Do not be among them who tipple with wine, - among them who are gluttons;

Hearken to thy father here, who begat thee, and despise not, when she is old, thy mother.

Rejoice shall thy father and thy mother, yea she, shall exult, who bare thee.

Who hath woe? Who hath outcry of pain? Who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? Who hath needless wounds? Who hath dullness of eyes?

They who tarry over wine, they who go in to search for mixed wine.

Deliver thou such as are being led forth to death, and, them who are tottering to slaughter, oh that thou wouldst hold back!

For, suddenly, shall arise their calamity; and, the misfortune of their years, who knoweth?

Lips, should one kiss with one who answereth in right words.

For better it be said to thee, Come up hither, - than that thou be put lower down before a noble, whom thine own eyes, have beheld.

As the cold of snow in the day of harvest, is a faithful messenger to them who send him, - when, the life of his masters, he restoreth.

Clouds and wind, when rain there is none, is the man who boasteth himself of a pretended gift.

A fountain fouled, a spring spoiled, is a righteous man tottering before one who is lawless.

A city broken down without a wall, is a man who hath no control over his own spirit.

One who cutteth off feet, one who drinketh down wrong, is he who sendeth a message by the hand of a dullard.

As an archer who woundeth every thing, so one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.

Wiser is the sluggard in his own eyes, than, seven persons, who can answer with judgment.

As he who layeth hold of the ears of a dog, is a passer-by, who giveth vent to his wrath over a quarrel, not his!

So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?

A false tongue, hateth them who are crushed by it, and, a flattering mouth, worketh occasion of stumbling.

The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?

A poor man, who oppresseth the helpless, is like a rain beating down, leaving no food.

They who forsake instruction, praise one who is lawless, while, they who keep instruction, are at strife with them.

Wicked men, consider not justice, but, they who seek Yahweh, consider everything.

Better a poor man walking in his integrity, than one who is crooked - turning two ways, though, he, be rich.

How happy the man who is ever circumspect, whereas, he that hardeneth his heart, shall fall into calamity.

He that robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, companion, is he to one who wasteth.

One who giveth to the poor, shall have no want, but, he that hideth his eyes, shall receive many a curse.

A man who loveth wisdom, gladdeneth his father, but, a companion of harlots, destroyeth wealth.

A man who flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth, a net, over his steps.

Who hath ascended the heavens and then descended? Who hath gathered the wind into his two hands? Who hath wrapped up the waters in a mantle? Who hath set up all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what the name of his son, when thou knowest?

Every saying of God is refined, A shield, is, he, to them who seek refuge in him.

Lest I be full, and deny, and say - Who is Yahweh? or lest I be impoverished and steal, and do violence to the Name of my God.

Do not give, to women, thy strength, nor thy ways, to them who ruin kings.

Lest he drink, and forget that which is decreed, and alter the plea of any who are sorely oppressed.

A virtuous woman, who can find? for, far beyond corals, is her worth.

There is, no remembrance, of the thing before, - nor, even of the things after, which shall be, will there be any remembrance, with them who shall come after.

Spake, I, in my heart, saying, As for me, lo! I have become great, and have gathered wisdom, beyond any one who hath been before me over Jerusalem, - and, my heart, hath seen much wisdom and knowledge:

I acquired, men-servants and women-servants, and, the children of the household, were mine, - also possessions, herds and flocks in abundance, were mine, beyond all who had been before me in Jerusalem;

So I became great, and increased, more than any one who had been before me in Jerusalem, - moreover, my wisdom, remained with me;

Thus turned, I, to look at wisdom, and madness and folly, - for what can the man do more who cometh after the king? save that which, already, men have done.

Therefore hated, I, all my toil, wherein I was toiling, under the sun, - in that I should leave it for the man who should come after me;

and who could know whether a, wise man, he would be or a foolish, and yet he would lord it over all my toil, wherein I had toiled and wherein I had acted wisely, under the sun, - even this, was vanity.

For here is a man, whose toil hath been with wisdom and with knowledge and with skill, - yet, to a man who hath not toiled therein, shall he leave it as his portion, even this, was vanity and a great vexation.

For who could eat and who could enjoy, so well as I?

For, to a man who is good before him, hath he given wisdom and knowledge and gladness, - whereas, to the sinner, he hath given employment, to gather and heap up, to give to one who is good before God, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of men, whether it, ascendeth, above, - or the spirit of the beast, whether it, descendeth, below, to the earth?

So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, - for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be after him?

So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, - more than the living, who were living, still;

and, as better than both, him who had not yet come into being, - who had not seen the vexatious work, which was done under the sun.

Here is one, without a second, even son or brother, he hath none, yet is there no end to all his toil, even his eye, is not satisfied with riches, - neither saith he For whom, am I toiling, and letting my soul want good? Even this, was vanity, yea a vexatious employment, it was!

For, if the one should fall, the other would raise up his companion, - but alas! for him who is alone when he falleth, with no second to raise him up!

Better a boy poor and wise, - than a king, old and stupid, who knoweth not how to take warning any longer.

I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, - that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other's place: -

There was no end to all the people, to all before whom he came, yet, they who should come later, would not rejoice in him, - surely, even this, was vanity, and a feeding on wind.

Even this, moreover, is an incurable evil, altogether as he came, so, shall he depart, - what profit then shall he have who toileth for the wind?

yet, as regardeth every man, to whom God hath given wealth and goods, and granted him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to find gladness in his toil, this, is, the gift of God.

A man to whom God giveth riches and gains and honour, so that nothing doth he lack for his soul - of all that he craveth, and yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof, but, a man unknown, eateth it, - this, was vanity, and, an incurable evil, it was.

For who knoweth what is good for a man throughout his life, for the number of the days of his life of vanity, seeing he will make them, like a shadow, - for who can tell a man, what shall be after him, under the sun?

Consider the work of God, - for who can straighten what he hath bent?

Far away, is that which hath been, - and deep, deep, who can find it out?

Who is really a wise man, and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? The wisdom of a man, lighteth up his countenance, but, by defiance of countenance, one is disfigured.

Where the word of a king is, there is power, - who then may say to him, What wouldst thou do?

For there is no one who knoweth what shall be, for, when it shall be, who will tell him?

No man, hath power over the spirit, to retain the spirit, and, none, hath power over the day of death, and there is no furlough in war, - neither shall lawlessness deliver them who are given thereto.

Though a sinner be committing wickedness a hundred times, and continuing long in his own way, yet I surely know that it shall be well to them who revere God, who stand in awe before him;

Here was a vain thing which was done upon the earth - that there were righteous men unto whom it happened according to the work of the lawless, and there were lawless men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the righteous, - I said, that, even this, was vanity.

When I gave my heart, to know wisdom, and to consider the business that was done upon the earth, then surely, by day and by night, there was one who suffered not his eyes, to sleep.

Every one, was like every one else, one destiny, had the righteous and the lawless, the good and the pure and the impure, and he that sacrificed, and he that did not sacrifice, - as the good man, so, the sinner, he that took an oath, as he who, of an oath, stood in fear.

Enjoy life, with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity, - for, that, is thy portion in life, and in thy toil wherewith, thou, art toiling under the sun.

The words of the wise, in quietness, are heard, - beyond the outcry of one who ruleth over dullards.

Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, - a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:

Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, - though no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh all.

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the men of might bow themselves, - and the grinders cease because they are few, and they who look through the windows are darkened;

And the dust return to the earth, as it was, - and, the spirit, return unto God, who gave it.

The watchmen who were going round in the city, found me, they smote me, wounded me, - The watchmen of the walls, took away my cloak from off me.

Oh that thou hadst been a very brother to me, who had sucked the breasts of my own mother, - Had I found thee without, I had kissed thee, Yea, folk would not have despised me!

THEYWho is this, coming up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? HEUnder the apple-tree, I roused thee, where thy mother, was in pain with thee, where she was in pain who gave thee birth!

SHEI, was a wall, and, my breasts, like towers, - Then, became I, in his eyes, one who did indeed find good content.

When ye enter to see my face, Who hath required this at your hand trampling my courts?

And the downfall of transgressors and sinners, shall be, together, - And, they who forsake Yahweh, shall be brought to an end;

For, a day of Yahweh of hosts, shall be - Upon every one who is high and lofty, - And upon every one who is lifted up, And he shall be brought low;

My people! children, are their tyrants, And, women, rule over them, - My people! they who should lead thee forward, are causing thee to stray, Thy pathways, have they destroyed,

Alas for them who join house to house, Field to field, bring they near, - Until there is no room, But ye are left to dwell alone in the midst of the land.

Alas, for them who rise early in the morning that strong drink, they may pursue, - Who follow on in the evening cool until with wine, they are heated;

Alas! for them Who draw on themselves punishment with cords of falsehood, - And as with waggon-bands, penalty:

Who say - Let his work quicken - let it hasten, That we may see, - And let the purpose of Israel's Holy One, draw near and come. That we may know!

Alas! for them Who call evil good and good evil, - Who put darkness for light and light for darkness, Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Alas for them Who are wise in their own eyes, - And in their own sight, are prudent.

Alas for them Who are heroes to drink wine, - And men of valour to mingle strong drink,

Who justify the lawless, for a bribe, - Whereas the righteousness of the righteous, they take from him.

Then heard I the voice of My Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said - Here am I - send me.

I will therefore long for Yahweh, Who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, - And will wait, for him.

Lo! I and the children whom Yahweh hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel, - from Yahweh of hosts, who is making his habitation in Mount Zion.

But, when they say unto you - Seek ye unto the necromancers and unto the wizards, who chirp, and who mutter, Should not u people seek, unto its God? In behalf of the living, should it seek unto the dead?

For there is no gloom to her who had been in anguish, In the former time, he brought into dishonour The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, In the latter time, hath he brought into honour The Lake-way over the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

the people who were walking in darkness, Have seen a great light, - The dwellers in a land death-shadowed, A light, hath shined upon them.

and the people shall all of them know it - Ephraim and the dweller in Samaria - Who in pride and insolence of heart, are saying:

And they who should have led this people forward have been causing them to stray, - And, they who are led of them are destroyed,

Alas! for them who ordain iniquitous decree, - And, busy writers, who make a business of writing mischief: