whereof it may be faid, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time which was before us. II There is no remembrance of former things; neither fhall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that fhall come after. perceived that this alfo is vexation of spirit. 18 For in much wifdom is much grief: and he that increafeth knowledge increaseth forrow. I CHAP. II. Said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy 12 ¶ I the Preacher was king over Ifrael in Jerufa-pleafure: and behold, this alfo is vanity. lem: 13 And I gave my heart to feek and fearch out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this fore travail hath God given to the fons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the fun, and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15 That which is croked, cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. 2 I faid of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I fought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wifdom, and to lay hold on folly, till I might fee what was that good for the fons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits : 6 I made me pools of wa 16 I communed with mine own heart, faying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have beenter, to water therewith the before me in Jerufalem: wood that bringeth forth yea, my heart had great ex- trees; perience of wisdom and knowledge. 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I 7 I got me fervants and Ι maidens, and had fervants born in my houfe: alfo I had great poffeffions of great and fmall cattle above all Dd 2 that that were in Jerufalem before | are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I me: 8 I gathered me alfo filver myself perceived also that one and gold, and the peculiar event happeneth to them all. treasure of kings and of the 15 Then faid I in my provinces I gat me men-heart, As it happeneth to the fingers, and women-fingers, fool, so it happeneth even to and the delights of the fons me; and why was I then of men, as mufical inftru- more wife? then I said in my ments, and that of all forts. heart that this also is vanity. 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerufalem: alfo my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever mine eyes defired, I kept not from them I with-held not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour and this was my portion of all my labour. II Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour 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 wisdom, and madnefs, and folly; for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. 13 Then I faw that wifdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 14 The wife man's eyes 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 shall 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 spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the fun: because I should leave it unto the man that fhall be after me, 19 And who knoweth whether he fhall be a wife man or a fool? yet fhall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wife under the fun. This is alfo vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to caufe my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the fun. 21 For there is a man [every purpose under the heawhofe labour is in wifdom,ven: and in knowledge, and in equity yet to a man that hath not laboured therein fhall he leave it for his portion. This alfo is vanity, and a great evil. 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 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vex-up; ation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the fun? 23 For all his days are forrows, and his travail grief: yea, his heart taketh not reft in the night. This is alfo vanity. 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he fhould 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 hereunto more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his fight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the finner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This alfo is vanity and vexation of fpirit. CHAP. III. T every thing there is a feafon, and a time to 5 A time to caft away ftones, and a time to gather ftones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing ; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to caft away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to few; 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 exercifed 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 be ginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man fhould eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that whatsoever God doeth, it fhall be for ever nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it that | men fhould fear before him. 15 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 faw under the fun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17 I faid in mine heart, God fhail judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpofe and for every work. 18 I faid in mine heart concerning the eftate of the fons of men, that God might manifeft them, and that they might fee that they themfelves are beafts. 19 For that which befalleth the fons of men befalleth falleth them: as the one dieth, fo dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; fo that a man hath no pre-eminence 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 spirit of man that goeth upward, and the fpirit of the beast 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 fhall bring him to see what fhall be after him? OI returned, and confidered all the oppreffions that are done under the fun : and behold, the tears of fuch as were oppreffed, and they had no comforter; and on the fide of their oppreffers 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 beafts; even one thing be- yet been, who hath not feen 7 - the : the evil work that is done against him, two shall withunder the fun. ftand 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. 4 ¶ Again, I confidered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. 14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas 5 ¶ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth | alfo he that is born in his his own flesh. 6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands kingdom becometh poor. 15 I confidered all the living which walk under the full with travail and vexation | fun, with the second child of fpirit. 7¶Then I returned, and I faw vanity under the fun. 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 eyes fatisfied with riches; neither faith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my foul of good? this is also vanity, yea, it is a fore travail. 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 wo to him that is alone when he falleth for he hath not another to help him up. EEP thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the facrifice of fools: for they confider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rafh with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hafty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. II Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm 3 For a dream cometh alone? through the multitude of bu12 And if one prevail' finefs, and a fool's voice is D d 4 known |