The hay groweth, the grass cometh up, and herbs are gathered in the mountains.

When righteous men are in prosperity, then doth honour flourish; but when the ungodly come up, the state of men changeth.

When the ungodly are come up, men are fain to hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Where the righteous have the over hand, the people are in prosperity; but where the ungodly beareth rule, there the people mourn.

If a prince delight in lies, all his servants are ungodly.

All the words of God are pure and clean, for he is a shield unto all them that put their trust in him.

There are people that have a proud look, and cast up their eyelids.

This peoples' teeth are swords, and with their jawbones they consume and devour the simple of the earth, and the poor from among men.

There be three things that are never satisfied, and the fourth sayeth never, "Hoo." The hell, a woman's womb, and the earth hath never water enough. As for fire, it sayeth never, "Hoo."

There be four things in the earth, the which are very little: but in wisdom they exceed the wise.

The Emmets are but a weak people, yet gather they their meat together in the harvest.

The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their couches among the rocks.

These are the words of king Lemuel, and the Prophecy that his mother taught him.

give not over thy substance and mind unto women, which are the destruction even of kings.

Give strong drink unto such as are condemned to death, and wine unto those that mourn:

She feareth not that the cold of winter shall hurt her house, for all her household folks are double clothed.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

the ceilings of our house are of Cedar tree, and our balks of Cypress.

They hold swords every one, and are expert in war. Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night.

the pillars are of silver, the covering of gold, the seat of purple, the ground pleasantly paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem.

O how fair art thou, my love, how fair art thou? Thou hast doves' eyes, beside that which lieth hid within. Thy hairy locks are like the wool of a flock of goats that be shorn on Mount Gilead.

Thy teeth are like sheep that be clipped, which go first up from the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, and not one unfruitful among them.

Thy lips are like a rose colored ribbon, thy words are lovely: thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, within thine hairs.

Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes, which feed among the lilies.

O how fair are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse? Thy breasts are more pleasant than wine, and the smell of thine ointments passeth all spices.

Thou art a well kept garden, O my sister, my spouse, thou are a well kept watering spring, and a sealed well.

The fruits that sprout in thee are like a very Paradise of pomegranates with sweet fruits:

As I was asleep, and my heart waking, I heard the voice of my beloved, when he knocked. Open to me, said he, O my sister, my love, my darling, my dove: for my head is full of dew, and my locks of my hair are full of the night drops.

His head is the most fine gold, the locks of his hair are bushed, and brown as the evening;

His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the water brooks, as though they were washed with milk and set like pearls in gold.

His cheeks are like a garden bed, wherein the Apothecaries plant all manner of sweet things; His lips are like roses that drop sweet smelling Myrrh.

His hands are like gold rings, having enclosed the precious stone of Tarshish; His body is as the pure ivory, decked over with Sapphires.

His legs are as the pillars of Marble, set upon sockets of gold; His face is as Lebanon, and as the beauty of the Cedar trees.

Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have set me on fire! Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Gilead.

Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that be clipped, which go out of the washing place: where every one beareth two twins, and not one unfruitful among them.

Thy cheeks are like a piece of a pomegranate, within thy volupers.

There are threescore Queens, and fourscore concubines, and young women without number.

O how pleasant are thy treadings, with thy shoes, thou prince's daughter? The joint of thy thighs are like a fair jewel, which is wrought by a cunning work master;

Thy two breasts are like two twins of young roes.

Thy neck is as it were a tower of ivory; thine eyes are like the water pools in Heshbon, by the port of Bathrabbim. Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus.

O set me as a seal upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm: for love is mighty as the death, and jealousy as the hell. Her coals are of fire, and a very flame of the LORD:

so that many waters are not able to quench love, neither may the streams drown it. Yea, if a man would give all the good of his house for love, he should count it nothing.

Hear O heaven, and hearken O earth, for the LORD hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they are fallen away from me.

Alas for this sinful nation, which are expert in blasphemies; a seed of ungracious people, corrupt in their ways. They have forsaken the LORD; they have provoked the holy one of Israel unto anger, and are gone backward.

Wherefore should ye be plagued any more? For ye are ever falling away. The whole head is sick, and the heart is very heavy.

From the sole of the foot unto the head, there is no whole part in all your body: but all are wounds, botches, sores and stripes, which can neither be helped, bound up, mollified, nor eased with any ointment.

Your land lieth waste, your cities are burnt up, your enemies devour your land, and ye must be fain to stand, and look upon it: and it is desolate, as it were with enemies in a battle.

Offer me no more oblations, for it is but lost labour. I abhor your incense. I may not away with your new moons, your Sabbaths and solemn days. Your fastings are also in vain.

When ye hold out your hands, I will turn my eyes from you. And though ye make many prayers, yet will I hear nothing at all; for your hands are full of blood.

Thy princes are traitors and companions of thieves. They love gifts altogether, and gape for rewards. As for the fatherless, they help him not to his right, neither will they let the widows causes come before them.

For the transgressors and ungodly, and such as are become unfaithful unto the LORD, must altogether be utterly destroyed.

Ye shall be as an oak whose leaves are fallen away, and as a garden that hath no moistness.

For Jerusalem is overthrown, and Judah must fall to the ground, because that both their words and counsels are against the LORD, they provoke the presence of his Majesty unto anger.

Children are extortioners of my people, and women have rule of them. O my people, thy leaders deceive thee, and tread out the way of thy footsteps.

Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD, "Seeing the daughters of Zion are become so proud, and come in with stretched out necks, and with vain wanton eyes; seeing they come in tripping so nicely with their feet:

Then shall the remnant in Zion and the remnant at Jerusalem be called holy - namely, all such as are written among the living at Jerusalem -

Woe unto them that rise up early to use themselves in drunkenness, and yet at night are more superfluous with wine.

In those companies are harps and lutes, tabrets and pipes, and wine. But they regard not the work of the LORD, and consider not the operation of his hands.

Woe be unto them that are wise in their own sight, and think themselves to have understanding.

Woe be unto them that are cunning men to sup out wine and expert to set up drunkenness.

Their arrows are sharp, and their bows bent. Their horses' hoofs are like flint, and their cart wheels like a stormy wind.

For at the same time shall the LORD whistle for the flies that are about the water of Egypt, and for the bees in the Assyrian land.

And as for all hills that now are hewn down, thou shalt not come upon them, for fear of briers and thorns. But the cattle shall be driven thither, and the sheep shall feed there."

"Round with none of them, whosoever say, 'Yonder people are bound together.' Nevertheless fear them not, neither be afraid of them,

But lo, as for me, and the children which the LORD hath given me: we are a token and a wonder in Israel, for the LORD of Hosts' sake, which dwelleth upon the hill of Zion.

For all they which inform the people that they be in a right cause, such be deceivers. Such as men think also to be perfect among these, are but cast aways.

Therefore shall the LORD have no pleasure in their young men, neither favour their fatherless and widows. For they are all together hypocrites and wicked, and all their mouths speak folly. After all this shall not the LORD's wrath cease, but yet his hand shall be stretched out still.

wherethrough the poor are oppressed on every side, and the innocents of my people are therewith robbed of judgment: that widows may be your prey, and that ye may rob the fatherless.

for he sayeth, "Are not my princes all kings?

My hand hath found out the Hosts of the people, as it were a nest. And like as eggs, that were laid here and there, are gathered together: So do I gather all countries. And there is no man, that dare be so bold as to touch a feather, that dare open his mouth, or once whisper."