## Chapter 1

1

The Futility of All Endeavor

The words 1697 of the Preacher 6953, the son 1121 of David 1732, king 4428 in Jerusalem 3389.
2 "Vanity 1892 of vanities 1892," says 559 the Preacher 6953, "Vanity 1892 of vanities 1892! All 3605 is vanity 1892."
3 ¶ What 4100 advantage 3504 does man 120 have in all 3605 his work 5999 Which 7945 he does 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121?
4 A generation 1755 goes 1980 and a generation 1755 comes 935, But the earth 776 remains 5975 forever 5769.
5 Also, the sun 8121 rises 2224 and the sun 8121 sets 935; And hastening 7602 to its place 4725 it rises 2224 there 8033 {again.}
6 Blowing 1980 toward 413 the south 1864, Then turning 5437 toward 413 the north 6828, The wind 7307 continues 1980 swirling 5437 along 1980; And on its circular 5439 courses 5439 the wind 7307 returns 7725.
7 All 3605 the rivers 5158 flow 1980 into the sea 3220, Yet the sea 3220 is not full 4392. To the place 4725 where 7945 the rivers 5158 flow 1980, There 8033 they flow 1980 again 7725.
8 All 3605 things 1697 are wearisome 3023; Man 376 is not able 3201 to tell 1696 {it.} The eye 5869 is not satisfied 7646 with seeing 7200, Nor 3808 is the ear 241 filled 4390 with hearing 8085.
9 That which has been 1961 is that which 7945 will be, And that which has been done 6213 is that which 7945 will be done 6213. So there 369 is nothing new 2319 under 8478 the sun 8121.
10 Is there 3426 anything 1697 of which 7945 one might say 559, "See 7200 this 2088, it is new 2319"? Already 3528 it has existed 1961 for ages 5769 Which 834 were before us.
11 There 369 is no 369 remembrance 2146 of earlier 7223 things 7223; And also 1571 of the later 314 things 314 which 7945 will occur 1961, There will be for them no 3808 remembrance 2146 Among 5973 those who 7945 will come 1961 later 314 {still.}
12

The Futility of Wisdom

¶ I, the Preacher 6953, have been 1961 king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478 in Jerusalem 3389.
13 And I set 5414 my mind 3820 to seek 1875 and explore 8446 by wisdom 2451 concerning 5921 all 3605 that has been done 6213 under 8478 heaven 8064. {It} is a grievous 7451 task 6045 {which} God 430 has given 5414 to the sons 1121 of men 120 to be afflicted 6030 with.
14 I have seen 7200 all 3605 the works 4639 which 7945 have been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121, and behold 2009, all 3605 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
15 What is crooked 5791 cannot be straightened 8626 and what 2642 is lacking 2642 cannot be counted 4487.
16 ¶ I said 1696 to myself 3820, "Behold 2009, I have magnified 1431 and increased 3254 wisdom 2451 more 5921 than 5921 all 3605 who 834 were over 5921 Jerusalem 3389 before 6440 me; and my mind 3820 has observed 7200 a wealth 7235 of wisdom 2451 and knowledge 1847."
17 And I set 5414 my mind 3820 to know 3045 wisdom 2451 and to know 3045 madness 1947 and folly 5531; I realized 3045 that this 2088 also 1571 is striving 7475 after wind 7307.
18 Because 3588 in much 7230 wisdom 2451 there is much 7230 grief 3708, and increasing 3254 knowledge 1847 {results in} increasing 3254 pain 4341.

## Chapter 2

1

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

I said 559 to myself 3820, "Come 1980 now 4994, I will test 5254 you with pleasure 8057. So enjoy yourself." And behold 2009, it too 1571 was futility 1892.
2 I said 559 of laughter 7814, "It is madness 1984," and of pleasure 8057, "What 4100 does it accomplish 6213?"
3 I explored 8446 with my mind 3820 {how} to stimulate 4900 my body 1320 with wine 3196 while my mind 3820 was guiding 5090 {me} wisely 2451, and how to take 270 hold 270 of folly 5531, until I could see 7200 what good 2896 there is for the sons 1121 of men 120 to do 6213 under 8478 heaven 8064 the few 4557 years 3117 of their lives 2425.
4 I enlarged 1431 my works 4639: I built 1129 houses 1004 for myself, I planted 5193 vineyards 3754 for myself;
5 I made 6213 gardens 1593 and parks 6508 for myself and I planted 5193 in them all 3605 kinds of fruit 6529 trees 6086;
6 I made 6213 ponds 1295 of water 4325 for myself from which to irrigate 8248 a forest 3293 of growing 6779 trees 6086.
7 I bought 7069 male 5650 and female 8198 slaves and I had 1961 homeborn slaves 1121. Also 1571 I possessed flocks 6629 and herds 1241 larger 7235 than 4480 all 3605 who 7945 preceded 6440 me in Jerusalem 3389.
8 Also 1571, I collected 3664 for myself silver 3701 and gold 2091 and the treasure 5459 of kings 4428 and provinces 4082. I provided 6213 for myself male and female singers 7891 and the pleasures 8588 of men--many 7705 concubines 7705.
9 ¶ Then I became 1431 great 1431 and increased 3254 more 4480 than 4480 all 3605 who 7945 preceded 6440 me in Jerusalem 3389. My wisdom 2451 also 637 stood 5975 by me.
10 All 3605 that my eyes 5869 desired 7592 I did not refuse 680 them. I did not withhold 4513 my heart 3820 from any 3605 pleasure 8057, for my heart 3820 was pleased 8056 because 4480 of all 3605 my labor 5999 and this 2088 was my reward 2506 for all 3605 my labor 5999.
11 Thus I considered 6437 all 3605 my activities 4639 which 7945 my hands 3027 had done 6213 and the labor 5999 which 7945 I had exerted 6213, and behold 2009 all 3605 was vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307 and there 369 was no 369 profit 3504 under 8478 the sun 8121.
12

Wisdom Excels Folly

¶ So I turned 6437 to consider 7200 wisdom 2451, madness 1947 and folly 5531; for what 4100 {will} the man 120 {do} who 7945 will come 935 after 310 the king 4428 {except} what 834 has already 3528 been done 6213?
13 And I saw 7200 that wisdom 2451 excels 3504 folly 5531 as light 216 excels 3504 darkness 2822.
14 The wise 2450 man's 2450 eyes 5869 are in his head 7218, but the fool 3684 walks 1980 in darkness 2822. And yet 1571 I know 3045 that one 259 fate 4745 befalls 7136 them both 3605.
15 Then I said 559 to myself 3820, "As is the fate 4745 of the fool 3684, it will also 1571 befall 7136 me. Why 4100 then 227 have I been 2449 extremely 3148 wise 2449?" So I said 1696 to myself 3820, "This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892."
16 For there 369 is no 369 lasting 5769 remembrance 2146 of the wise 2450 man 2450 {as} with the fool 3684, inasmuch 7945 as {in} the coming 935 days 3117 all 3605 will be forgotten 7911. And how 349 the wise 2450 man 2450 and the fool 3684 alike 5973 die 4191!
17 So I hated 8130 life 2425, for the work 4639 which 7945 had been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121 was grievous 7451 to me; because 3588 everything 3605 is futility 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
18

The Futility of Labor

¶ Thus I hated 8130 all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I had labored 6001 under 8478 the sun 8121, for I must leave 5117 it to the man 120 who 7945 will come 1961 after 310 me.
19 And who 4310 knows 3045 whether he will be a wise 2450 man 2450 or 176 a fool 5530? Yet he will have control 7980 over 7980 all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I have labored 5998 by acting 2449 wisely 2449 under 8478 the sun 8121. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
20 Therefore I completely despaired 2976 of all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I had labored 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121.
21 When 3588 there 3426 is a man 120 who 7945 has labored 5998 with wisdom 2451, knowledge 1847 and skill 3788, then he gives 5414 his legacy 2506 to one 120 who 7945 has not labored 5998 with them. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and a great 7227 evil 7463.
22 For what 4100 does a man 120 get 1933 in all 3605 his labor 5999 and in his striving 7475 with which 7945 he labors 6001 under 8478 the sun 8121?
23 Because 3588 all 3605 his days 3117 his task 6045 is painful 4341 and grievous 3708; even 1571 at night 3915 his mind 3820 does not rest 7901. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
24 ¶ There 369 is nothing 369 better 2896 for a man 120 {than} to eat 398 and drink 8354 and tell 7200 himself 5315 that his labor 5999 is good 2896. This 2090 also 1571 I have seen 7200 that it is from the hand 3027 of God 430.
25 For who 4310 can eat 398 and who 4310 can have 2363 enjoyment 2363 without Him?
26 For to a person 120 who 7945 is good 2896 in His sight 6440 He has given 5414 wisdom 2451 and knowledge 1847 and joy 8057, while to the sinner 2398 He has given 5414 the task 6045 of gathering 622 and collecting 3664 so that he may give 5414 to one 2896 who 2896 is good 2896 in God's 430 sight 6440. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.

## Chapter 3

1

A Time for Everything

There is an appointed 2165 time 2165 for everything 3605. And there is a time 6256 for every 3605 event 2656 under 8478 heaven 8064--
2 A time 6256 to give 3205 birth 3205 and a time 6256 to die 4191; A time 6256 to plant 5193 and a time 6256 to uproot 6131 what is planted 5193.
3 A time 6256 to kill 2026 and a time 6256 to heal 7495; A time 6256 to tear 6555 down 6555 and a time 6256 to build 1129 up.
4 A time 6256 to weep 1058 and a time 6256 to laugh 7832; A time 6256 to mourn 5594 and a time 6256 to dance 7540.
5 A time 6256 to throw 7993 stones 68 and a time 6256 to gather 3664 stones 68; A time 6256 to embrace 2263 and a time 6256 to shun 7368 embracing 2263.
6 A time 6256 to search 1245 and a time 6256 to give 6 up as lost 6; A time 6256 to keep 8104 and a time 6256 to throw 7993 away 7993.
7 A time 6256 to tear 7167 apart 7167 and a time 6256 to sew 8609 together 8609; A time 6256 to be silent 2814 and a time 6256 to speak 1696.
8 A time 6256 to love 157 and a time 6256 to hate 8130; A time 6256 for war 4421 and a time 6256 for peace 7965.
9 ¶ What 4100 profit 3504 is there to the worker 6213 from that in which 834 he toils 6001?
10 I have seen 7200 the task 6045 which 834 God 430 has given 5414 the sons 1121 of men 120 with which to occupy 6030 themselves.
11

God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man

He has made 6213 everything 3605 appropriate 3303 in its time 6256. He has also 1571 set 5414 eternity 5769 in their heart 3820, yet 1097 so 1097 that man 120 will not find 4672 out the work 4639 which 834 God 430 has done 6213 from the beginning 7218 even to the end 5490.
12 ¶ I know 3045 that there 369 is nothing 369 better 2896 for them than to rejoice 8055 and to do 6213 good 2896 in one's lifetime 2425;
13 moreover 1571, that every 3605 man 120 who 7945 eats 398 and drinks 8354 sees 7200 good 2896 in all 3605 his labor 5999--it is the gift 4991 of God 430.
14 I know 3045 that everything God 430 does 6213 will remain 1961 forever 5769; there 369 is nothing 369 to add 3254 to it and there 369 is nothing 369 to take 1639 from it, for God 430 has {so} worked 6213 that men should fear 3372 Him.
15 That which is has been 1961 already 3528 and that which 834 will be has already 3528 been 1961, for God 430 seeks 1245 what has passed 7291 by.
16 ¶ Furthermore 5750, I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121 {that} in the place 4725 of justice 4941 there 8033 is wickedness 7562 and in the place 4725 of righteousness 6664 there 8033 is wickedness 7562.
17 I said 559 to myself 3820, "God 430 will judge 8199 both the righteous 6662 man 6662 and the wicked 7563 man 7563," for a time 6256 for every 3605 matter 2656 and for every 3605 deed 4639 is there 8033.
18 I said 559 to myself 3820 concerning the sons 1121 of men 120, "God 430 has surely tested 1305 them in order for them to see 7200 that they are but beasts 929."
19 For the fate 4745 of the sons 1121 of men 120 and the fate 4745 of beasts 929 is the same 259. As one 2088 dies 4194 so 3651 dies 4194 the other 2088; indeed, they all 3605 have the same 259 breath 7307 and there 369 is no 369 advantage 4195 for man 120 over 4480 beast 929, for all 3605 is vanity 1892.
20 All 3605 go 1980 to the same 259 place 4725. All 3605 came 1961 from the dust 6083 and all 3605 return 7725 to the dust 6083.
21 Who 4310 knows 3045 that the breath 7307 of man 120 ascends 5927 upward 4605 and the breath 7307 of the beast 929 descends 3381 downward 4295 to the earth 776?
22 I have seen 7200 that nothing 369 is better 2896 than 4480 that man 120 should be happy 8055 in his activities 4639, for that is his lot 2506. For who 4310 will bring 935 him to see 7200 what 4100 will occur 1961 after 310 him?

## Chapter 4

1

The Evils of Oppression

Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at all 3605 the acts 6217 of oppression 6217 which 834 were being done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121. And behold 2009 {I saw} the tears 1832 of the oppressed 6231 and {that} they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 {them;} and on the side 3027 of their oppressors 6231 was power 3581, but they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 {them.}
2 So I congratulated 7623 the dead 4191 who 7945 are already 3528 dead 4191 more 4480 than 4480 the living 2416 who 834 are still 5728 living 2416.
3 But better 2896 {off} than 4480 both 8147 of them is the one who 834 has never 3808 existed 1961, who 834 has never 3808 seen 7200 the evil 7451 activity 4639 that is done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121.
4 ¶ I have seen 7200 that every 3605 labor 5999 and every 3605 skill 3788 which is done 4639 is {the result of} rivalry 7068 between a man 376 and his neighbor 7453. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
5 The fool 3684 folds 2263 his hands 3027 and consumes 398 his own flesh 1320.
6 One hand 3709 full 4393 of rest 5183 is better 2896 than 4480 two fists 2651 full 4393 of labor 5999 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
7 ¶ Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at vanity 1892 under 8478 the sun 8121.
8 There 3426 was a certain 259 man 259 without 369 a dependent 8145, having 369 neither a son 1121 nor 369 a brother 251, yet there 369 was no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 his labor 5999. Indeed 1571, his eyes 5869 were not satisfied 7646 with riches 6239 {and he never asked,} "And for whom 4310 am I laboring 6001 and depriving 2637 myself 5315 of pleasure 2899?" This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and it is a grievous 7451 task 6045.
9 ¶ Two 8147 are better 2896 than 4480 one 259 because 834 they have 3426 a good 2896 return 7725 for their labor 5999.
10 For if 518 either of them falls 5307, the one 259 will lift 6965 up his companion 2270. But woe 337 to the one 259 who 7945 falls 5307 when there 369 is not another 8145 to lift 6965 him up.
11 Furthermore 1571, if 518 two 8147 lie 7901 down 7901 together they keep 2552 warm 2552, but how 349 can one 259 be warm 2552 {alone?}
12 And if 518 one 259 can overpower 8630 him who 259 is alone, two 8147 can resist him. A cord 2339 of three 8027 {strands} is not quickly 4120 torn 5423 apart 5423.
13 ¶ A poor 4542 yet wise 2450 lad 3206 is better 2896 than 4480 an old 2205 and foolish 3684 king 4428 who 834 no 3808 longer 5750 knows 3045 {how} to receive 2094 instruction 2094.
14 For he has come 3318 out of prison to become 4427 king 4427, even 1571 though 3588 he was born 3205 poor 7326 in his kingdom 4438.
15 I have seen 7200 all 3605 the living 2416 under 8478 the sun 8121 throng 1980 to the side 5973 of the second 8145 lad 3206 who 834 replaces him.
16 There 369 is no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 the people 5971, to all 3605 who 834 were before 6440 them, and even 1571 the ones 314 who 314 will come 314 later 314 will not be happy 8055 with him, for this 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7475 after wind 7307.

## Chapter 5

1

Your Attitude Toward God

Guard 8104 your steps 7272 as you go 1980 to the house 1004 of God 430 and draw 7126 near 7138 to listen 8085 rather 4480 than 4480 to offer 5414 the sacrifice 2077 of fools 3684; for they do not know 3045 they are doing 6213 evil 7451.
2 Do not be hasty 4116 in word 6310 or impulsive 4116 in thought 3820 to bring 3318 up a matter 1697 in the presence 6440 of God 430. For God 430 is in heaven 8064 and you are on the earth 776; therefore let your words 1697 be few 4592.
3 For the dream 2472 comes 935 through much 7230 effort 6045 and the voice 6963 of a fool 3684 through many 7230 words 1697.
4 ¶ When 3512 you make 5087 a vow 5088 to God 430, do not be late 309 in paying 7999 it; for {He takes} no 369 delight 2656 in fools 3684. Pay 7999 what 834 you vow 5087!
5 It is better 2896 that you should not vow 5087 than 4480 that you should vow 5087 and not pay 7999.
6 Do not let 5414 your speech 6310 cause you to sin 2398 and do not say 559 in the presence 6440 of the messenger 4397 {of God} that it was a mistake 7684. Why 4100 should God 430 be angry 7107 on account 5921 of your voice 6963 and destroy 2254 the work 4639 of your hands 3027?
7 For in many 7230 dreams 2472 and in many 7235 words 1697 there is emptiness 1892. Rather 3588, fear 3372 God 430.
8 ¶ If 518 you see 7200 oppression 6233 of the poor 7326 and denial 1498 of justice 4941 and righteousness 6664 in the province 4082, do not be shocked 8539 at the sight 2656; for one official 1364 watches 8104 over another official 1364, and there are higher 1364 officials 1364 over 5921 them.
9 After all 3605, a king 4428 who cultivates 5647 the field 7704 is an advantage 3504 to the land 776.
10

The Folly of Riches

¶ He who loves 157 money 3701 will not be satisfied 7646 with money 3701, nor 3808 he who 4310 loves 157 abundance 1995 {with its} income 8393. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
11 When good 2899 things 2899 increase 7235, those who consume 398 them increase 7231. So what 4100 is the advantage 3788 to their owners 1167 except to look on?
12 The sleep 8142 of the working 5647 man is pleasant 4966, whether 518 he eats 398 little 4592 or much 7235; but the full 7647 stomach 7647 of the rich 6223 man 6223 does not allow 5117 him to sleep 3462.
13 ¶ There 3426 is a grievous 2470 evil 7463 {which} I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121: riches 6239 being hoarded 8104 by their owner 1167 to his hurt 7463.
14 When those 1931 riches 6239 were lost 6 through a bad 7451 investment 6045 and he had fathered 3205 a son 1121, then there 369 was nothing to support 3027 him.
15 As he had come 3318 naked 6174 from his mother's 517 womb 990, so will he return 7725 as he came 935. He will take 5375 nothing from the fruit 5999 of his labor 5999 that he can carry 1980 in his hand 3027.
16 This 2090 also 1571 is a grievous 2470 evil 7463--exactly 5980 as a man is born 935, thus 3651 will he die 1980. So what 4100 is the advantage 3504 to him who 7945 toils 5998 for the wind 7307?
17 Throughout 3605 his life 3117 {he} also 1571 eats 398 in darkness 2822 with great 7235 vexation 3707, sickness 2483 and anger 7110.
18 ¶ Here 2009 is what 834 I have seen 7200 to be good 2896 and fitting 3303: to eat 398, to drink 8354 and enjoy oneself in all 3605 one's labor 5999 in which 7945 he toils 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121 {during} the few 4557 years 3117 of his life 2425 which 834 God 430 has given 5414 him; for this 1931 is his reward 2506.
19 Furthermore 1571, as for every 3605 man 120 to whom 834 God 430 has given 5414 riches 6239 and wealth 5233, He has also empowered 7980 him to eat 398 from them and to receive 5375 his reward 2506 and rejoice 8055 in his labor 5999; this 2090 is the gift 4991 of God 430.
20 For he will not often 7235 consider 2142 the years 3117 of his life 2425, because 3588 God 430 keeps 6030 him occupied 6030 with the gladness 8057 of his heart 3820.

## Chapter 6

1

The Futility of Life

There 3426 is an evil 7463 which 834 I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121 and it is prevalent 7227 among 5921 men 120--
2 a man 376 to whom 834 God 430 has given 5414 riches 6239 and wealth 5233 and honor 3519 so that his soul 5315 lacks 2638 nothing 369 of all 3605 that he desires 183; yet God 430 has not empowered 7980 him to eat 398 from them, for a foreigner 5237 enjoys 398 them. This 2088 is vanity 1892 and a severe 7451 affliction 2483.
3 If 518 a man 376 fathers 3205 a hundred 3967 {children} and lives 2421 many 7227 years 8141, however many 7227 they be, but his soul 5315 is not satisfied 7646 with good 2899 things 2899 and he does not even 1571 have 1961 a {proper} burial 6900, {then} I say 559, "Better 2896 the miscarriage 5309 than 4480 he,
4 for it comes 935 in futility 1892 and goes 1980 into obscurity 2822; and its name 8034 is covered 3680 in obscurity 2822.
5 "It never 3808 sees 7200 the sun 8121 and it never 3808 knows 3045 {anything;} it is better 5183 off than 4480 he.
6 "Even if 432 the {other} man lives 2421 a thousand 505 years 8141 twice 6471 and does not enjoy good 2899 things 2899--do not all 3605 go 1980 to one 259 place 4725?"
7 ¶ All 3605 a man's 120 labor 5999 is for his mouth 6310 and yet 1571 the appetite 5315 is not satisfied 4390.
8 For what 4100 advantage 3148 does the wise 2450 man 2450 have over 4480 the fool 3684? What 4100 {advantage} does the poor 6041 man 6041 have, knowing 3045 {how} to walk 1980 before 5048 the living 2416?
9 What 4758 the eyes 5869 see 4758 is better 2896 than 4480 what the soul 5315 desires 1980. This 2088 too 1571 is futility 1892 and a striving 7469 after wind 7307.
10 ¶ Whatever exists 1961 has already 3528 been named, and it is known 3045 what 834 man 120 is; for he cannot dispute 1777 with him who 7945 is stronger 8623 than 4480 he is.
11 For there 3426 are many 7235 words 1697 which increase 7235 futility 1892. What 4100 {then} is the advantage 3148 to a man 120?
12 For who 4310 knows 3045 what 4100 is good 2896 for a man 120 during {his} lifetime 2425, {during} the few 4557 years 3117 of his futile 1892 life 2425? He will spend 6213 them like a shadow 6738. For who 4310 can tell 5046 a man 120 what 4100 will be after 310 him under 8478 the sun 8121?

## Chapter 7

1

Wisdom and Folly Contrasted

A good 2896 name 8034 is better 2896 than 4480 a good 2896 ointment 8081, And the day 3117 of {one's} death 4194 is better than 4480 the day 3117 of one's birth 3205.
2 It is better 2896 to go 1980 to a house 1004 of mourning 60 Than 4480 to go 1980 to a house 1004 of feasting 4960, Because 834 that is the end 5490 of every 3605 man 120, And the living 2416 takes 5414 {it} to heart 3820.
3 Sorrow 3708 is better 2896 than 4480 laughter 7814, For when a face 6440 is sad 7455 a heart 3820 may be happy 3190.
4 The mind 3820 of the wise 2450 is in the house 1004 of mourning 60, While the mind 3820 of fools 3684 is in the house 1004 of pleasure 8057.
5 It is better 2896 to listen 8085 to the rebuke 1606 of a wise 2450 man 2450 Than 4480 for one 376 to listen 8085 to the song 7892 of fools 3684.
6 For as the crackling 6963 of thorn 5518 bushes 5518 under 8478 a pot 5518, So 3651 is the laughter 7814 of the fool 3684; And this 2088 too 1571 is futility 1892.
7 For oppression 6233 makes 1984 a wise 2450 man 2450 mad 1984, And a bribe 4979 corrupts 6 the heart 3820.
8 The end 319 of a matter 1697 is better 2896 than 4480 its beginning 7225; Patience 750 of spirit 7307 is better 2896 than 4480 haughtiness 1364 of spirit 7307.
9 Do not be eager 926 in your heart 7307 to be angry 3707, For anger 3708 resides 5117 in the bosom 2436 of fools 3684.
10 Do not say 559, "Why 4100 is it that the former 7223 days 3117 were better 2896 than 4480 these 428?" For it is not from wisdom 2451 that you ask 7592 about 5921 this 2088.
11 Wisdom 2451 along 5973 with an inheritance 5159 is good 2896 And an advantage 3148 to those who see 7200 the sun 8121.
12 For wisdom 2451 is protection 6738 {just as} money 3701 is protection 6738, But the advantage 3504 of knowledge 1847 is that wisdom 2451 preserves 2421 the lives 2421 of its possessors 1167.
13 Consider 7200 the work 4639 of God 430, For who 4310 is able 3201 to straighten 8626 what 834 He has bent 5791?
14 In the day 3117 of prosperity 2899 be happy 2896, But in the day 3117 of adversity 7463 consider 7200-- God 430 has made 6213 the one 2088 as well 5980 as the other 2088 So that man 120 will not discover 4672 anything 3972 {that will be} after 310 him.
15 ¶ I have seen 7200 everything 3605 during my lifetime 3117 of futility 1892; there 3426 is a righteous 6662 man 6662 who perishes 6 in his righteousness 6664 and there 3426 is a wicked 7563 man 7563 who prolongs 748 {his life} in his wickedness 7463.
16 Do not be excessively 7235 righteous 6662 and do not be overly 3148 wise 2449. Why 4100 should you ruin 8074 yourself?
17 Do not be excessively 7235 wicked 7561 and do not be a fool 5530. Why 4100 should you die 4191 before 3808 your time 6256?
18 It is good 2896 that you grasp 270 one 2088 thing 2088 and also 1571 not let go of the other 2088; for the one who fears 3372 God 430 comes 3318 forth 3318 with both 3605 of them.
19 ¶ Wisdom 2451 strengthens 5810 a wise 2450 man 2450 more 4480 than 4480 ten 6235 rulers 7989 who 834 are in a city 5892.
20 Indeed 3588, there 369 is not a righteous 6662 man 120 on earth 776 who 834 {continually} does 6213 good 2896 and who never 3808 sins 2398.
21 Also 1571, do not take 5414 seriously 3820 all 3605 words 1697 which 834 are spoken 1696, so 3808 that you will not hear 8085 your servant 5650 cursing 7043 you.
22 For you also 1571 have realized 3045 that you likewise 1571 have many 7227 times 6471 cursed 7043 others 312.
23 ¶ I tested 5254 all 3605 this 2090 with wisdom 2451, {and} I said 559, "I will be wise 2449," but it was far 7350 from me.
24 What 4100 has been 1961 is remote 7350 and exceedingly 6013 mysterious 6013. Who 4310 can discover 4672 it?
25 I directed 5437 my mind 3820 to know 3045, to investigate 8446 and to seek 1245 wisdom 2451 and an explanation 2808, and to know 3045 the evil 7562 of folly 3689 and the foolishness 3689 of madness 1947.
26 And I discovered 4672 more 4480 bitter 4751 than 4480 death 4194 the woman 802 whose 834 heart 3820 is snares 4685 and nets 2764, whose hands 3027 are chains 612. One 2896 who 2896 is pleasing 2896 to God 430 will escape 4422 from her, but the sinner 2398 will be captured 3920 by her.
27 ¶ "Behold 7200, I have discovered 4672 this 2088," says 559 the Preacher 6953, "{adding} one 259 thing 259 to another 259 to find 4672 an explanation 2808,
28 which 834 I am still 5750 seeking 1245 but have not found 4672. I have found 4672 one 259 man 120 among 4480 a thousand 505, but I have not found 4672 a woman 802 among all 3605 these 428.
29 "Behold 7200, I have found 4672 only 905 this 2088, that God 430 made 6213 men 120 upright 3477, but they have sought 1245 out many 7227 devices 2810."

## Chapter 8

1

Obey Rulers

Who 4310 is like the wise 2450 man 2450 and who 4310 knows 3045 the interpretation 6592 of a matter 1697? A man's 120 wisdom 2451 illumines 215 him and causes his stern 5797 face 6440 to beam 8132.
2 ¶ I say, "Keep 8104 the command 6310 of the king 4428 because of the oath 7621 before God 430.
3 "Do not be in a hurry 926 to leave him. Do not join 5975 in an evil 7451 matter 1697, for he will do 6213 whatever he pleases 2654."
4 Since 834 the word 1697 of the king 4428 is authoritative 7983, who 4310 will say 559 to him, "What 4100 are you doing 6213?"
5 ¶ He who keeps 8104 a {royal} command 4687 experiences 3045 no 3808 trouble, for a wise 2450 heart 3820 knows 3045 the proper time 6256 and procedure 4941.
6 For there 3426 is a proper time 6256 and procedure 4941 for every 3605 delight 2656, though 3588 a man's 120 trouble 7463 is heavy 7227 upon him.
7 If 3588 no 369 one 369 knows 3045 what 4100 will happen 1961, who 4310 can tell 5046 him when it will happen 1961?
8 No 369 man 120 has 7989 authority 7989 to restrain 3607 the wind 7307 with the wind 7307, or authority 7983 over the day 3117 of death 4194; and there 369 is no 369 discharge 4917 in the time 4421 of war 4421, and evil 7562 will not deliver 4422 those who 1167 practice 1167 it.
9 All 3605 this 2088 I have seen 7200 and applied 5414 my mind 3820 to every 3605 deed 4639 that has been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121 wherein 834 a man 120 has exercised 7980 authority 7980 over {another} man 120 to his hurt 7451.
10 ¶ So 3651 then, I have seen 7200 the wicked 7563 buried 6912, those who used to go 935 in and out from the holy 6918 place 4725, and they are {soon} forgotten 7911 in the city 5892 where 834 they did 6213 thus 3651. This 2088 too 1571 is futility 1892.
11 Because 834 the sentence 6599 against an evil 7451 deed 4639 is not executed 6213 quickly 4120, therefore the hearts 3820 of the sons 1121 of men 120 among them are given 4390 fully 4390 to do 6213 evil 7451.
12 Although 834 a sinner 2398 does 6213 evil 7451 a hundred 3967 {times} and may lengthen 748 his {life,} still I know 3045 that it will be well 2896 for those who fear 3372 God 430, who 834 fear 3372 Him openly.
13 But it will not be well 2896 for the evil 7563 man 7563 and he will not lengthen 748 his days 3117 like a shadow 6738, because 834 he does not fear 3372 God 430.
14 ¶ There 3426 is futility 1892 which 834 is done 6213 on the earth 776, that is, there 3426 are righteous 6662 men 6662 to whom 834 it happens 5060 according to the deeds 4639 of the wicked 7563. On the other hand, there 3426 are evil 7563 men 7563 to whom 7945 it happens 5060 according to the deeds 4639 of the righteous 6662. I say 559 that this 2088 too 1571 is futility 1892.
15 So I commended 7623 pleasure 8057, for there 369 is nothing 369 good 2896 for a man 120 under 8478 the sun 8121 except to eat 398 and to drink 8354 and to be merry 8055, and this 1931 will stand 3867 by him in his toils 5999 {throughout} the days 3117 of his life 2425 which 834 God 430 has given 5414 him under 8478 the sun 8121.
16 ¶ When 3512 I gave 5414 my heart 3820 to know 3045 wisdom 2451 and to see 7200 the task 6045 which 834 has been done 6213 on the earth 776 (even 1571 though 3588 one 369 should never 369 sleep day 3117 or night 3915),
17 and I saw 7200 every 3605 work 4639 of God 430, {I concluded} that man 120 cannot discover 4672 the work 4639 which 834 has been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121. Even though man 120 should seek 1245 laboriously 5998, he will not discover 4672; and though 518 the wise 2450 man 2450 should say 559, "I know 3045," he cannot discover 4672.

## Chapter 9

1

Men Are in the Hand of God

For I have taken 5414 all 3605 this 2088 to my heart 3820 and explain 952 it that righteous 6662 men 6662, wise 2450 men 2450, and their deeds 5652 are in the hand 3027 of God 430. Man 120 does not know 3045 whether 1571 {it will be} love 160 or 1571 hatred 8135; anything 3605 awaits 6440 him.
2 ¶ It is the same 3512 for all 3605. There is one 259 fate 4745 for the righteous 6662 and for the wicked 7563; for the good 2896, for the clean 2889 and for the unclean 2931; for the man who offers 2076 a sacrifice 2076 and for the one who 834 does not sacrifice 2076. As the good 2896 man 2896 is, so is the sinner 2398; as the swearer 7650 is, so is the one who is afraid 3372 to swear 7621.
3 This 2088 is an evil 7451 in all 3605 that is done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121, that there is one 259 fate 4745 for all 3605 men 3605. Furthermore 1571, the hearts 3820 of the sons 1121 of men 120 are full 4392 of evil 7451 and insanity 1947 is in their hearts 3824 throughout their lives 2425. Afterwards 310 they {go} to the dead 4191.
4 For whoever is joined 2266 with all 3605 the living 2416, there 3426 is hope 986; surely 3588 a live 2416 dog 3611 is better 2896 than 4480 a dead 4191 lion 743.
5 For the living 2416 know 3045 they will die 4191; but the dead 4191 do not know 3045 anything 3972, nor 369 have 369 they any 5750 longer 5750 a reward 7939, for their memory 2143 is forgotten 7911.
6 Indeed 1571 their love 160, their hate 8135 and their zeal 7068 have already 3528 perished 6, and they will no 369 longer 5750 have 369 a share 2506 in all 3605 that is done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121.
7 ¶ Go 1980 {then,} eat 398 your bread 3899 in happiness 8057 and drink 8354 your wine 3196 with a cheerful 2896 heart 3820; for God 430 has already 3528 approved 7521 your works 4639.
8 Let your clothes 899 be white 3836 all 3605 the time 6256, and let not oil 8081 be lacking 2637 on your head 7218.
9 Enjoy 7200 life 2425 with the woman 802 whom 834 you love 157 all 3605 the days 3117 of your fleeting 1892 life 2425 which 834 He has given 5414 to you under 8478 the sun 8121; for this 1931 is your reward 2506 in life 2425 and in your toil 5999 in which 834 you have labored 6001 under 8478 the sun 8121.
10

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

¶ Whatever your hand 3027 finds 4672 to do 6213, do 6213 {it} with {all} your might 3581; for there 369 is no 369 activity 4639 or planning 2803 or knowledge 1847 or wisdom 2451 in Sheol 7585 where you are going 1980.
11 ¶ I again 7725 saw 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121 that the race 4793 is not to the swift 7031 and the battle 4421 is not to the warriors 1368, and neither is bread 3899 to the wise 2450 nor wealth 6239 to the discerning 995 nor favor 2580 to men of ability 3045; for time 6256 and chance 6294 overtake 7136 them all 3605.
12 Moreover, man 120 does not know 3045 his time 6256: like fish 1709 caught 270 in a treacherous 7451 net 4685 and birds 6833 trapped 270 in a snare 6341, so the sons 1121 of men 120 are ensnared 3369 at an evil 7451 time 6256 when it suddenly 6597 falls 5307 on them.
13 ¶ Also 1571 this 2090 I came to see 7200 as wisdom 2451 under 8478 the sun 8121, and it impressed 1419 me.
14 There was a small 6996 city 5892 with few 4592 men 376 in it and a great 1419 king 4428 came 935 to it, surrounded 5437 it and constructed 1129 large 1419 siegeworks 4685 against 5921 it.
15 But there was found 4672 in it a poor 4542 wise 2450 man 376 and he delivered 4422 the city 5892 by his wisdom 2451. Yet no 3808 one 120 remembered 2142 that poor 4542 man 376.
16 So I said 559, "Wisdom 2451 is better 2896 than 4480 strength 1369." But the wisdom 2451 of the poor 4542 man 4542 is despised 959 and his words 1697 are not heeded 8085.
17 The words 1697 of the wise 2450 heard 8085 in quietness 5183 are {better} than 4480 the shouting 2199 of a ruler 4910 among fools 3684.
18 Wisdom 2451 is better 2896 than 4480 weapons 3627 of war 7128, but one 259 sinner 2398 destroys 6 much 7235 good 2899.

## Chapter 10

1

A Little Foolishness

Dead 4194 flies 2070 make a perfumer's 7543 oil 8081 stink 887, so a little 4592 foolishness 5531 is weightier 3368 than 4480 wisdom 2451 {and} honor 3519.
2 A wise 2450 man's 2450 heart 3820 {directs him} toward the right 3225, but the foolish 3684 man's 3684 heart 3820 {directs him} toward the left 8040.
3 Even 1571 when 7945 the fool 5530 walks 1980 along the road 1870, his sense 3820 is lacking 2637 and he demonstrates 559 to everyone 3605 {that} he is a fool 5530.
4 If 518 the ruler's 4910 temper 7307 rises 5927 against 5921 you, do not abandon 5117 your position 4725, because 3588 composure 4832 allays 5117 great 1419 offenses 2399.
5 ¶ There 3426 is an evil 7463 I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121, like an error 7684 which 7945 goes 3318 forth 3318 from the ruler 7989--
6 folly 5529 is set 5414 in many 7227 exalted 4791 places 4791 while rich 6223 men 6223 sit 3427 in humble 8216 places 8216.
7 I have seen 7200 slaves 5650 {riding} on horses 5483 and princes 8269 walking 1980 like slaves 5650 on the land 776.
8 ¶ He who digs 2658 a pit 1475 may fall 5307 into it, and a serpent 5175 may bite 5391 him who breaks 6555 through 6555 a wall 1447.
9 He who quarries 5265 stones 68 may be hurt 6087 by them, and he who splits 1234 logs 6086 may be endangered 5533 by them.
10 If 518 the axe 1270 is dull 6949 and he does not sharpen 7043 {its} edge 6440, then he must exert 1396 more strength 2428. Wisdom 2451 has the advantage 3504 of giving 3787 success 3787.
11 If 518 the serpent 5175 bites 5391 before being charmed 3908, there 369 is no 369 profit 3504 for the charmer.
12 Words 1697 from the mouth 6310 of a wise 2450 man 2450 are gracious 2580, while the lips 8193 of a fool 3684 consume 1104 him;
13 the beginning 8462 of his talking is folly 5531 and the end 319 of it is wicked 7463 madness 1948.
14 Yet the fool 5530 multiplies 7235 words 1697. No 3808 man 120 knows 3045 what 4100 will happen 1961, and who 4310 can tell 5046 him what 834 will come 1961 after him?
15 The toil 5999 of a fool 3684 {so} wearies 3021 him that he does not {even} know 3045 how to go 1980 to a city 5892.
16 Woe 337 to you, O land 776, whose 7945 king 4428 is a lad 5288 and whose princes 8269 feast 398 in the morning 1242.
17 Blessed 835 are you, O land 776, whose 7945 king 4428 is of nobility and whose princes 8269 eat 398 at the appropriate time 6256--for strength 1369 and not for drunkenness 8358.
18 Through indolence 6103 the rafters 4746 sag 4355, and through slackness the house 1004 leaks 1811.
19 {Men} prepare 6213 a meal 3899 for enjoyment 7814, and wine 3196 makes 8055 life 2425 merry 8055, and money 3701 is the answer 6030 to everything 3605.
20 Furthermore 1571, in your bedchamber 4093 do not curse 7043 a king 4428, and in your sleeping 4904 rooms 2315 do not curse 7043 a rich 6223 man 6223, for a bird 5775 of the heavens 8064 will carry 1980 the sound 6963 and the winged 3671 creature will make 5046 the matter 1697 known 5046.

## Chapter 11

1

Cast Your Bread on the Waters

Cast 7971 your bread 3899 on the surface 6440 of the waters 4325, for you will find 4672 it after many 7230 days 3117.
2 Divide 5414 your portion 2506 to seven 7651, or even 1571 to eight 8083, for you do not know 3045 what 4100 misfortune 7463 may occur 1961 on the earth 776.
3 If 518 the clouds 5645 are full 4390, they pour 7385 out rain 1653 upon the earth 776; and whether 518 a tree 6086 falls 5307 toward the south 1864 or toward the north 6828, wherever 4725 the tree 6086 falls 5307, there 8033 it lies 1961.
4 He who watches 8104 the wind 7307 will not sow 2232 and he who looks 7200 at the clouds 5645 will not reap 7114.
5 Just 3512 as you do not know 3045 the path 1870 of the wind 7307 and how bones 6106 {are formed} in the womb 990 of the pregnant 4392 woman 4392, so 3602 you do not know 3045 the activity 4639 of God 430 who 834 makes 6213 all 3605 things 3605.
6 ¶ Sow 2232 your seed 2233 in the morning 1242 and do not be idle in the evening 6153, for you do not know 3045 whether 335 morning 2088 or 176 evening sowing will succeed 3787, or whether 518 both 8147 of them alike 259 will be good 2896.
7 ¶ The light 216 is pleasant 4966, and {it is} good 2896 for the eyes 5869 to see 7200 the sun 8121.
8 Indeed 3588, if 518 a man 120 should live 2421 many 7235 years 8141, let him rejoice 8055 in them all 3605, and let him remember 2142 the days 3117 of darkness 2822, for they will be many 7235. Everything 3605 that is to come 935 {will be} futility 1892.
9 ¶ Rejoice 8055, young 970 man 970, during your childhood 3208, and let your heart 3820 be pleasant 3190 during the days 3117 of young 979 manhood 979. And follow 1980 the impulses 1870 of your heart 3820 and the desires 4758 of your eyes 5869. Yet know 3045 that God 430 will bring 935 you to judgment 4941 for all 3605 these 428 things 428.
10 So, remove 5493 grief 3708 and anger 3708 from your heart 3820 and put 5674 away 5674 pain 7463 from your body 1320, because 3588 childhood 3208 and the prime 7839 of life 7839 are fleeting 1892.

## Chapter 12

1

Remember God in Your Youth

Remember 2142 also your Creator 1254 in the days 3117 of your youth 979, before the evil 7463 days 3117 come 935 and the years 8141 draw 5060 near 5060 when 834 you will say 559, "I have 369 no 369 delight 2656 in them";
2 before the sun 8121 and the light 216, the moon 3394 and the stars 3556 are darkened 2821, and clouds 5645 return 7725 after 310 the rain 1653;
3 in the day 3117 that the watchmen 8104 of the house 1004 tremble 2111, and mighty 2428 men 376 stoop 5791, the grinding 2912 ones stand 988 idle 988 because 3588 they are few 4591, and those who look 7200 through windows 699 grow 2821 dim 2821;
4 and the doors 1817 on the street 7784 are shut 5462 as the sound 6963 of the grinding 2913 mill 2913 is low 8217, and one will arise 6965 at the sound 6963 of the bird 6833, and all 3605 the daughters 1323 of song 7892 will sing 7817 softly 7817.
5 Furthermore 1571, men are afraid 3372 of a high 1364 place and of terrors 2849 on the road 1870; the almond 8247 tree 8247 blossoms 5340, the grasshopper 2284 drags 5445 himself along, and the caperberry 35 is ineffective 6565. For man 120 goes 1980 to his eternal 5769 home 1004 while mourners 5594 go 5437 about 5437 in the street 7784.
6 {Remember Him} before the silver 3701 cord 2256 is broken 7576 and the golden 2091 bowl 1543 is crushed 7533, the pitcher 3537 by the well 4002 is shattered 7665 and the wheel 1534 at the cistern 953 is crushed 7533;
7 then the dust 6083 will return 7725 to the earth 776 as it was, and the spirit 7307 will return 7725 to God 430 who 834 gave 5414 it.
8 "Vanity 1892 of vanities 1892," says 559 the Preacher 6953, "all 3605 is vanity 1892!"
9

Purpose of the Preacher

¶ In addition 3148 to being 1961 a wise 2450 man 2450, the Preacher 6953 also 5750 taught 3925 the people 5971 knowledge 1847; and he pondered 239, searched 2713 out and arranged 8626 many 7235 proverbs 4912.
10 The Preacher 6953 sought 1245 to find 4672 delightful 2656 words 1697 and to write 3789 words 1697 of truth 571 correctly 3476.
11 ¶ The words 1697 of wise 2450 men 2450 are like goads 1861, and masters 1167 of {these} collections 627 are like well-driven 5193 nails 4548; they are given 5414 by one 259 Shepherd 7462.
12 But beyond 3148 this 1992, my son 1121, be warned 2094: the writing 6213 of many 7235 books 5612 is endless, and excessive 3854 devotion 3854 {to books} is wearying 3024 to the body 1320.
13 ¶ The conclusion, when all 3605 has been heard 8085, {is:} fear 3372 God 430 and keep 8104 His commandments 4687, because 3588 this 2088 {applies to} every 3605 person 120.
14 For God 430 will bring 935 every 3605 act 4639 to judgment 4941, everything 3605 which is hidden 5956, whether 518 it is good 2896 or evil 7451.