Every thing hath a time; yea, all that is under the heaven, hath his convenient season.

The thing that is past, is out of remembrance; Even so the things that are for to come, shall no more be thought upon among them that come after.

I myself, the Preacher, being king of Israel and Jerusalem,

Therefore two are better than one, for they may well enjoy the profit of their labour.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Let us hear the conclusion of all things: Fear God, and keep his commandments, for that toucheth all men;

All this hath he ordained marvelous goodly, to every thing his due time. He hath planted ignorance also in the hearts of men, that they should not find out the ground of his works, which he doth from the beginning to the end.

For what else hath a man, of all the labor that he taketh under the Sun?

For they that be living, know that they shall die: but they that be dead, know nothing, neither deserve they anymore. For their memorial is forgotten,

Remember thy maker in thy youth, before the days of adversity come, and or the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, "I have no pleasure in them";

Whatsoever thou takest in hand to do, that do with all thy power: for among the dead, where thou goest unto, there is neither work, counsel, knowledge nor wisdom.

All is but vanity - sayeth the Preacher - all is but plain vanity.

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh for to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it is thy ignorance. For then God will be angry at thy voice, and destroy all the works of thine hands.

The end of a thing is better than the beginning. The patient of spirit is better than the high minded.

The thing that hath been, cometh to pass again; and the thing that hath been done, again is done - there is nothing new under the Sun.

The Sun ariseth, the sun goeth down, and returneth to his place, that he may there rise up again.

The wind goeth toward the South and turneth unto the North, fetcheth his compass, whirleth about, and goeth forth and returneth again to his circuits from whence he did come.

All things are so hard, that no man can express them. The eye is not satisfied with sight; the ear is not filled with hearing.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh.

All floods run into the sea, and yet the sea is not filled: for look, unto what place the waters run, thence they come again.

And why? Whereas are many dreams and many words, there are also divers vanities: but look that thou fear God.

So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that among all the things which are under the Sun, I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.

Is there anything, whereof it may be said, "Lo, this is new?" For it was long ago in the times that have been before us.

applied my mind to seek out and search for the knowledge of all things that are done under heaven. Such travail and labor hath God given to the children of men, to exercise themselves therein.

Thus I have considered all the things that come to pass under the Sun, and lo, they are all but vanity and vexation of mind.

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

For where much wisdom is, there is also great travail and disquietness; and the more knowledge a man hath, the more is his care.

for thereunto I applied my mind: that I might know what were wisdom and understanding, what were error and foolishness. And I perceived that this also was but a vexation of mind:

The crooked cannot be made straight, and the faults cannot be numbered.

All these things have I considered, and applied my mind unto every work that is under the Sun: how one man hath lordship upon another to his own harm.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, "Lo, I am come to a 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,

"One handful," sayeth he, "is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail."

If thou seest the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withal, so that equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou at such judgment, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together.

For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life to him that have it in possession.

A babbler of his tongue is no better than a serpent that stingeth without hissing.

For man knoweth not his time, but like as the fish are taken with the angle and as the birds are caught with the snare: Even so are men taken in the perilous time, when it cometh suddenly upon them.

Say not thou, "What is the cause that the days of the old time were better than they that be now?" For that were no wise question.

A time to win, and a time to lose; A time to spare, and a time to spend;

The words out of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.

There is one man, no more but himself alone, having neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of his careful travail, his eyes cannot be satisfied with riches. Yet, doth he not remember himself, and say, "For whom do I take such travail? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life?" This is also a vain and miserable thing.

Wisdom is better than riches; yea, much more worth than the eyesight.

For I have oft seen the ungodly brought to their graves, and fallen down from the high and glorious place; insomuch that they were forgotten in the city where they were had in so high and great reputation. This is also a vain thing.

All the labour that man taketh is for himself, and yet his desire is never filled after his mind.

Moreover, I turned me, and behold yet another vanity under the Sun.

A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.

What else hath a man that doth anything, but weariness and labour?

I made gorgeous fair works. I builded me houses, and planted vineyards.

Use well the time of prosperity and remember the time of misfortune: For God maketh one by the other, so that a man can find nothing else.

A time to cut in pieces, and a time to sew together; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Consider the work of God, how that no man can make the thing straight, which he maketh crooked.

Therefore I commend gladness, because a man hath no better thing under the Sun, than to eat and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall he have of his labour all the days of his life, which God giveth him under the Sun.

A poor child being wise, is better than an old king that doteth, and cannot beware in time to come.

So I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done under the Sun, and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed; and there was no man to comfort them or that would deliver and defend them from the violence of their oppressors.

A fool is so full of words, that a man cannot tell what end he shall make. Who will then warn him of it that shall follow after him?

The thing that hath been, is now; and the thing that is for to come, hath been afore time: for God restoreth again the thing that was past.

Woe be unto thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is but a child, and whose princes are early at their banquets.

His diligence was to find out acceptable words, right scripture, and the words of truth.

And in the city there was found a poor man - but he was wise - which with his wisdom delivered the city: yet was there no body, that had any respect for such a simple man.

Then thought I in my mind, "God shall separate the righteous from the ungodly, and then shall be the time and judgment of all counsels and works."

But though an evil person offend a hundredth times, and have a long life: yet am I sure, that it shall go well with them that fear God, because they have him before their eyes.

I communed with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appear as though they were beasts.

If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up.

Thus began I to be weary of my life, in so much that I could away with nothing that is done under the Sun, for all was but vanity and vexation of mind:

The whole land also with the fields and all that is therein, is in subjection and bondage unto the king.

Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.

For oft times they perish with his great misery and trouble: and if he have a child it getteth nothing.

But well is thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust.

For the words of the wise are like pricks and nails that go through, wherewith men are kept together: for they are given of one shepherd only.

And so I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world; and that of such a fashion that I suffered not my eyes to sleep neither day nor night.

Yet is there a vanity upon earth: there be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly; Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing.

For what hath the wise more than the fool? What helpeth it the poor, that he knoweth to walk before the living?

For all these things purposed I in my mind to seek out. The righteous and wise, yea and their servants also are in the hand of God: and there is no man that knoweth either love or hate, but all things are before them.

And look whatsoever mine eyes desired, I let them have it: and wherein soever my heart delighted, or had any pleasure, I withheld it not from it. Thus my heart rejoiced in all that I did, and this I took for the portion of all my travail.

Yea, I was weary of all my labour, which I had taken under the Sun, because I should be fain to leave them unto another man, that cometh after me.

Through slothfulness the balks fall down, and through idle hands it raineth in at the house.

This wisdom have I seen also under the Sun, and me thought it a great thing.

Again, as for the ungodly, it shall not be well with him, neither shall he prolong his days: but even as a shadow, so shall he be that feareth not God.

For as touching the travail and carefulness which God hath given unto men, I see that he hath given it them, to be exercised in it.

A wise man's counsel that is followed in silence, is far above the crying of a captain among fools.

Then said I, "Wisdom is better than strength." Nevertheless, a simple man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

There was a little city, and a few men within it: so there came a great king and besieged it, and made great bulwarks against it.

As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. (v17) When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do

I considered also that whatsoever God doth, it continueth forever, and that nothing can be put unto it, nor taken from it: And that God doth it to the intent that men should fear him.

All the days of his life also must he eat in the dark, with great carefulness, sickness and sorrow.

Because now that evil works are not hastily punished, the heart of man giveth himself over unto wickedness.

Take not heed unto every word that is spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

Wisdom giveth more courage unto the wise, than ten mighty men of the city.

So I perceived, that in these things there is nothing better for a man, then to be merry and to do well so long as he liveth.

when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and when the strong men shall bow themselves; when the millers stand still, because they be so few, and when the sight of the windows shall wax dim;

The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit, this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind.

Whereas many riches are, there are many also that spend them away. And what pleasure more hath he that possesseth them, saving that he may look upon them with his eyes?

when the doors in the streets shall be shut, and when the voice of the miller shall be laid down; when men shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and when all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

The beginning of his talking is foolishness, and the last word of his mouth is great madness.

It is good for thee to take hold of this, and not to let that go out of thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape them all.

I made me orchards and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all manner fruits.

And I found, that a woman is bitterer than death: for she is a very angle, her heart is a net, and her hands are chains. Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner will be taken with her.

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the breath of the beast that goeth down into the earth?

When men shall fear in high places, and be afraid in the streets; when the Almond tree shall be despised, the grasshopper born out, and when great poverty shall break in; when man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

This is a miserable plague, that he shall go away even as he came. What helpeth him then, that he hath labored in the wind?

I made pools of water, to water the green and fruitful trees withal.

Moreover, I saw under the sun ungodliness in the stead of judgment, and iniquity instead of righteousness.

All is but vanity - sayeth the preacher - all is but plain vanity.

Then said I thus in my heart, "Now go to, I will take mine ease and have good days." But lo, that was vanity also:

Then turned I me to consider wisdom, error and foolishness: for what is he among men, that might be compared to me the king in such work?

before the sun, the light, the moon and stars be darkened, and or the clouds turn again after the rain;

I gathered silver and gold together, even a treasure of kings and lands. I provided me singers and women which could play of instruments, to make man mirth and pastime. I gat me drinking cups also and glasses.

Send thy victuals over the waters, and so shalt thou find them after many years.

Before the silver lace be taken away, and or the golden band be broken; or the pot be broken at the well, and the wheel upon the cistern;

These two things also have I considered in the time of vanity: that the just man perisheth for his righteousness' sake, and the ungodly liveth in his wickedness.

The same preacher was not wise alone, but taught the people knowledge also: he gave good heed, sought out the ground and set forth many parables.

Shortly, I was greater and in more worship, than all my predecessors in Jerusalem. For wisdom remained with me:

For all that a man eateth and drinketh, yea whatsoever a man enjoyeth of all his labor, the same is a gift of God.

The labour of the foolish is grievous unto them, while they know not how to go in to the city.

Meat maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merry; but unto money are all things obedient.

Yet is there a sore plague, which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession.

Dead flies corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink. Even so, oft times, he that hath been had in estimation for wisdom and honour is abhorred because of a little foolishness.

I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.

But when I considered all the works that my hands had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therein: Lo, all was vanity and vexation of mind, and nothing of any value under the Sun.

Be glad then, O thou young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart be merry in thy young days; follow the ways of thine own heart, and the lust of thine eyes: but be thou sure, that God shall bring thee into judgment for all these things.

Again, when two sleep together, they are warm: but how can a body be warm alone?

Now, like as thou knowest not the way of the wind, nor how the bones are filled in a mother's womb: Even so thou knowest not the works of God, which is the workmaster of all.

There is a time to be born, and a time to die. There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up the thing, that is planted;

be neither too unrighteous also nor too foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

yea, and so deep that I might not reach unto her.

Therefore be thou neither too righteous nor over wise, that thou perish not:

A labouring man sleepeth sweetly, whether it be little or much that he eateth; but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Is it not better then for a man to eat and drink, and his soul to be merry in his labour? Yea I saw that this also was a gift of God:

Like as he came naked out of his mother's womb, so goeth he thither again, and carryeth nothing away with him of all his labour.

They go all unto one place, for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turn unto dust again.

For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end.

If thou make a vow unto God, be not slack to perform it. As for foolish vows, he hath no pleasure in them.

He giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him; whether it be wisdom, understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weariness and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shall be given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, yea a very disquietness and vexation of mind.

The light is sweet, and a pleasant thing is it for the eyes to look upon the Sun.

He that regardeth the wind, shall not sow; and he that hath respect unto the clouds, shall not reap.

A time to slay, and a time to make whole; A time to break down, and a time to build up;

It is better to go into a house of mourning, than into a banquet house: For there is the end of all men, and he that is living taketh it to heart.

and let not thine heart speak anything rashly before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.

For what getteth a man of all the labor and travail of his mind, that he taketh under the Sun,

Therefore me think it a better and fairer thing, a man to eat and drink, and to be refreshed of all his labour that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his life which God giveth him: for this is his portion.

Cease not thou therefore with thy hands to sow thy seed, whether it be in the morning or in the evening: for then knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, and if they both take, it is the better.

And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness, as far as light doth darkness.

Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothing better for a man, than to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing that shall come after him?

Put away displeasure out of thine heart, and remove evil from thy body: for childhood and youth is but vanity.

Give part sven days, and also upon the eighth, for thou knowest not what misery shall come upon earth.

If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.

For the wise are ever as little in remembrance as the foolish, and all the days for to come shall be forgotten, yea the wise man dieth as well as the fool.

But he that diggeth up a pit, shall fall therein himself; and whoso breaketh down the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

Who is wise? Who hath knowledge to make an answer? Wisdom maketh a man's face to shine, but malice putteth it out of favour.

I see servants ride upon horses, and princes going upon their feet as it were servants.

A doting fool thinketh, that every man doth as foolishly as himself.

When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And when the tree falleth, whether it be toward the South or North, in what place soever it fall, there it lieth.

Another plague is there, which I have seen under the sun; namely, the ignorance that is commonly among princes:

Then thought I in my mind, "If it happeneth unto the fool as it doth unto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdom?" So I confessed within my heart, that this also was but vanity.

Someone cometh out of prison, and is made a king; and another which is born in the kingdom, cometh unto poverty.

If a man live many years, and be glad in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, which shall be many: And when they come, all things shall be but vanity.

It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy the heart is joyful.

insomuch that I said unto laughter, "Thou art mad," and to mirth, "What doest thou?"

For unto whomsoever God giveth riches, goods and power, he giveth it him to enjoy it, to take it for his portion, and to be refreshed of his labour: this is now the gift of God.

For where much carefulness is, there are many dreams: and where many words are, there men may hear fools.

Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind.

Whoso removeth stones shall have travail withal; and he that heweth wood, shall be hurt therewith.

When an iron is blunt, and the point not sharpened, it must be whet again, and that with might. Even so doth wisdom follow diligence.

Neither is there any man that hath power over the spirit, to keep still the spirit, nor to have any power in the time of death: it is not he also that can make an end of the battle, neither may ungodliness deliver him that meddleth withall.

Forsomuch as a man should weary himself with wisdom, with understanding and opportunity, and yet be fain to leave his labours unto another, that never sweat for them. This is also a vain thing and a great misery.

I understood of all the works of God, that it is not possible for a man, to attain unto works that are done under the Sun: and though he bestow his labour to seek them out, yet can he not reach unto them: yea, though a wise man would undertake to know them, yet might he not find them.

I applied my mind also to knowledge, and to seek out science, wisdom and understanding: to know the foolishness of the ungodly, and the error of doting fools.

in that a fool sitteth in great dignity, and the rich are set down beneath.

If thou promise anything, pay it; for better it is that thou make no vow than that thou shouldest promise, and not pay.

Use thy self to live joyfully with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy life which is but vanity, that God hath given thee under the Sun; all the days of thy vanity. For that is thy portion in this life, of all thy labor and travail that thou takest under the Sun.

For who will eat or go more lustily to his work than I?

Wherefore I judged those that are dead, to be more happy than such as be alive.

All these things have I proved because of wisdom: For I thought to be wise, but she went farther from me than she was before;

but heaviness, sorrow and disquietness all the days of his life? Insomuch that his heart cannot rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing?

It is better to give ear to the chastening of a wise man, than to hear the song of fools.

The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

There is yet a plague under the Sun, and it is a general thing among men:

And I perceived, that all men living under the Sun, go with the second child, that cometh up in the stead of the other.

For thine own heart knoweth, that thou thyself also hast oft times spoken evil by other men.

Whoso doeth wrong, maketh a wise man to go out of his wit, and destroyeth a gentle heart.

For he thinketh not much how long he shall live, forsomuch as God filleth his heart with gladness.

So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Sun:

For who knoweth, whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? And yet shall he be lord of all my labours, which I with such wisdom have taken under the Sun. Is not this a vain thing?

For wisdom is better than harness: but one unthrifty alone destroyeth much good.

Go thou thy way then, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with gladness, for thy works please God.

Among a thousand men I have found one, but not one woman among all.

Yea, him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seeth not the miserable works that are done under the Sun.

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man what shall happen after him under the Sun?

Behold - sayeth the preacher - this have I diligently searched out and proved, that I might come by knowledge: which as yet I seek, and find it not.

For everything will have opportunity and judgment, and this the thing that maketh men full of carefulness and sorrow.

The heart of the wise is in the mourning house; but the heart of the foolish is in the house of mirth.

Among all things that come to pass under the Sun, this is a mystery, that it happeneth unto all alike. This is the cause also that the hearts of men are full of wickedness, and mad foolishness is in their hearts, as long as they live, until they die.

Or dust be turned again unto earth from whence it came, and or the spirit return unto God, which gave it.

Many things there be that increase vanity, and what hath a man else?

For the laughing of fools is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. And that is but a vain thing.

Keep the king's commandment, I warn thee, and the oath that thou hast made unto God.

Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"

Whoso keepeth the commandment, shall feel no harm: but a wise man's heart discerneth time and manner.

And why? A man knoweth not what is for to come: for who will tell him?

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight, and see thou continue in no evil thing: for whatsoever it pleaseth him, that doeth he.

For there is not one just upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

And why? As long as a man liveth, he is careless: for a quick dog, say they, is better than a dead lion.

These are the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.

It happeneth unto one as unto another; It goeth with the righteous as with the ungodly; with the good and clean as with the unclean; with him that offereth as with him that offereth not; like as it goeth with the virtuous, so goeth it also with the sinner; As it happeneth unto the perjured, so happeneth it also unto him that is afraid to be foresworn.

If a man beget a hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet cannot enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

so that they be neither loved, hated nor envied: neither have they anymore part in the world, in all that is done under the Sun.

Yea, though he lived two thousand years, yet hath he no good life. Come not all to one place?

Moreover, he seeth not the Sun, and knoweth of no rest neither here nor there:

For he cometh to naught, and goeth his way into darkness, and his name is forgotten.

A wise man's heart is upon the righthand, but a fool's heart is upon the left.

Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head want none ointment.

Be not hastily angry in thy mind, for wrath resteth in the bosom of a fool.

He that loveth money, will never be satisfied with money: and whoso delighteth in riches, shall have no profit thereof. Is not this also a vain thing?

A good name is more worth than a precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.

So I turned me unto other things under the Sun, and I saw that in running it helpeth not to be swift; in battle it helpeth not to be strong; to feeding it helpeth not to be wise; to riches, it helpeth not to be suttle; to be had in favour, it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in time and fortune.

One generation passeth away, another cometh, but the earth abideth still.

One may be overcome, but two may make resistance: A threefold cable is not lightly broken.

Therefore beware, my son, that above these thou make them not many and innumerable books, nor take divers doctrines in hand, to weary thy body withal.

For God shall judge all works and secret things, whether they be good or evil.

For it happeneth unto men as it doth unto beasts, and as the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, they have both one manner of breath, so that - in this - a man hath no preeminence above a beast, but all are subdued unto vanity.

Lo, this only have I found, that God made man just and right, but they seek divers subtleties.

Be not hasty with thy mouth,