Ecclesiastes

  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 is the profit to a man in all his labor which he labors under the sun? 4 A generation passes away, and a generation comes; but … Continue reading »

  1 I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore regard pleasure; and this was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, It is madness; and of mirth, What does it accomplish? 3 I sought in my heart to gratify my flesh with wine, while leading my heart with wisdom; … Continue reading »

  1 To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to root up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to … Continue reading »

  1 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold the tears of the oppressed ones, and they had no comforter! And on the side of those who oppressed them there was power, but they had no comforter. 2 Therefore I congratulated the dead who already have … Continue reading »

  1 Guard your feet when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they do not know that they are doing evil. 2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to say a … Continue reading »

  1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, … Continue reading »

  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 take it to … Continue reading »

  1 Who is as the wise? And who knows the explanation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the strength of his face is changed. 2 I say, Keep the king’s edict, because of the oath of God. 3 Do not be hasty to leave his presence. Do not take … Continue reading »

  1 For all this I took to heart, in order to explain it: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. No man knows, whether by love or hatred, all that is before them. 2 All happens alike to everyone; there is one event to the righteous … Continue reading »

  1 As dead flies cause the perfumer’s ointment to stink and ferment; so does a little folly to one esteemed for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, his heart fails; and … Continue reading »