saw the wicked buried , who had come and gone from the place of the holy , and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done : this is also vanity . Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily , therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil . Though a sinner do evil an hundred times , and his days be prolonged , yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God , which fear before him : But it shall not be well with the wicked , neither shall he prolong his days , which are as a shadow ; because he feareth not before God . There is a vanity which is done upon the earth ; that there be just men , unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked ; again , there be wicked men , to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous : I said that this also is vanity . Then I commended mirth , because a man hath no better thing 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 giveth him under the sun . When I applied mine 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 beheld all the work of God , that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun : because though a man labour to seek it out , yet he shall not find it ; yea further ; though a wise man think to know it , yet shall he not be able to find it . For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this , that the righteous , and the wise , and their works , are in the hand of God : no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them . All things come alike to all : there is 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 ; and he that sweareth , as he that feareth an oath . This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun , that there is one event unto all : yea , also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil , and madness is in their heart while they live , and after that they 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 any thing , neither have they any more a reward ; for the memory of them is forgotten . Also their love , and their hatred , and their envy , is now perished ; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun . Go thy way , eat thy bread with joy , and drink thy wine with a merry heart ; for God now accepteth thy works . Let thy garments be always white ; and let thy head lack no ointment . Live joyfully 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 this life , and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun . Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do it with thy might ; for there is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in the grave , 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 men of understanding , nor yet favour to men of skill ; 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 caught in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time , when it falleth suddenly upon them . This wisdom have I seen also under the sun , and it seemed great unto me : There was a little city , and few men within it ; and there came a great king against it , and besieged it , and built great bulwarks against it : Now there was found in it a poor wise man , and he by his wisdom delivered the city ; yet no man remembered that same poor man . Then said I , Wisdom is better than strength : nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised , and his words are not heard . The words of wise men 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 send forth a stinking savour : so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour . A wise man's heart 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 wisdom 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 yielding pacifieth great offences . There is an evil which I have seen under the sun , as an error which proceedeth from the ruler : Folly is set in great dignity , and the rich sit in low place . I have seen servants upon horses , and princes walking as servants upon the earth . He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it ; and whoso breaketh an hedge , a serpent shall bite him . Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith ; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby . If the iron be blunt , and he do not whet the edge , then must he put to more strength : but wisdom is profitable to direct . Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment ; and a babbler is no better . The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself . The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness : and the end of his talk is mischievous madness . A fool also is full of words : a man cannot tell what shall be ; and what shall be after him , who can tell him ? The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them , because he knoweth 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 ! Blessed art thou , O land , when thy king is the son of nobles , and thy princes eat in due season , for strength , and not for drunkenness ! By much slothfulness the building decayeth ; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through . A feast is made for laughter , and wine maketh merry : but money answereth all things . Curse not the king , no not in thy thought ; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber : for a bird of the air shall carry the voice , and that which hath wings shall 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 the 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 shall not sow ; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap . As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit , nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child : even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all . In the morning sow thy seed , and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , either this or that , or whether they both shall be alike good . Truly the light is sweet , and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold 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 , O young man , in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth , and walk in the ways of thine heart , and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment . Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart , and put away evil from thy flesh : for childhood and youth are vanity . Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth , while the evil days come not , nor the years draw nigh , when thou shalt say , I have no pleasure in them ; While the sun , or the light , or the moon , or the stars , be not darkened , nor the clouds return after the rain : In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble , and the strong men shall bow themselves , and the grinders cease because they are few , and those that look out of the windows be darkened , And the doors shall be shut in the streets , when the sound of the grinding is low , and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird , and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low ; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high , and fears shall be in the way , and the almond tree shall flourish , and the grasshopper shall be a burden , and desire shall fail : because man goeth to his long home , and the mourners go about the streets : Or ever the silver cord be loosed , or the golden bowl be broken , or the pitcher be broken at the fountain , or the wheel broken at the cistern . Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall 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 ; yea , he gave good heed , and sought out , and set in order many proverbs . The preacher sought to find out acceptable words : and that which was written was upright , even words of truth . The words of the wise are as goads , and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies , which are given from one shepherd . And further , by these , my son , be admonished : of making many books there is no end ; and much study is a weariness of the flesh . Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God , and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man . For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing , whether it be good , or whether it be evil .