ÀҾ˹éÒ˹ѧÊ×Í
PDF
ePub

fellow but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13

1

According to

some ancient versions,

whereas the

other though born in his

2 Or, There is

no end, in the people, to all that hath been before them;

mind of all the

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how 14 to receive admonition any more. For out of prison he came forth to be king; 'yea, even in 15 his kingdom he was born poor. I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were kingdom with the youth, the second, that stood up in his became poor. 16 stead. There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. they also &c. Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know 2 not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy [Ch. v. I in mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God; for God is in 3 Or, a word heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy

5 I

[Ch. iv. 17 in

Heb.]

Heb.]

4

5

of God

3 words be few. For a dream cometh with a multitude of 'business; and a fool's voice with Or, travail 4 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 vowest. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than 6 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, 7 and destroy the work of thine hands? For thus it cometh to pass through the multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

6

Or, messenger See Mal. ii. 7. Or, For in of dreams and vanities are words or, there are in many words

the multitude

also many

vanities, and

1 Or, the state

2 Or, But the profit of a land

every way is a king that maketh himself

servant to the

field
or, is a king
over the

cultivated field

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and 8 the violent taking away of judgement and justice in 1a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there be higher than they. Moreover the profit of 9 the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied 10 with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase this also is vanity. When goods in- 11 crease, they are increased that eat them: and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, saving the beholding of them with his eyes? The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether 12 he eat little or much: but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

There is a grievous evil which I have seen 13 under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: and those riches perish by 14 3 Or, travail evil 3adventure; and if he hath begotten a son,

4 The Sept.
has, All his
days are in
darkness and
mourning, and
much vexation

and sickness
and wrath.
5 Or, that

there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth 15
of his mother's womb, naked shall he go again
as he came, and shall take nothing for his
labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
And this also is a grievous evil, that in all 16
points as he came, so shall he go and what
profit hath he that he laboureth for the wind?
All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he 17
is sore vexed and hath sickness and wrath.

Behold, that which I have seen to be good 18 and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour, wherein he laboureth under the sun, all the days of his which I have life which God hath given him: for this is his seen: it is good and comely portion. Every man also to whom God hath 19 for one &c. given riches and wealth, and hath given him number of the power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of

6 Heb. the

days.

20 God.

6 I

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 2 the sun, and it is heavy upon men: a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, so that he lacketh 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 3 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, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is 4 better than he: for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof 5 is covered with darkness; moreover it hath not seen the sun 'nor known it; this hath rest 6 rather than the other: yea, though he live knowledge thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no 2 Or, it is 7 good: do not all go to one place? All the this than with labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the the other 8 appetite is not filled. For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or what Or, or the hath the poor man, that knoweth to walk before 9 the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

ΙΟ

3

a

1

Or, neither

had any

better with

3

poor man that standing, in walking before

hath under

the living

4

Or, Whatsoever he be, his name was given him long ago, and it is known that he is man See Gen. ii. 7. Or, words

"Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago, and it is known that it is 'man: neither can he contend with him that II is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the 12 better? For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, 'all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who tell a man what shall be after him under the the days.

sun?

can

5 Heb. Adam.

7 Heb.
the number of

1 Or, better

2 år, For

A good name is better than precious ointment; 1 7 and the day of death than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than 2 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 3 the sadness of the countenance the heart is made 'glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of 4 mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better to hear the rebuke of 5 the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a 6 pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Surely extortion maketh a wise man 7 foolish; and a gift destroyeth the understanding. Better is the end of a thing than the beginning 8 thereof and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit 9 to be angry for 'anger resteth in the bosom 4 Or, vexation of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause 10 that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is as good as an inheritance: yea, 11 more excellent is it for them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, even as money is 12 a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. Consider the work of God: for who 13 can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, 14 and in the day of adversity consider: God hath even made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out any thing that shall be after him.

3 Or, vexed

5 Heb.

out of wisdom. 6 Or, is good together with an inheritance: and profitable unto them &c.

All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: 15 there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. Be not 16

righteous over much; neither make thyself over 17 wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish : 18 why shouldest thou die before thy time? It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

19

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more

1

20 than ten rulers which are in a city. Surely 1Or, For there is not a righteous man upon earth, that

2

21 doeth good, and sinneth not. Also take not 2 Heb. give not heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou thine heart.

22 hear thy servant curse thee: for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23

All this have I 3proved in wisdom: I said, I 3 Or, tried by 24 will be wise; but it was far from me. That which

4
hath been

which is
madness

Or, who is a snare, and her

heart is as

*is is far off, and exceeding deep; who can find Or, 25 it out? I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things, and to know that Or, the wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is wickedness of folly, and 26 madness and I find a thing more bitter than foolishness death, even the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the 27 sinner shall be taken by her. Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, 'laying one Or, weighing thing to another, to find out the account: the account: another, to find one thing after 28 which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not 29 found. Behold, this only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

81

nets

7

out the reason

Who is as the wise man? and who know-
eth the interpretation of a thing? A man's wis-
dom maketh his face to shine, and the "hardness strength.

8 Heb.

« ¡è͹˹éÒ´Óà¹Ô¹¡ÒõèÍ
 »