Ecclesiastes:1:1-21

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* The words of the Preacher , the son of David , king in Jerusalem . * Vanity of vanities , saith the Preacher , vanity of vanities ; all is vanity . * What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun ? * One generation passeth away , and another generation cometh (8676 ): but the earth abideth for ever . * The sun also ariseth , and the sun goeth down , and hasteth to his place where he arose . * The wind goeth toward the south , and turneth about unto the north ; it whirleth about continually , and the wind returneth again according to his circuits . * All the rivers run into the sea ; yet the sea is not full ; unto the place from whence the rivers come , thither they return again . * All things are full of labour ; man cannot utter it : the eye is not satisfied with seeing , nor the ear filled with hearing . * 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 sun . * Is there any thing whereof it may be said , See , this is new ? it hath been already of old time , which was before us . * There is no remembrance of former things ; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after . * I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem . * And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven : this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith . * I have seen all the works that are done under the sun ; and , behold , all is vanity and vexation of spirit . * That which is crooked cannot be made straight : and that which is wanting cannot be numbered . * I communed with mine own heart , saying , Lo , I am come to great estate , and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem : yea , my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge da #ath #. * And I gave my heart to know wisdom , and to know madness and folly : I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit . * For in much wisdom is much grief ka #ac #: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow mak #ob #. * Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour : so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour . * A wise mans heart is at his right hand ; but a fools heart at his left s @mo #wl #. * Yea also , when he that is a fool walketh by the way , his wisdom faileth him , and he saith to every one that he is a fool . * If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee , leave not thy place ; for yielding pacifieth great offences . * There is an evil which I have seen under the sun , as an error which proceedeth from the ruler : * Folly is set in great dignity , and the rich sit in low place . * I have seen servants upon horses , and princes walking as servants upon the earth . * He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it ; and whoso breaketh an hedge , a serpent shall bite him . * Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith ; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby . * If the iron be blunt , and he do not whet the edge , then must he put to more strength : but wisdom is profitable to direct . * Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment ; and a babbler lashown # is no better . * The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious ; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself . * The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness : and the end of his talk is mischievous madness . * A fool also is full of words : a man cannot tell what shall be ; and what shall be after him , who can tell him ? * The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them , because he knoweth not how to go to the city . * Woe to thee , O land , when thy king is a child na #ar #, and thy princes eat in the morning ! * Blessed art thou , O land , when thy king is the son of nobles , and thy princes eat in due season , for strength , and not for drunkenness ! * By much slothfulness the building decayeth ; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through . * A feast is made for laughter , and wine maketh merry : but money answereth all things . * Curse not the king , no not in thy thought ; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber cheder #: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice , and that which hath wings shall tell the matter . * Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days . * Give a portion to seven , and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth . * If the clouds be full of rain , they empty themselves upon the earth : and if the tree fall toward the south , or toward the north , in the place where the tree falleth , there it shall be . * He that observeth the wind shall not sow ; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap . * As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit , nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child : even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all . * In the morning sow thy seed , and in the evening withhold not thine hand : for thou knowest not whether shall prosper , either this or that , or whether they both shall be alike good . * Truly the light is sweet , and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun : * But if a man live many years , and rejoice in them all ; yet let him remember the days of darkness ; for they shall be many . All that cometh is vanity . * Rejoice , O young man , in thy youth ; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth , and walk in the ways of thine heart , and in the sight of thine eyes : but know thou , that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment . * Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart , and put away evil from thy flesh : for childhood and youth are vanity . * Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth , while the evil days come not , nor the years draw nigh , when thou shalt say , I have no pleasure in them ; * While the sun , or the light , or the moon , or the stars , be not darkened , nor the clouds return after the rain : * In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble , and the strong men shall bow themselves , and the grinders cease because they are few , and those that look out of the windows be darkened , * And the doors shall be shut in the streets , when the sound of the grinding is low , and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird , and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low ; * Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high , and fears shall be in the way , and the almond tree shall flourish , and the grasshopper shall be a burden , and desire shall fail : because man goeth to his long home , and the mourners go about the streets : * Or ever the silver cord be loosed (8675 ), or the golden bowl be broken , or the pitcher be broken at the fountain , or the wheel broken at the cistern . * Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was : and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it . * Vanity of vanities , saith the preacher ; all is vanity . * And moreover , because the preacher was wise , he still taught the people knowledge da #ath #; yea , he gave good heed , and sought out , and set in order many proverbs . * The preacher sought to find out acceptable words : and that which was written was upright , even words of truth . * The words of the wise are as goads , and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies , which are given from one shepherd . * And further , by these , my son , be admonished : of making many books there is no end ; and much study is a weariness of the flesh . * Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God , and keep his commandments : for this is the whole duty of man . * For God shall bring every work into judgment , with every secret thing , whether it be good , or whether it be evil .

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