Seest thou not, that they which be diligent in their business stand before kings, and not among the simple people?

Why wilt thou set thine eye upon the thing, which suddenly vanisheth away? For riches make themselves wings, and take their flight like an Eagle into the air.

If thou wilt say, "I knew not of it"; Thinkest thou that he which made the hearts, doth not consider it? And that he which regardeth thy soul, seeth it not? Shall not he recompense every man according to his works?

First, make up thy work that is without, and look well unto that which thou hast in the field, and then build thine house.

These also are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah gathered together.

He that can not rule himself, is like a city which is broken down, and hath no walls.

This generation which is like a horse-leech, hath two daughters; the one is called "fetch hither," and the other "bring hither."

Such is the way also of a wife that breaketh wedlock, which wipeth her mouth like as when she hath eaten, and sayeth, "As for me, I have done no harm."

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

A Lion which is king of beasts, and giveth place to no man;

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

There will I tarry for thee, my love, with mine host and with my chariots, which shall be no fewer than Pharaoh's.

My love is mine, and I am his, which feedeth among the lilies,

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

Thou art a well of gardens, a well of living waters, which run down from Lebanon.

My love is mine, and I am his, which feedeth among the lilies.

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.

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 navel is like a round goblet, which is never without drink. Thy womb is like a heap of wheat, set about with lilies;

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 that I might find thee without, and kiss thee, whom I love as my brother which sucked my mother's breasts: and that thou wouldest not be offended,

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amos, which he saw upon Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

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.

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.

How happeneth it then that the righteous city, which was full of equity, is become unfaithful as an whore? Righteousness dwelt in it, but now murder.

Immediately was it full of idols also, even works of your own hands, which ye yourselves have fashioned, and your fingers have made.

which casteth down the high looks of presumptuous persons, and bringeth low the pride of man, and the LORD only shall be exalted in that day.

Then, then shall man cast away his gods of silver and gold - which he nevertheless had made to honour them - unto moles and bats

Which used to speak on this manner: "Let him make haste now, and go forth with his work, that we may see it! Let that counsel of the holy one of Israel come, and draw nigh, that we may know it!"

Woe be unto them that call evil good, and good evil: which make darkness light, and light darkness, that make sour sweet, and sweet sour.

Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a hot coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with the tongs,

It happened in the time of Ahaz the son of Jotham, which was the son of Uzziah, king of Judah: that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to besiege it, but won it not.

Then because of the abundance of milk, he shall make butter and eat it. So that every one which remaineth in the land, shall eat butter and honey.

Behold, the Lord shall bring mighty and great floods of water upon them: namely, the king of the Assyrians with all his power. Which shall pour out his furiousness upon every man, and run over all their banks.

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.

Woe be unto you that make unrighteous laws, and devise things, which be too hard for to keep:

Woe be also unto Assyria, which is a staff of my wrath, in whose hand is the rod of my punishment.

The voice of the noise of thy horses, O daughter of Gallim, shall be heard unto Laish and to Anathoth, which also shall be in trouble.

Then shall the Gentiles enquire after the root of Jesse, which shall be set up for a token unto the Gentiles; for his dwelling shall be glorious.

At the same time shall the LORD take in hand again, to conquer the remnant of his people which are left alive: From the Assyrians, Egyptians, Arabians, Ethiopians, Elamites, Chaldeans, Antiochians and Islands of the sea.

This is the heavy burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see.

For lo, I shall bring up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver, nor be desirous of gold.

Which when he is wroth, smiteth the people with durable strokes, and in his wonders he persecuteth them, and tameth them continually.

Is this he that made the world in a manner waste, and laid the cities to the ground, which let not his prisoners go home?"

Woe is my heart for Moab's sake. They fled unto the city of Zoar, which is like a fair young bullock of three years old; they went up to Luhith, weeping. The way toward Horonaim was full of lamentation for the hurt.

The suburbs also of Heshbon were made waste, and the princes of the Gentiles hewed down the vineyards of Sibmah, which were planted with noble grapes, and spread unto Jazer, and went unto the end of the desert; whose branches stretched their fellows forth beyond the sea.

But now the LORD sayeth thus: In three years, which shall be as the years of a hired servant, shall the glory of Moab be turned into confusion throughout all his multitude, which is very great. And as for the remnant of them, they shall be small and feeble.

And he shall be as one that gathereth up corn in the harvest, which cutteth his handful with the sickle, and when one gathereth the sheaves together in the valley, of Rephaim.

And shall not turn to the altars that are the work of his own hands, neither shall he look upon groves and images, which his fingers have wrought.

At the same time shall their strong cities be desolate, like as were once the forsaken plows and corn, which they forsook, for fear of the children of Israel.

Woe be to the multitude of much people, which shall make a sound like the noise of the sea; and the violence of the nations which shall rage like the rushing in of many waters.

Woe be unto the land under the shadow of wings, which is beyond the waters of Ethiopia:

which sendeth her message over the sea in ships of reeds upon the water. Get ye hence, ye speedy messengers, to a nation that is scattered abroad and robbed of that they had: a fearful nation from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled.

In that time shall there be a present brought to the LORD of Hosts: even a people that is scattered abroad, and robbed of that they had - that same people which hat been fearful from their beginning hitherto; a nation trodden down by little and little, whose land the floods have spoiled. To the place of the name of the LORD of Hosts: even to the mount Zion.

Then shall the Egyptians be like unto women, afraid and astounded, at the motion of the hands which the LORD of Hosts shall shake over them.

The land of Judah also shall make the Egyptians afraid, whoso doth but speak upon it, shall put them in fear: And that because of the counsel which the LORD of Hosts hath devised against them.

Is not that the glorious city, which hath been of long antiquity? Whose natives dwelling far off, commend her so greatly?

Open ye the gates, that the righteous people which keep the truth may enter in.

And thou, which art the doer and hast the matter in hand: shall provide for peace, even the peace that men hope for in thee.

Their harvest shall be burnt; their wives, which were their beauty when they came forth, shall be defiled. For it is a people without understanding, and therefore he that created them, shall not favour them; and he that made them, shall not be merciful to them.

Then shall the great trumpet be blown, so that those which have been destroyed in the Assyrian's land, and those that be scattered abroad in Egypt, shall come and worship the LORD at Jerusalem, upon the holy mount.

And as for the fading flower, the glory of his pomp, which is upon the top of the plenteous valley: it shall happen unto him, as to an untimely fruit before the harvest come. Which as soon as it is seen, is by and by devoured, before it come well in a man's hand.

Whom then shall such one teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand the thing that he heareth? For they are as ignorant as young children, which are weeded from suck or taken from the breasts.

Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye mockers that rule the LORD's people, which is at Jerusalem.

This and such like things come of the LORD of Hosts which is marvelous in counsel, and great in righteousness.

For the LORD shall give you a hard-sleeping spirit, and close your eyes. Your Prophets also, and heads which should see; them shall he cover.

And all visions shall be unto you, as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, "Read thou, in it." And he sayeth, "I cannot read it, for it is shut."

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD, "Forsomuch as this people, when they be in trouble, do honor me with their mouth, and with their lips, whereas their heart nevertheless is far from me; and the fear which they owe unto me, that turn they to men's laws and doctrines;

Woe be unto them that seek so deep, to hide their imagination before the LORD, which rehearse their counsels in the darkness, and say, "Who seeth us, or who knoweth us?"

such as labour to draw men unto sin; and that deceive him which reproveth them in the gate; and such as turn good persons to vanity.

They also which have been of an erroneous spirit shall come to understanding, and they that have been scornful shall learn doctrine."

And your destruction shall be like as an earthen pot, which breaketh no man touching it, yea and breaketh so sore, that a man shall not find a shiver of it to fetch fire in, or to take water withal out of the pit."

A thousand of you shall flee for one, or at the most for five, which do but only give you evil words: until ye be desolate, as a ship mast upon a high mountain, and as a beacon upon a hill.

yea, thine oxen and Mules that till the ground, shall eat good fodder which is purged with the fan.

His breath is like a vehement flood of water, which goeth up to the throat. That he may take away the people, which have turned themselves unto vanity, and the bridle of error, that lieth in other folks' jaws.

Then shall the Assyrians fear also because of the voice of the LORD, which shall smite him with the rod.

And it shall come to pass that whithersoever he goeth the rod shall cleave unto him which the LORD shall lay upon him, with tabrets and harps: and with a great war shall he fight against his host.

For the fire of pain is ordained from the beginning: yea, even for kings it is prepared. This hath the LORD set in the deep, and made it wide: the burning whereof is fire and much wood. The breath of the LORD, which is a river of brimstone, doth kindle it.