Chap. xxxi.. Four wicked generations. mafter, left he curfe thee, and thou be found guilty. 11 There is a generation that curf. eth their father, and doth not blefs their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthinefs. 18 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whofe teeth are as fwords, and their jaw teeth as knives to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never fatisfied, yea, four things fay not, It is enough: 16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water and the fire that faith not, It is enough. 17 The eye that mocketh at bis father, and defpifeth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley fhall pick it out, and the young eagles fhall eat it. 18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which know not; 19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a ferpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the fea; and the way of a man with a maid. 20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; the eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and faith, I have done no wickedness. 21 For three things the earth is difquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 22 For a fervant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 25 For an odious woman when he is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress. 24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exseeding wife: 25 The ants are a people not strong, yet the; prepare their meat in the fummer; 20 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houfes in the rocks; 27 The locufts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 28 The fpider taketh hold with her hands and is in kings' palaces. 29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going : 30 A lion, which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 51 A greyhound; an he goat allo; and aking, against whom there is no rifing up. 32 If thou haft done foolishly in lifting up thyfelf, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. Lemuel's leffon. 533 nofe bringeth forth blood fo the forcing of wrath bringeth forth ftrife. CHAP. XXXI. 1 Lemuel's lesson of chastity and temperance. 6 The afflicted are to be comjorted and defended 10 The praise and properties of a good wife. THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 2 What, my fon? and, What the fon of my womb? and, What, the fon of my vows? 3 Give not thy ftrength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes ftrong drink : 5 Left they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. 6 Give ftrong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. 7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his mifery no more. 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the caufe of all fuch as are appointed to deftruction. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the caufe of the poor and needy. 10 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth fafely truft in her, so that he shall have no need of fpoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 18 She feeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' fhips; the bringeth her food from afar. 15 She rifeth alfo while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She confidereth a field, and buyeth it with the fruit of her hands the planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with ftrength, and ftrengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandife is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the fpindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, the reacheth forth her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of the fnow for her household for all her household are clothed with fearlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is filk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, $3 Surely the churning of milk bring-when he fitteth among the elders of the eth forth butter, and the wringing of the land. 5S Human courfes are vain. ECCLESIASTES. The vanity of them. 24 She maketh fine linen and felleth! 28 Her children arife up, and call her it; and delivereth girdles unto the mer-bleffed; her husband also, and he praifchant. eth her. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and the hall rejoice in time to come. 26 She openeth her mouth with wifdom: and in her tongue is the law of kindnefs. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 29 Many daughters have done virtuoufly, but thou excelleft them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain : but a woman that feareth the LORD, the thall be praised. $1 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praife her in the gates. ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. CHAP. I. 1 The preacher fbewerb that all buman courjes are vain; because the creatures are reftlefs in their courses. 9 They bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten. THE words of the Preacher, the fon of David, king of Jerufalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, faith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the fun? One generation paffeth away, and another generation cometh : but the earth abideth for ever. 5 The fun alfo arifeth, and the fun geeth down, and hafteth to his place where he arose. made ftraight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 16 1 communed with mine own heart, faying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wifdom than all they that have been before me in Jerufalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wildom and knowledge. 17 And Igave my heart toknow wisdom, and to know madnefs and tolly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wifdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge in creafeth forrow. 13 CHAP. II. 1 The vanity of human courfes in the works of pleasure. 12 Though the wise be better han the fool, yet both have one event. I SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore, enjoy about continually, and the wind return-pleafure; and, behold, this alfo is vanity. eth again according to his circuits. 21 faid of laughter, It is mad: and of 6 The wind goeth toward the south,and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth 7 All the rivers run into the fea; yet mirth, What doeth it? the fea is not full: unto the place from 3 I fought in mine heart to give myself whence the rivers come, thither they unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart return again. with wifdom; and to lay hold on folly, till 8 All things are full of labour; man can-I might fee what was that good for the not utter it the eye is not satisfied with feeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the fun. fons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 10 Is there any thing whereof it 6 I made me pools of water, to water may be faid, See, this is new? It hath therewith the wood that bringeth forth been already of old time, which was be-trees: fore us. 7 I got me fervants and maidens, and 11. There is no remembrance of former had fervants born in my house; alfo I things; neither shall there be any remem- had great poffeflions of great and finall brance of things that are to come with cattle above all that were in Jerufalem tbofe that shall come after. before me: 12 I the Preacher was king over If-8 I gathered me alfo filver and gold, rael in Jerufalem: and the peculiar treasure of kings and 13 And I gave my heart to feek and of the provinces: I gat me men fingers fearch out by wildom concerning all and women fingers, and the delights of things that are done under heaves this the fons of men, as mufical inftruments, fore travail hath God given to the fons and that of all forts. of man to be exercifed therewith. 14 I have feen all the works that are done under the fun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is crooked cannot be 9 So I was great, and increafed more than all that were before me in Jerufalem: alfo my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatfoever mine eyes defired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart The vanity of buman labour. Chap. iii. heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. A time for everything. 535 gather and to heap up, that he may give 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the la-1 bour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of fpirit, and there was no profit under the fun. 12 And I turned myself to behold wifdom, and madness, and folly : for, What can the man do that cometh after the king? Even that which hath been already done. 15 Then I faw that wifdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wife man's eyes are in his head but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15 Then faid I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, fo it happeneth even to me; and, Why was I then more wife? Then I faid in my heart, that this alfo is vanity. 16 For there is no remembrance of the wife more than of the fool for ever; feeing that which now is, in the days to come hall all be forgotten. And, How dieth the wife man? As the fool. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the fun is grievous unto me : for all is vanity and vexation of fpirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the fun because I fhould leave it unto the man that thall be after me. a By the necessary change of times vanity is increased. 11 God's works are excellent. 16 But as for man, God fball judge bis works bereafter, and here be shall be like a beaft. TO every thing there is a feafon, and time to every purpofe 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; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to caft away ftones, and a tiine to gather ftones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lofe; a time to keep, and a time to caft away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to lew; a time to keep filence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have feen the travail, which God hath given to the fons of men to be exercited in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: alfo he hath fet the world in their heart, fo that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 19 And, Who knoweth whether he fhall be a wife man or a fool Yet hall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have la- 12 I know that there is no good in boured, and wherein I have fhewed my-them, but for a man to rejoice, and to felf wife under the fun. This is alfo vanity do good in his life. 20 Therefore I went about to caufe my heart to defpair of all the labour which I took under the fun. 13 And alfo that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 21 For there is a man whofe labour is 14 I know that whatfoever God doeth, in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equi.it fhall be for ever: nothing can be put to ty: yet to a man that hath not laboured it, nor any thing taken from it: and God therein fhall he leave it for his portion. doeth it, that men thould fear before This alfo is vanity and a great evil. For, What hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the fun? 28 For all his days are forrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not reft in the night. This is alfo vanity. There is nothing better for a man than that he fhould eat and drink, and that he should make his foul enjoy good in his labour. This alfo I faw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For, Who can eat ? or, Who elfe can haften bereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his fight, witdom and knowledge, and joy: but to the finner he giveth travail, to him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; am God requireth that which is past. 16 ¶ And, moreover, I faw under the fun the place of judgment, that wickednefs was there; and the place of righteoufnefs, that iniquity was there. 17 I faid in nine heart, God fall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18 I faid in my heart concerning the eftate of the fons of men, that God might manifeft them, and that they might fee that they thenfelves are beauts. 19 For that which befalleth the fons of men 536 Of oppreffion, envy, &c. ECCLESIASTES. men befalleth beafts; even one thing be-1 falleth them: as the one dieth, fo dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; fo that a man hath no preeminence above a beaft; for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the duft and all turn to duft again. 21 Who knoweth the fpirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beaft that goeth downward to the earth? 22 Wherefore, I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man fhould rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for, Who hall bring him to fee what fhall be after him? CHAP. IV. The vanity of riches 15 I confidered all the living which walk under the fun, with the second child that fhall ftand up in his ftead. 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 alfo is vanity and vexation of fpirit. CHAP. V. 1 Vanities in divine fervice, 8 in murmuring against oppreffion, 9 and in riches. 18 Joy in riches is the gift of God. KEEP thy foot when thou goeft to the houfe of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the facrifice of fools; for they confider not that they do evil. 1 Vanity is increajed unto men by oppref 2 Be not rafh with thy mouth, and let fon, by envy,5 by idleness, by covetous not thine heart be hafty to utter any nefs, 9 by lolitarinefs, 15 by wilfulness.thing before God for God is in heaven, SOI returned, and confidered all the op-and thou upon earth: therefore let thy preflions that are done under the fun words be few. and behold the tears of fuch as were op: preffed, and they had no comforter; and on the fide of their oppreffors there was power; but they had no comforter. 2 Wherefore, I praised the dead which are already dead, more than the living which are yet alive. 3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not feen the evil work that is done under the fun. 4 Again, I confidered all travail, and every right work that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is alfo vanity and vexation of fpirit. 5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh 6 Better is an handful with quietnefs, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of fpirit. 7 Then I returned, and I faw vanity under the fun. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of butinefs; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for te bath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou haft vowed. 5 Better is it that thou thouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. 6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to fin; neither fay thou before the angel, that it was an error: Wherefore fhould God be angry at thy voice, and deftroy the work of thine hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are alfo divers vanities but fear thou God. 8 If thou feeft the oppreffion of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and juftice in a province, marvel not 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 bimjelf is served by 8 There is one alone, and there is not a fecond; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye fatisfied with rich es; neither faith be, For whom do I la-the field. bour, and bereave my foul of good? This is alfo vanity, yea, it is a fore travail. 9 Two are better than one; becaufe 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 faileth; for he hath not another to help him up. : 11 Agun, if two lie together, then they have heat, but how can one be warmalone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two thail withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better is a poor and a wife child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished: 14 For out of prifon he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. 10 He that loveth filver shall not be fatiffied with filver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increafe: this is alfo vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increafed that eat them; and, What good is there to the owners thereof, faving the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The fleep of a labouring man is fweet, whether he eat little or much but the abundance of the rich will not fuffer him to fleep. 13 There is a fore evil which I have feen under the fun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But thofe riches perish by evil trav ail and he begetteth a fon, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked fhall he return to go as he came, The vanity of riches, c. Chap. vi. vii. 17 All his days alfo he eateth in dark-1 nefs, and be bath much forrow and wrath with his fickness. 18 Behold that which I have feen: 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 fun. all the days of his life, which God giveth him for it is his portion. 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 labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he fhall not much remember the days of his life; becaufe God anfwereth him in the joy of his heart. CHAP. VI. Remedies against vanity. 537 12 For. Who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he fpendeth as a fhadow? for, Who can tell a man what fhall be after him under the fun? CHAP. VII. Remedies against vanny are a good name 2 mortification, 7 patience, li wijdom, 23 The difficulty of getting wifdom. A GOOD name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the houfe of feafting 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 fadnefs of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wife is in the house of mourning; but the heart of tools is in the houfe of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wife, than for a man to hear the song of fools. 1 The vanity of riches without ufe, 3 of children, 6 and old age without riches. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under 9 The vanity of fighi and wandering a pot, fo is the laughter of the fool: this defires. 11 The conclufion of vanities.allo is vanity. THERE is an evil which I have feen 7 Surely oppreflion maketh a wife under the fun, and it is common among man mad; and a gift deftroyeth the heart. 8 Better is the end of a thing than the men: 2 A man to whom God hath given rich-beginning thereof; and the patient in fpires, wealth, and honour, so that he want- it is better than the proud in fpirit. eth nothing for his foul of all that he defireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil difeafe. 3 if a man beget an hundred children; and live many years, fo that the days of his years be many, and his foul be not filled with good, and alfo that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he : 4 For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darknefs, and his name hall be covered with darkness. 5 Moreover, he hath not feen the fun, nor known any thing this hath more reft than the other. 6Yea though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he feen no good: Do not all go to one place? 9 Be not hafty in thy fpirit to be angry; for anger refteth in the bofom of fools. 10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou delt not inquire wifely concerning this. 11 Wifdom is good with an inheritance and by it there is profit to them that fee the fun. 12 For wifdem is a defence, and money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wifdom giveth life to them that have it. 13 Confider the work of God: for, Who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? 14 In the day of profperity be joyful, but in the day of adverfity confider: God alfo hath let the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For, What hath the wife more than 15 All things have I feen in the days of the fool? What hath the poor, that know-my vanity there is a juft man that pereth to walk before the living? ifheth in his righteoufnefs, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 9 Better is the fight of the eyes than the wandering of the defire: this is alfo Vanity and vexation of fpirit. 10 That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increale vanity, What is man the better? 30 16 Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thy felfoverwife: Why houldeft thou destroy thy felf? 17 Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: Why shouldeít thou die before thy time? 18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold |