Ecclesiastes explores the meaning of life and the pursuit of fulfillment. Attributed to "the Teacher," it reflects on the fleeting nature of worldly pleasures, wealth, and human endeavors, emphasizing that all is "vanity." Through poetic reflections, it encourages readers to find joy in simple, everyday blessings and to live in reverence of God. The book underscores the limits of human wisdom and the importance of recognizing life's seasons, ultimately pointing to a life centered on faith and purpose.
1. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.2. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.3. What profit has a man of all his labor which he takes under the sun?
1. I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.2. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What does it?3. I sought in my heart to give myself to wine, yet acquainting my 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.
1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
1. 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.2. Why I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.3. Yes, better is he than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. ¶
1. Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.2. Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and you on earth: therefore let your words be few.3. For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
1. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:2. A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats 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 soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.
1. A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. ¶2. 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.3. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
1. Who is as the wise man? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.2. I counsel you to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.3. Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him.
1. 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 knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.2. 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 sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that swears, as he that fears an oath.3. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes, 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. ¶
1. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking smell: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.2. A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.3. Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.
1. Cast your bread on the waters: for you shall find it after many days.2. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you know not what evil shall be on the earth.3. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.
1. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;2. While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:3. 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,
