Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



I said in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! I said of laughter, It is mad, and of pleasure, What does it accomplish? I searched in my mind how to cheer my body with wine -- "yet at the same time having my mind hold its course and guide me with [human] wisdom -- "and how to lay hold of folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. read more.
I made great works; I built myself houses, I planted vineyards. I made for myself gardens and orchards and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made for myself pools of water from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. I bought menservants and maidservants and had servants born in my house. Also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got for myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men -- " concubines very many. So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me and stood by me. And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion and reward for all my toil.



A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.


“Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise,
Nor may the elders [always] understand justice.


Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.



A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.


“Those [who are] abundant in years may not [always] be wise,
Nor may the elders [always] understand justice.


Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.



So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

From the almug wood (sandalwood) the king made pillars for the house of the Lord and for the king’s palace, and also lyres and harps for the singers. Such almug wood did not come in [to Israel] again, nor has it been seen to this day.

Consider the lilies and wildflowers, how they grow [in the open field]. They neither labor nor spin [wool to make clothing]; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these.

The food of his table, the seating of his officials, the standing at attention of his servants, their apparel, his cupbearers, his ascent by which he went up to the house of the Lord [or the burnt offerings he sacrificed], she was breathless and overcome. She said to the king, It was a true report I heard in my own land of your acts and sayings and wisdom. I did not believe it until I came and my eyes had seen. Behold, the half was not told me. You have added wisdom and goodness exceeding the fame I heard. read more.
Happy are your men! Happy are these your servants who stand continually before you, hearing your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, Who delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, He made you king to execute justice and righteousness.

And when the queen of Sheba had seen Solomon's wisdom, the house he had built, The food of his table, the seating of his officials, the [standing at] attention of his servants, their apparel, his cupbearers also and their apparel, and his burnt offerings which he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more spirit in her. She said to the king, The report which I heard in my own land of your acts and sayings and of your wisdom was true, read more.
But I did not believe their words until I came and my eyes had seen it. Behold, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me; you surpass the fame that I heard of you. Happy are your wives and men, and happy are these your servants who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, Who delighted in you and set you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.


I made great works; I built myself houses, I planted vineyards. I made for myself gardens and orchards and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made for myself pools of water from which to water the forest and make the trees bud. read more.
I bought menservants and maidservants and had servants born in my house. Also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got for myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men -- " concubines very many. So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me and stood by me. And whatever my eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion and reward for all my toil. Then I looked on all that my hands had done and the labor I had spent in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after the wind and a feeding on it, and there was no profit under the sun.