God shall judge man's works.

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

i ver. 22.

* ch. 2. 24.

1 James 1. 17.

ch. 1. 9.

+ Heb. that which is

driven away. ach. 5. 8.

• Rom. 2. 6, 7,8.

2 Cor. 5. 10 2 Thess. 1.6,

7.

P ver. 1.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

k

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

1

14 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.

15 m That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth † that which is past.

16¶ And moreover " I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

17 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.

19 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.

r

20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knoweth the spirit † of man that † goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

t

22 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?

CHAPTER IV.

1 Vanity is increased unto men by oppression, 4 by envy, 5 by idleness, 7 by covetousness, 9 by solitariness, 13 by wilfulness.

OI returned, and considered all the a oppressions that are done under the sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no com

which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the

sun.

4 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.

5 d The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

8 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.

g

9 ¶ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10 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.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

+ Heb. all the rightness of work. + Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour.

d Prov. 6. 10. & 24. 33.

• Prov. 15. 16, 17. & 16. 8.

1 John 2.16. 8 Ps. 39. 6.

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, † who will Heb. who no more be admonished.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

16 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.

CHAPTER V.

1 Vanities in divine service, 8 in murmuring against oppression, 9 and in riches. 18 Joy in riches is the gift of God.

a

sors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 b Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living

Job. 3.11,16, which are yet alive.

21.

ch. 6. 3.

3 Yea, better is he than both they,

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 thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any

knoweth not to be admonished.

a See Exod. 3. 5.

Isai. 1. 12,
&c.

b 1 Sam.15.22. Ps. 50. 8. Prov. 15. 8. & 21. 27. Hos. 6. 6.

7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

k

8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judg ment and justice in a province, marvel not t at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

9

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all the king himself is served by the field.

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase this is also vanity.

11 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?

12 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.

m

13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

n

15 As he came forth of his mother's 1 Tim. 6. 7. 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.

ch. 1. 3.

P Prov. 11.29.

9 Ps. 127. 2.

16 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?

r

Vanity of riches without use.

18 ¶ 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 sunt all the days of his life, which God giveth him for it is his portion.

8

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

ch. 2. 24. & 3. 12, 13, 22. & 9.7. & 11.

9.

1 Tim. 6.17. + Heb. there is a good which is comely, &c. + Heb. the number of the days.

19 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 ch. 2. 10. & labour; this is the gift of God.

20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

3. 22. t ch. 2. 24. & 3. 13.& 6. 2. || Or, Though he give not much, yet he remem. bereth, &c.

HERE is an evil which I have ch. 5. 13. seen under the sun, and it is common among men :

2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he Job 21. 10, wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power Luke 12.20. to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth 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.

10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: " neither may he contend with him that is Job. 9. 32. mightier than he.

11 ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? 12 For who knoweth what is good for

Isai. 45. 9. Jer. 49. .19.

Of a good name, mortification,

Before CHRIST

cir. 977.

ch. 8. 7.

Prov. 15. 30.

& 22. 1.

|| Or, Anger.

b 2 Cor. 7. 10.

See Ps. 141.

5.

Prov. 13.18.

& 15. 31, 32.

d Ps. 118. 12. ch. 2. 2.

+ Heb.sound.

* Exod. 23. 8. Deut. 16.19.

? Prov. 14. 29.

6 Prov. 14.17. & 16. 32. James 1.19.

Heb. out of wisdom.

||Or, as good as an inheritance, yea, better too. b ch. 11. 7.

+ Heb. shadow.

1 See Job. 12.

14.

ch. 1. 15.

Isai. 14. 27.

* ch. 3. 4.

Deut. 28.47. +Heb. made.

1 ch. 8. 14.

h

man in this life, tall the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for i who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

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.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

patience, and wisdom.

is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

m

16 Be not righteous over much; "neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou t destroy thyself?

17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

Prov. 25.16. n Rom. 12. 3. + Heb. be desolate?

Job 15. 32. Ps. 55. 23. Prov. 10.27.

thy time?

18 It is good that thou shouldest take+Heb. not in hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

21 Also † take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23 All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

P Prov.21. 22. & 24. 5. ch. 9. 16, 18.

91 Kings 8.46. 2 Chron. 6 36. Prov. 20. 9. Rom. 3. 23.

1 John 1. 8.

+ Heb. give not thine heart.

Rom. 1. 22.

⚫ Job 28. 12, 20.

1 Tim. 6.16 Rom. 11.33.

know,+Heb. I and

25 +I applied mine heart to 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:

my heart compassed. " ch. 1. 17. & 2. 12.

* Prov. 5. 3,4. & 22. 14.

26* And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: † whoso + Heb. he that pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

27 Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, || counting one by one, to find out the account:

nothing after him.

15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there

knoweth the interpretation of a thing? "a man's wisdom maketh his face. to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

b

is good before God.

y ch. 1. 1, 2. || Or, weighing one thing after another, to find out the

reason.

*Job 33. 23. Ps. 12. 1.

Gen. 1. 27.

b Gen. 3. 6,7.

• Prov. 4. 8, 9. & 17. 24.

See Acts 6.

15.

Heb. the
strength.

b Deut. 28.50.

Kings are to be respected.

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

1 Chron. 29. 24.

Ezek. 17.18. Rom. 13.5.

ch. 10. 4.

Job 34. 18.

+ Heb. shall know.

fch. 3. 1.

8 Prov. 24.22. ch.6.12. & 9. 12. & 10. 14.

|| Or, how it shall be?

h Ps. 49. 6,7.

+ Job 14. 5.

|| Or, casting off weapons.

Ps. 10. 6. & 50. 21. Isai. 26. 10.

1 Isai. 65. 20. Rom. 2. 5.

Ps. 37. 11, 18, 19. Prov. 1.32, 33.

Isai. 3,10,11. Matt. 25. 34,

41.

"Ps. 73. 14. ch.2.14. & 7. 15. & 9. 1,

2, 3.

ch. 2. 24. &

3, 12, 22. & 5. 18. & 9.7.

с

2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

3d Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment † shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. 6 ¶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

8 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.

9 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.

10 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.

14 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.

15° 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.

Like things happen to all.

16 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 :)

Р

Before CHRIST cir. 977.

ch. 3. 11. Rom. 11.33.

17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that Job 5. 9. is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

Ps. 73. 16.

Heb. I gave.

or, set to my heart.

ch. 8. 14.

Ps. 73. 3, 12,

13.

Mal. 3. 15.

2 All things come alike to all: there Job 21.7, &c. 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.

3 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.

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living know that they shall die but the dead know not any thing, Job 14. 21. neither have they any more a reward; for d the memory of them is forgotten.

6 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.

7¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Isai. 63. 16.

d Job 7. 8, 9, 10.

Isai. 26. 14.

⚫ ch. 8. 15.

Enjoy life.

8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 + Live joyfully with the wife whom +Heb. See, or, 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 ch. 2. 10, 24. that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

& 3. 13, 22. & 5. 18.