Reference: Ecclesiastes, The Book Of
Fausets
The speaker so entitles himself, Hebrew: Qoheleth, Greek Ecclesiastes, "the convener of, and preacher to, assemblies," namely, church assemblies. The feminine form, and its construction once with a feminine verb (Ec 7:27), show that divine Wisdom herself speaks through the inspired king Solomon. God had especially endowed him with this wisdom (1Ki 3:5-14; 6:11-12; 9:1, etc.; 1Ki 11:9-11). "The preacher taught the people (and inquirers) knowledge" in a divan assembled for the purpose (1Ki 4:34; 10:2,8,24; 2Ch 9:1,7,23). "Spake," thrice in 1Ki 4:32-33, refers not to written compositions, but to addresses spoken in assemblies. Solomon's authorship is supported by Ec 1:12,16; 2:1-15; 12:9. But in the book are found words:
(1) rarely employed in the earlier, frequently in the later books of Scripture.
(2) Words never found in Hebrew writings until the Babylonian captivity; as zimaan, "set time," for moed; Ec 3:1, namely, in Ne 2:6; Es 9:27,31. So pithgam, "sentence" (Ec 8:11); "thought," madang; 'illuw "though" (Ec 6:6); bikeen, "so" (Ec 8:10): thus, Esther approximates most to Ecclesiastes in idioms.
(3) Words not found in the late Hebrew, but only in the Aramaic sections of Daniel and Ezra: yithron, "profit "; compare yuthran in the Aramaic targums; kibaar, "already," "long ago"; taaqam, "make straight" (Ec 1:15; 7:13; Da 4:33) (Da 4:36 "established"); ruwth, "desire," found also in the Aramaic parts of Ezra.
(4) The grammatical constructions agree with the transition period from Hebrew to Aramaic; frequent participles, the uses of the relative, Vav (?) or waw-conversive rare. Probably, since the book is poetical not historical, a later writer, in the person of Solomon as an idealized Solomon, writes under inspiration the lessons that such an experience as that of Solomon would properly afford. Hence, Solomon is not named; the writer speaks as Qoheleth, "the preacher." If it were merely Solomon's penitent confession in old age, he would have used his own name. The spirit of Solomon speaks, the true Qoheleth ("gatherer"), a type of Him who is "Wisdom" and calls Himself so, and who "would have gathered Jerusalem's children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings"; compare Lu 11:49 with Mt 23:34-37.
The writer makes Solomon's saying after his late repentance, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," his text which he expands under the Spirit. So the sons of Korah write Psalm 42 as from David's soul, in his trans-jordanic flight from Absalom, so that David is the speaker throughout. Qoheleth addresses "the great congregation" (Ps 22:25; 49:2-4), giving his testimony for godliness as the only solid good, as the seal of his repentance under chastisement for apostasy (1Ki 11:14,23; Ps 89:30,33). It is just possible that the peculiarities of language may be due to Solomon's long intercourse with foreigners; also the Chaldaisms may be fragments preserved from the common tongue of which Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, and Arabic were offshoots. So Solomon himself would be the writer. Its canonicity rests on the testimony of the Jewish church, "to whom were committed the oracles of God," and who are never charged in the New Testament with unfaithfulness in that respect, though so unfaithful in other respects (Ro 3:2).
Many allusions to Ecclesiastes occur in New Testament: Ec 7:2; Mt 5:3-4; Ec 5:2; Mt 6:7; Ec 6:2; Lu 12:20; Mt 6:19-34; Ec 11:5; Joh 3:8; Ec 9:10; Joh 9:4; Ec 10:12; Col 4:6; Ec 12:14; 2Co 5:10; Ec 5:1; 1Ti 3:15; Jas 1:19; Ec 5:6; 1Co 11:10. The Old Testament would be incomplete without the book that sets forth the unsatisfying vanity of the creature apart from God, even as the Song depicts the all-satisfying fullness there is for us in God our Savior. The theme is the vanity of all human pursuits when made the chief end, and the consequent wisdom of making the fear of God and His commandments our main aim.
This presumes the immortality of the soul, which was more needed as a doctrine at the time when God, whose theocratic kingship Israel's self chosen king in some measure superseded, was withdrawing the extraordinary providences from whence the Mosaic law had drawn its sanctions of temporal reward or punishment. The anomalies that virtue is not always rewarded, nor vice always punished, here (Ec 2:16; 3:19; 4:1; 5:8; 7:15; 8:14; 9:2,11), suggested the truth that there must be a future life and. a judgment, wherein God will deal with men according to their present works. This is "the conclusion of the whole" discussion, that man's wisdom and "whole duty" is to "fear God and keep His commandments" (Ec 12:13-14), and meanwhile to use in joyful and serene sobriety, and not abuse, life's present passing goods (Ec 3:12-13).
David, Solomon's father (Ps 39:12), and Job (Job 7:16), had already taught the vanity of man and man's earthly aims. So Solomon speaks of man ('adam, not 'iysh) as such, frail and mortal, not redeemed man nor the elect nation Israel. Hence, not Jehovah, expressing the covenant relation to His people, but the general name God ('Elohim), appears throughout, the correlative to "man" ('adam) in general. The fatiguing toil or travail ('amal) of man is another characteristic phrase; it bereaves of "quietness" and "good" (Ec 4:6,8). In contrast stands "the work of God," which "no man can find out from the beginning to the end": yet this much he sees, it is "beautiful," and "in His time," and "for ever"; "nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it" (Ec 3:11,14); none" can make that straight which He hath made crooked" (Ec 7:13).
So the" all" that is "vanity" is whatever work man, frail and mortal, undertakes, not falling in with God's irresistible work. Man's way to escape from the vanity that attends his work, however successful it seem for a time, is to "fear God," and to make His commandments the end of all our work; also to acquiesce patiently, cheerfully, and contentedly in all God's dispensations, however trying and dark (Ec 2:24; 3:12-13,22; 5:17; 8:15; 9:7). The recommendation to "eat and drink," etc., was mistaken as recommending the Epicurean sensuality against which Paul (1Co 15:32-33) protests, and was made an objection to the book; but the eating and drinking recommended is that associated with labor, not idleness; with pious "fear of God," not sensual ignoring of the future Judge; the cheerful, contented "eating and drinking" which characterized Judah and Israel under Solomon (1Ki 4:20), and under Josiah (Jer 22:15, "Did not thy father (Josiah) eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?")
So Nehemiah enjoins (Ne 8:10-12). Ec 2:24 has: "is it not good for man that he should eat?" etc. This is opposed to a self-harassing, covetous, grasping carefulness (Php 4:6-7; Mt 6:24-34; Ec 5:18, compare Ec 5:11-15). The joy of sensual levity is explicitly forbidden (Ec 7:2-6; 11:9; 12:1). The reference to hopeless oppression (Ec 4:1-3) is made the ground for supposing the period was one of the congregations's suffering, as Israel suffered under Persia after the return from Babylon. But even in Solomon's days, in the provinces, and especially when he fell into idolatry and consequent troubles, oppression must have often occurred, which his power was not able to prevent altogether in subordinate governors. Fatalism and skepticism might seem to be taught in Ec 7:16; 9:2-10, but Ec 7:17-18; 9:11; 11:1-6; 12:13, confute such notions.
What is forbidden is a self-made "righteousness" which would constrain God to grant salvation to man's works, and ceremonial strictness with which it wearies itself profitlessly; also that speculation which would fathom God's inscrutable counsels (Ec 8:17). "Under the sun" or "the heavens" is another characteristic phrase (Ec 1:13; compare Ec 7:11; 11:7; 12:2). Irresistible death is what stamps "vanity" on earthly aims and works (Ec 1:4; 8:8).; in this respect man has "no preeminence above a beast" (Ec 3:19). With all man's ceaseless round of toils he returns to the point from whence he came, like the winds and the currents (Ec 1:5-11). He can bring forth no "new" thing, nor ensure his "remembrance." "What profit then hath he of all his labor?" Ec 1:3 answering to Mt 16
See Verses Found in Dictionary
when Yahweh God formed the man [of] dust from the ground, and he blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Yahweh appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night, and God said, "Ask what I should give to you." Then Solomon said, "You have shown great loyal love with your servant David my father, as he walked before you in faithfulness and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with you. You have shown for him this great loyal love, and you have given a son to him who is sitting on his throne as [it is] this day. read more. So then, O Yahweh, you are my God. You have made your servant king in place of David my father [though] I [am] a young boy. I do not know going out or coming in. Your servant [is] in the middle of your people whom you have chosen; a great people who cannot be counted or numbered because of abundance. Give to your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, because who is able to judge this, your difficult people?" The word was good in the eyes of [the] Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and you did not ask for yourself {a long life} and you did not ask riches for yourself and you did not ask for the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself {the ability to make wise judgments}; behold, I do hereby do according to your word. I hereby give you a wise and discerning heart; there was no one like you before you, nor afterwards will one like you arise. Too, what you have not asked I give to you: both riches and honor, [so that] no man among the kings will be like you all of your days. If you will walk in my ways by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David your father walked, then I will lengthen your days."
Judah and Israel [were] as many as the sand which is on the seashore in abundance, eating and drinking and rejoicing!
He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. He spoke concerning the trees, from the cedar which [is] in Lebanon up to the hyssop which grows on the wall; he also spoke concerning the animals, concerning the birds, concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fish. read more. They came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; from all the kings of the earth who had heard [of] his wisdom.
Then the word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying, "[Regarding] this temple that you are building: if you walk in my ordinances and if you do my judgments and you keep all my commandments to walk in them, then I will establish my promise with you which I made to David your father.
It happened that as Solomon finished the building of the house of Yahweh, the king's house, and all the things Solomon desired to do,
So she came to Jerusalem with very great wealth; [with] camels carrying spices, very much gold, and precious stones. She came to Solomon, and she spoke to him all that was on her heart.
Happy [are] your men and happy [are] these your servants who stand before you continually hearing your wisdom.
All of the earth [was] seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
Yahweh was angry with Solomon, for he had turned his heart from Yahweh, the God of Israel who had appeared to him twice. And he had commanded him concerning this matter not to go after other gods, but he did not keep that which Yahweh commanded. read more. So Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because this was with you, and you did not keep my covenant and my ordinances which I have commanded you, I will certainly tear the kingdom from you, and I will give it to your servant.
Then Yahweh raised an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite, from the descendants of that king in Edom.
God had [also] raised Rezon the son of Eliada as an adversary against him, who had fled from Hadadezer the king of Zobah, his master.
With the queen sitting beside him, the king said to me, "How long will your journey be and when will you return?" So it pleased the king and he sent me, and I set for him an appointed time.
Then he said to them, "Go, eat festive food and drink sweet drinks, and send a share to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our lord. Do not be grieved because the joy of Yahweh is your refuge." So the Levites silenced all of the people, saying, "Silence, for this day is holy. Do not be grieved." read more. All of the people went to eat, to drink, to send a share, and to have great joy because they understood the words that they had made known to them.
the Jews established and adopted [it] for themselves and for their offspring, and for all who joined them. They did not neglect {to observe} these two days every year as it was written and appointed to them.
to establish these days of Purim at their appointed times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had imposed, and just as they had imposed on themselves and their offspring regulations of the fast and their lament.
I loathe [my life]; I would not live forever; depart from me, for my days [are] a breath.
From you [is] my praise. In [the] great assembly, I will pay my vows before those who revere him.
Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen [to] my cry for help; do not be deaf to my tears. For I [am] an alien with you, a sojourner like all my ancestors.
both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart [will be] understanding. read more. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will {propound} my riddle on a lyre.
But I will not break off my loyal love from him, and I will not be false against my faithfulness.
The fear of Yahweh [is the] beginning of wisdom; all who do them have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.
For he will not be shaken forever; [the] righteous {will be remembered forever}.
Fear of Yahweh [is the] beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise. My child, may you keep your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teachings,
The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.
The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. "Vanity of vanities!" says the Teacher, "Vanity of vanities! All [is] vanity!" read more. What does a person gain in all his toil with which he toils under the sun?
What does a person gain in all his toil with which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth stands forever.
A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth stands forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down; to its place it hurries, and there it rises again.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down; to its place it hurries, and there it rises again. The wind goes to the south and goes around to the north; around and around it goes, and on its circuit the wind returns.
The wind goes to the south and goes around to the north; around and around it goes, and on its circuit the wind returns. All the streams flow to the sea, but the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.
All the streams flow to the sea, but the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow. All things toil continuously; no one can ever finish describing this. The eye is never satisfied with seeing, and the ear is never filled with hearing.
All things toil continuously; no one can ever finish describing this. The eye is never satisfied with seeing, and the ear is never filled with hearing. What has been--it is what will be; what has been done--it is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.
What has been--it is what will be; what has been done--it is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. There is a thing [of] which it is said, "Look at this! This is new!" [But] it already existed in ages past before us.
There is a thing [of] which it is said, "Look at this! This is new!" [But] it already existed in ages past before us. There is neither remembrance of former generations, nor will there be remembrance of future generations.
There is neither remembrance of former generations, nor will there be remembrance of future generations. I, the Teacher, [was] king over Israel in Jerusalem.
I, the Teacher, [was] king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It [is] a grievous task God has given to {humans}.
What is twisted cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. {I said to myself}, "Look! I have become great and have increased [in] wisdom more than anyone who {has preceded} me over Jerusalem. {I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge}."
I said {to myself}, "Come! I will test pleasure {to see whether it is worthwhile}." But look, "This also [is] vanity!" I said of laughter, "[It is] folly!" and of pleasure, "{What does it accomplish?}" read more. I also {explored} {the effects of indulging my flesh} with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, {I investigated} folly so that I might discover what [is] good under heaven for {humans} to do {during the days of their lives}. {I accomplished great things}. I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all [sorts of] fruit trees in them. I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. I acquired male slaves and female slaves, as well as children [born in my] house. I also had livestock, cattle, and flocks more than anyone who [was] before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered to myself silver and gold--the royal and provincial treasuries. I acquired for myself male and female singers, as well as the delight of {men}, {voluptuous concubines}. Thus, {I accomplished far more} than anyone who [was] before me in Jerusalem--indeed, my wisdom stood by me. I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil. Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!" Next, I considered wisdom, as well as delusion and folly. What can anyone [do] who will come after the king that has not already been done? I realized that wisdom has an advantage over folly, just as light has an advantage over darkness. {The wise man can see where he is walking}, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that both of them suffer the same fate. So I said {to myself}, "{If I also suffer the same fate as the fool}, {what advantage is my great wisdom}?" So I said {to myself}, "This also [is] vanity!" Certainly no one will remember the wise man or the fool in {future generations}. When [future] days come, both will have been forgotten already. How [is it that] the wise man dies the same as the fool?
There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and {find delight} in his toil. For I also realized that this [is] from the hand of God!
There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and {find delight} in his toil. For I also realized that this [is] from the hand of God!
For everything there [is] an appointed time, a time for every matter under heaven:
He has made everything suitable in its time. He also has put {the past} in their hearts, yet no one can grasp what God does from the beginning to the end.
He has made everything suitable in its time. He also has put {the past} in their hearts, yet no one can grasp what God does from the beginning to the end. So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives.
So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives.
So I realized that there is {nothing better} for them than to {rejoice and enjoy themselves} during their lives. And for anyone to eat and drink, that is, {to enjoy the fruit of all his toil}, this also is a gift of God.
And for anyone to eat and drink, that is, {to enjoy the fruit of all his toil}, this also is a gift of God. I know everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it, for God so acts that humans might stand in awe before him.
So I said {to myself}, "God will surely judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time [of judgment] for every deed and every work."
For the fate of {humans} and the fate of the beast is {the same}. The death of the one is like the death of the other, for {both are mortal}. Man has no advantage over the beast, for both are fleeting.
For the fate of {humans} and the fate of the beast is {the same}. The death of the one is like the death of the other, for {both are mortal}. Man has no advantage over the beast, for both are fleeting.
For no one knows [whether] the spirit of a human ascends [to heaven] and [whether] the spirit of the beast descends to the ground! So I concluded that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy [the fruit of] his labor, for this is his lot in life. {For no one knows what will happen in the future.}
So I concluded that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy [the fruit of] his labor, for this is his lot in life. {For no one knows what will happen in the future.}
I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. {I saw the tears of the oppressed-- no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful-- no one can comfort them}!
I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. {I saw the tears of the oppressed-- no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful-- no one can comfort them}! So I deemed the dead who have already died more [fortunate] than the living who are still alive. read more. But better [off] than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
Better [is] one handful with peace than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. [He laments,] "For whom am I toiling and depriving {myself} of pleasure?" This also [is] vanity--it is an unhappy business!
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; draw near to listen [rather] than to offer a sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be quick to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you [are] on earth; therefore, let your words be few.
Do not let your mouth lead your flesh into sin, and do not tell the messenger that it [was] a mistake. Why anger God at your words, so that he destroys the work of your hands?
Do not be surprised if you see the poor being oppressed with violence or [do not see] justice and righteousness in the province. For one official is watched by a higher official, and [there are] even higher officials over them!
When prosperity increases, those who consume it increase. {So its owner gains nothing, except to see his wealth before it is spent}. The sleep of the laborer [is] pleasant, whether he eats little or much, but the wealth of the rich man does not allow him to rest. read more. There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth {hoarded} by its owner to his harm. That wealth was lost in a bad venture. Although he has borne a child, {he has nothing to leave to him}. Just as he came from his mother's womb naked, {he will depart} just as he came; he will take nothing with him for his toil.
Also, he eats in darkness all his days; he is frustrated [in] much sickness and resentment. Look! I have discovered what is good and fitting: to eat and to drink and {to enjoy} all [the fruit of] the toil with which one toils under the sun during the number of the days of his life that God gives to him--for this [is] his lot.
Look! I have discovered what is good and fitting: to eat and to drink and {to enjoy} all [the fruit of] the toil with which one toils under the sun during the number of the days of his life that God gives to him--for this [is] his lot.
God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; yet God does not enable him to enjoy it--instead someone else ends up enjoying it. This [is] vanity--indeed, it [is] a grievous ill!
Even if a man lives a thousand years twice, if he does not enjoy {prosperity}, {both suffer the same fate}!
Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for [death is] the end of every person, and the living should take [it] to his heart.
Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for [death is] the end of every person, and the living should take [it] to his heart. Sorrow [is] better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good. read more. The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth. Better to listen to [the] rebuke of [the] wise than for a man to listen to [the] song of fools. Like the sound of thorns under a pot, so also the laughter of fools. This also [is] vanity!
I have seen all these things in my vain life: Sometimes a righteous man perishes in [spite of] his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked man lives a long life in [spite of] his evil. Do not be excessively righteous, and do not act excessively wise, lest you destroy yourself. read more. Do not act excessively wicked, and do not be a fool, lest you die before your time. [It is] good to take hold of the one and also must not let go of the other; for whoever fears God will hold both of them secure.
"Look! I found this," said the Teacher, "while trying to find how the plan fits together.
Look! This alone I found: God made mankind upright, but they have devised many schemes."
Just as no one can control the wind to restrain the wind, so also no one can control the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not deliver the wicked.
Meanwhile, I saw the wicked being [honorably] buried, but those who came and went from the holy place were forgotten in the city, even though they had done so. This also [is] vanity! Because sentence against an evil deed is not carried out quickly, the heart of {humans} fills up within them to do evil. read more. Although the sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will be good for those who fear God--because they fear {his presence}.
There [is] a vanity that happens on earth: sometimes the righteous suffer what the wicked deserve, and sometimes the wicked receive what the righteous deserve. I said, "This also [is] vanity!" So I recommend enjoyment. For there [is] nothing better for man under the sun than to eat and to drink and to rejoice. This will accompany him in his toil the days of his life that God gives to him under the sun.
So I recommend enjoyment. For there [is] nothing better for man under the sun than to eat and to drink and to rejoice. This will accompany him in his toil the days of his life that God gives to him under the sun.
Then I saw all the work of God--man [is] not able to discover the work that is done under the sun. Although man may toil in seeking, he cannot find it. Even if a wise man claims [that he] knows it, he cannot find it.
The same fate [comes] to everyone: to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the wicked, to the clean and to the unclean, to those who sacrifice and to those who do not sacrifice. As [with] the good [man], so also to the sinner; [as with] those who swear an oath, so [also] those who fear oaths.
The same fate [comes] to everyone: to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the wicked, to the clean and to the unclean, to those who sacrifice and to those who do not sacrifice. As [with] the good [man], so also to the sinner; [as with] those who swear an oath, so [also] those who fear oaths. This [is] the {injustice} that is done under the sun: the same fate [comes] to everyone. Also the hearts of {humans} are full [of] evil; delusion [is] in their hearts during their lives, and then they die. read more. Whoever is joined to all the living has hope. After all, even a live dog is better than a dead lion! For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.
For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten. What they loved and hated, as well as what they desired, has already perished. They no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.
What they loved and hated, as well as what they desired, has already perished. They no longer have any share in what is done under the sun. Go--eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds.
Go--eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds.
Go--eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds.
Go--eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds. Always be clothed in white garments, and never let your head lack oil!
Always be clothed in white garments, and never let your head lack oil!
Always be clothed in white garments, and never let your head lack oil! Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this [is] your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun.
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this [is] your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun.
Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this [is] your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.
Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.
Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.
Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything. I looked again and saw under the sun that the race [does] not [belong] to the swift, the battle [does] not [belong] to the mighty, food [does] not [belong] to the wise, wealth [does] not [belong] to the intelligent, and success [does] not [belong] to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them.
I looked again and saw under the sun that the race [does] not [belong] to the swift, the battle [does] not [belong] to the mighty, food [does] not [belong] to the wise, wealth [does] not [belong] to the intelligent, and success [does] not [belong] to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them.
The wise man [wins] favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips.
Send out your bread on the water, for in many days you will find it. Divide your share in seven or in eight, for you do not know what disaster will happen on the earth. read more. When the clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or whether it falls to the north, the place where the tree falls--there it will be. Whoever watches the wind will not sow; whoever watches the clouds will not reap. Just as you do not know how the path of the wind [goes], nor how the bones [of a fetus] form in a mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
Just as you do not know how the path of the wind [goes], nor how the bones [of a fetus] form in a mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. Sow your seed in the morning, and do not let your hands rest in the evening, for you do not know what will prosper-- whether this or that, or whether both of them alike will succeed. read more. The light is sweet, and it [is] pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth! Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes-- but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth-- before the days of trouble come and the years draw near when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them!"
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth-- before the days of trouble come and the years draw near when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them!" Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars darken and the clouds return after the rain.
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.
The Teacher was full of wisdom, and he taught the people with knowledge. He carefully considered many proverbs and carefully arranged them.
Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.
Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill shall become low, And the rough ground shall be like a plain, and the rugged ground like a valley-plain.
"You must not remember [the] former things, and you not must consider [the] former things. Look! I [am] about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts! Do you not perceive it? Indeed, I will {make} a way in the wilderness, rivers in [the] desert.
And [the] nations shall see your righteousness, and all [the] kings your glory, and {you will be called} a new name that the mouth of Yahweh will designate.
For look! I [am] about to create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered, and they shall not {come to mind}.
Do you reign as king because you [are] competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink, and he did justice and righteousness, then it was well with him?
Look, [the] days [are] coming," {declares} Yahweh, "and I will {make} a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
And I will give to them one heart, and a new spirit I will give in their inner parts. And I will remove their heart of stone from their body, and I will give to them a heart of flesh,
Throw {away from yourselves} all of your transgressions that you committed, and make {for yourselves} a new heart and new spirit, and [so] why will you die, house of Israel?
{Immediately} the word was fulfilled {concerning} Nebuchadnezzar, and he was expelled from {human society} and he ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair [was] like [the hair of] an eagle and his nails grew like bird's [claws].
"{At that time} my reason returned to me, and [also] the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me, and my advisers and my lords searched [me] out, and I was established over my kingdom and abundant greatness was added to me.
Then those who revered Yahweh spoke {with one another}. And Yahweh listened attentively and heard, and a scroll of remembrance was written {before him} of those who revere Yahweh and ponder his name.
"Blessed [are] the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] the ones who mourn, because they will be comforted.
"But [when you] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and consuming [insect] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor consuming [insect] destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal. read more. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore if your eye is sincere, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be dark. Therefore if the light in you is darkness, how great [is] the darkness! "No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money.
"No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You are not able to serve God and money. "For this [reason] I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body [more than] clothing?
"For this [reason] I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, and not for your body, what you will wear. Is your life not more than food and your body [more than] clothing? Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather [produce] into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they [are]?
Consider the birds of the sky, that they do not sow or reap or gather [produce] into barns, and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they [are]? And who among you, [by] being anxious, is able to add one hour to his life span?
And who among you, [by] being anxious, is able to add one hour to his life span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin,
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.
but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not [do so] much more [for] you, you of little faith?
But if God dresses the grass of the field in this way, [although it] is [here] today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not [do so] much more [for] you, you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?,'
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?,' for the pagans seek after all these [things]. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these [things].
for the pagans seek after all these [things]. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these [things]. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these [things] will be added to you.
But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these [things] will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. {Each day has enough trouble of its own.}
Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, because tomorrow will be anxious for itself. {Each day has enough trouble of its own.}
For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?
For this [reason], behold, I am sending to you prophets and wise men and scribes. [Some] of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and will pursue from town to town, so that upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on the earth from the blood of righteous Abel up to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. read more. Truly I say to you, all these [things] will come upon this generation! "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How many times I wanted to gather your children together {the way} a hen gathers her young together under [her] wings, and you were not willing!
For this [reason] also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they will kill and persecute,'
But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your life is demanded from you, and [the things] which you have prepared--whose will they be?'
The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
It is necessary [for] us to do the deeds of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work!
It is necessary [for] us to do the deeds of the one who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work!
Much in every way. For first, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.
If according to a human perspective I fought wild beasts at Ephesus, what benefit [is it] to me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived! "Bad company corrupts good morals."
For to me to live [is] Christ and to die [is] gain. But if [it is] to live in the flesh, this [is] fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer [I do] not know. read more. But I am hard pressed {between the two options}, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, {for this is very much better}.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Let your speech always [be] with grace, seasoned with salt, so that [you] may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one.
but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel,
All those with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace [be] with all of you.
Understand [this], my dear brothers: every person must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,