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

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

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

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;

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

{The Ballad of Ballads of Solomon} O that thy mouth would give me a kiss!

For thy love is more pleasant than wine,

and that because of the good and pleasant savour. Thy name is sweet smelling ointment when it is shed forth; therefore do the maidens love thee.

Draw thou me unto thee; we will run after thee. The king hath brought me into his privy chamber: We will be glad and rejoice in thee, we think more of thy love than of wine. They that be righteous love thee.

Marvel not at me that I am so black: For why? The sun hath shined upon me. My mother's children had evil will at me, they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest the sheep, where thou maketh the rest at the noon day: for why shall I be like him that goeth wrong about the flocks of thy companions?

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

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes and hinds of the field, that ye wake not up my love nor touch her, till she be content herself.

Get us the foxes, yea the little foxes that hurt the vines, for our vines bear blossoms.

The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I said: Saw ye not him whom my soul loveth?

So when I was a little past them, I found him whom my soul loveth. I have gotten hold upon him, and will not let him go, until I bring him into my mother's house, and in to her chamber that bare me.

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the Roes, and Hinds of the field, that ye wake not up my love nor touch her, till she be content herself.

Who is this, that cometh up out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, as it were a smell of Myrrh, frankincense and all manner spices of the Apothecary?

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.

O that I might go to the mountain of Myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense, till the day break, and till the shadows be past away.

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.

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

Up thou North wind, come thou South wind, and blow upon my garden, that the smell thereof may be carried on every side: yea, that my beloved may come into my garden, and eat of the fruits and apples that grow therein.

so that I stood up to open unto my beloved. My hands dropped with Myrrh, and the Myrrh ran down my fingers upon the lock.

So the watchmen that went about the city found me, smote me, and wounded me: Yea they that kept the walls, took away my kerchief from me.

I charge you therefore, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him how that I am sick for love.

Who is thy love above other lovers, O thou fairest among women? Or what can thy love do, more than other lovers, that thou chargest us so straightly?

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.

Whither is thy love gone then, O thou fairest among women; whither is thy love departed, that we may seek him with thee?

My love is gone down into his garden, unto the sweet smelling beds, that he may refresh himself in the garden, and gather flowers.

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.

But one is my dove, my darling. She is the only beloved of her mother, and dear unto her that bare her. When the daughters saw her, they said, she was blessed: Yea the Queens and concubines praised her.

What is she, this that peepeth out as the morning, fair as the moon, excellent as the sun, glorious as an army of men with their banners?

Turn again, turn again, O thou Shulamite; turn again, turn again, that we may look upon thee. What pleasure have ye more in the Shulamite, than when she danceth among the men of war?

That head that standeth upon thee is like Carmel; the hair of thy head is like the king's purple folden up in plates.

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,

if I took thee, and brought thee into my mother's house - that thou mightest teach me, and that I might give thee drink of spiced wine and of the sweet sap of my pomegranates.

I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye wake not up my love, nor touch her, till she be content herself. What is she, this that cometh up from the wilderness, and leaneth upon her love?

I am the same that waked thee up among the apple trees, where thy mother bare thee, where thy mother brought thee in to the world.

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.

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then was I as one that hath found favour in his sight.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; this vineyard delivered he unto the keepers, that every one for the fruit thereof should give him a thousand pieces of silver.

Thou that dwellest in the gardens, O let me hear thy voice, that my companions may hearken to the same.

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.

For they shall be ashamed of the gods that you longed for. And you shall be put to shame for the idols and grove gardens that ye have chosen.

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

And as for the glory of your graven images, it shall be turned to dry straw, and he that made them to a spark. And they shall both burn together, so that no man shall be able to quench them.

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw in a vision, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

It shall come to pass in the last days that the mount of the house of the LORD, shall be set in the top of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills: and all nations shall resort thereto.

And much people shall go and say: come, and let us go up to the hill of the LORD and unto the house of the God of Jacob: that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall come the law, and the word of God out of Jerusalem.

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.

For the day of the LORD of Hosts shall go over all pride and presumption, upon all them that exalt themselves, and shall bring them all down:

upon all ships of Tarshish, and upon everything that is glorious and pleasant to look upon.

And it shall bring down the pride of man, and lay man's presumptuousness full low, and the LORD shall only have the victory in that day.

that he may the better creep into the caves and rocks, and into the cliffs of hard stones, from the sight of the fearful judge and from the glory of his Majesty.

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.