Ecclesiastes 3-7
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 3
1There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—
2A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
9What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?
10I have seen the task which God has given the sons of mankind with which to occupy themselves.
12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
13moreover, that every person who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—this is the gift of God.
14I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him.
15That which is, is what has already been, and that which will be has already been; and God seeks what has passed by.
16Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
17I said to myself, 'God will judge the righteous and the wicked,' for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.
18I said to myself regarding the sons of mankind, 'God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves.'
19For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility.
20All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.
21Who knows that the spirit of the sons of mankind ascends upward and the spirit of the animal descends downward to the earth?
22I have seen that nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?
Chapter 4
1Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them. 2So I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living. 3But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is futility and striving after wind.
5The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
6One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.
7Then I looked again at futility under the sun.
8There was a man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, 'And for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?' This too is futility, and it is an unhappy task.
9Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;
10for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up!
11Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?
12And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
13A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction—
14for he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him.
16There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.
Chapter 5
1Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2Do not be quick with your mouth or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. 3For the dream comes through much effort, and the voice of a fool through many words.
4When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
5It is better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.
6Do not let your speech cause you to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
7For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, fear God.
8If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.
9After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.
10One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.
11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look at them?
12The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.
13There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth being hoarded by its owner to his detriment.
14When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.
15As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
16This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person is born, so will he die. What then is the advantage for him who labors for the wind?
17All his life he also eats in darkness with great irritation, sickness, and anger.
18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
19Furthermore, as for every person to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also given him the opportunity to enjoy them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.
20For he will not often call to mind the years of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Chapter 6
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread among mankind: 2a person to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to enjoy these things, but a foreigner enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, 'Better the miscarriage than he, 4for a miscarriage comes in futility and goes into darkness; and its name is covered in darkness. 5It has not even seen the sun nor does it know it; yet it is better off than that man. 6Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—do not all go to one and the same place?'
7All a person’s labor is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8For what advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living?
9What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and striving after wind.
10Whatever exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he cannot dispute with the one who is mightier than he is.
11For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person?
12For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun?
Chapter 7
1A good name is better than good oil, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. 2It is better to go to a house of mourning Than to go to a house of feasting, Because that is the end of every person, And the living takes it to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, For when a face is sad a heart may be happy. 4The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise person Than for one to listen to the song of fools. 6For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool; And this too is futility. 7For oppression makes a wise person look foolish, And a bribe corrupts the heart. 8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit. 9Do not be eager in your spirit to be angry, For anger resides in the heart of fools. 10Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. 11Wisdom along with an inheritance is good, And an advantage to those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive. 13Consider the work of God, For who is able to straighten what He has bent?
15I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness.
16Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?
17Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them.
19Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20Indeed, there is not a righteous person on earth who always does good and does not ever sin.
21Also, do not take seriously all the words which are spoken, so that you do not hear your servant cursing you,
22for you know that even you have cursed others many times as well.
23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, 'I will be wise,' but wisdom was far from me.
24What has been is remote and very mysterious. Who can discover it?
25I directed my mind to know and to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of foolishness and the foolishness of insanity.
26And I discovered as more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.
27Behold, I have discovered this,' says the Preacher, 'by adding one thing to another to find an explanation,
28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.
29Behold, I have found only this, that God made people upright, but they have sought out many schemes.'
King James Version
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
6Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
Chapter 7
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 3
1There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven: 2a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; 3a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; 4a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; 5a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; 6a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; 8a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
9What does the worker gain from his struggles?
10I have seen the task that God has given the children of Adam to keep them occupied.
11He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end.
12I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life.
13It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts.
14I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him.
15Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. However, God seeks justice for the persecuted.
16I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness.
17I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work."
18I said to myself, "This happens so that God may test the children of Adam and they may see for themselves that they are like animals."
19For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile.
20All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.
21Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth?
22I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?
Chapter 4
1Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them. 2So I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive. 3But better than either of them is the one who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.
5The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh.
6Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.
7Again, I saw futility under the sun:
8There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. "Who am I struggling for," he asks, "and depriving myself of good things?" This too is futile and a miserable task.
9Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.
10For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.
11Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm?
12And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.
13Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer pays attention to warnings.
14For he came from prison to be king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.
16There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
Chapter 5
1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. 2Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words. 4When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. 5Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. 6Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? 7For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God.
8If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, don’t be astonished at the situation, because one official protects another official, and higher officials protect them.
9The profit from the land is taken by all; the king is served by the field.
10The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile.
11When good things increase, the ones who consume them multiply; what, then, is the profit to the owner, except to gaze at them with his eyes?
12The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich permits him no sleep.
13There is a sickening tragedy I have seen under the sun: wealth kept by its owner to his harm.
14That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.
15As he came from his mother’s womb, so he will go again, naked as he came; he will take nothing for his efforts that he can carry in his hands.
16This too is a sickening tragedy: exactly as he comes, so he will go. What does the one gain who struggles for the wind?
17What is more, he eats in darkness all his days, with much frustration, sickness, and anger.
18Here is what I have seen to be good: It is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward.
19Furthermore, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God,
20for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
Chapter 6
1Here is a tragedy I have observed under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity: 2God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy. 3A man may father a hundred children and live many years. No matter how long he lives, if he is not satisfied by good things and does not even have a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4For he comes in futility and he goes in darkness, and his name is shrouded in darkness. 5Though a stillborn child does not see the sun and is not conscious, it has more rest than he. 6And if a person lives a thousand years twice, but does not experience happiness, do not both go to the same place?
8What advantage then does the wise person have over the fool? What advantage is there for the poor person who knows how to conduct himself before others?
9Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
10Whatever exists was given its name long ago, and it is known what mankind is. But he is not able to contend with the one stronger than he.
11For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for mankind?
12For who knows what is good for anyone in life, in the few days of his futile life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell anyone what will happen after him under the sun?
Chapter 7
1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. 2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, since that is the end of all mankind, and the living should take it to heart. 3Grief is better than laughter, for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. 4The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure. 5It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person than to listen to the song of fools, 6for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile. 7Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the mind. 8The end of a matter is better than its beginning; a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit. 9Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry, for anger abides in the heart of fools. 10Don’t say, "Why were the former days better than these?" since it is not wise of you to ask this. 11Wisdom is as good as an inheritance and an advantage to those who see the sun, 12because wisdom is protection as silver is protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 13Consider the work of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?
15In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil.
16Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time?
18It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
19Wisdom makes the wise person stronger than ten rulers of a city.
20There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins.
21Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you,
22for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, "I will be wise," but it was beyond me.
24What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it?
25I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness.
26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap: her heart a net and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her.
27"Look," says the Teacher, "I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation,
28which my soul continually searches for but does not find: I found one person in a thousand, but none of those was a woman.
29Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes."
New Living Translation
Chapter 3
1For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. 2A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. 8A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
9What do people really get for all their hard work?
10I have seen the burden God has placed on us all.
11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
12So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can.
13And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
14And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him.
15What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
16I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt!
17I said to myself, 'In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.'
18I also thought about the human condition — how God proves to people that they are like animals.
19For people and animals share the same fate — both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless!
20Both go to the same place — they came from dust and they return to dust.
21For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?
22So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.
Chapter 4
1Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. 2So I concluded that the dead are better off than the living. 3But most fortunate of all are those who are not yet born. For they have not seen all the evil that is done under the sun.
7I observed yet another example of something meaningless under the sun.
8This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, 'Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?' It is all so meaningless and depressing.
9Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
10If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
11Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
13It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.
14Such a youth could rise from poverty and succeed. He might even become king, though he has been in prison.
15But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.
16Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless — like chasing the wind.
Chapter 5
1As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few.
4When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.
5It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.
6Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.
8Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
9Even the king milks the land for his own profit!
10Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
11The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth — except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!
13There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver.
14Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.
15We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.
16And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing — like working for the wind.
17Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud — frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
18Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.
19And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God.
20God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Chapter 6
1There is another serious tragedy I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity. 2God gives some people great wealth and honor and everything they could ever want, but then he doesn’t give them the chance to enjoy these things. They die, and someone else, even a stranger, ends up enjoying their wealth! This is meaningless — a sickening tragedy.
3A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead.
4His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name,
5and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man.
6He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else — well, what’s the use?
7All people spend their lives scratching for food, but they never seem to have enough.
8So are wise people really better off than fools? Do poor people gain anything by being wise and knowing how to act in front of others?
Chapter 7
1A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. 2Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies — so the living should take this to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. 4A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.
5Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.
6A fool’s laughter is quickly gone, like thorns crackling in a fire. This also is meaningless.
11Wisdom is even better when you have money. Both are a benefit as you go through life.
12Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
13Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
15I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people.
16So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?
17On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time?
18Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
21Don’t eavesdrop on others — you may hear your servant curse you.
22For you know how often you yourself have cursed others.
23I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts and actions. I said to myself, 'I am determined to be wise.' But it didn’t work.
24Wisdom is always distant and difficult to find.
25I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. I was determined to prove to myself that wickedness is stupid and that foolishness is madness.
27This is my conclusion,' says the Teacher. 'I discovered this after looking at the matter from every possible angle.
28Though I have searched repeatedly, I have not found what I was looking for. Only one out of a thousand men is virtuous, but not one woman!
29But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.'
English Standard Version
2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
9What gain has the worker from his toil?
10I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man 's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
12I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live;
13also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil — this is God 's gift to man.
14I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
15That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
16Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness.
17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.
18I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
19For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.
20All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.
21Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth?
22So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?
Chapter 4
1Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. 2And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. 3But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
7Again, I saw vanity under the sun:
8one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
9Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
10For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
11Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
12And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice.
14For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor.
15I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king 's place.
16There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Chapter 5
1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 2Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 3For a dream comes with much business, and a fool 's voice with many words.
4When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.
5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
6Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.
8If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
9But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.
10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
11When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
12Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.
13There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,
14and those riches were lost in a bad venture. And he is father of a son, but he has nothing in his hand.
15As he came from his mother 's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.
16This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?
17Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger.
18Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
19Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil — this is the gift of God.
20For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Chapter 6
1There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life 's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good — do not all go to the one place?
7All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.
8For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.
10Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he.
11The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?
12For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?
Chapter 7
1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. 2It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. 7Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. 10Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. 11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. 12For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. 13Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? 14In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
16Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
18It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
21Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
24That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
25I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.
26And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.
27Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things —
28which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.
29See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
New International Version
Chapter 3
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9What do workers gain from their toil?
10I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
18I also said to myself, "As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals.
19Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath ; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless.
20All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.
21Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"
Chapter 4
1Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter. 2And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. 3But better than both is the one who has never been born, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.
5Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
6Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
8There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless— a miserable business!
9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
13Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning.
14The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor.
16There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
2Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
3A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool.
4When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.
5It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
7Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
9The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
11As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?
12The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep.
13I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.
15Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.
16This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?
17All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
19Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.
20They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Chapter 6
1I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.
3A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.
4It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.
5Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—
6even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?
7Everyone’s toil is for their mouth, yet their appetite is never satisfied.
8What advantage have the wise over fools? What do the poor gain by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
9Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
10Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.
11The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?
Chapter 7
1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 3Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.
7Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
11Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.
12Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.
13Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
15In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
16Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself?
17Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time?
20Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
21Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you—
22for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23All this I tested by wisdom and I said, "I am determined to be wise"— but this was beyond me.
24Whatever exists is far off and most profound— who can discover it?
25So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.
26I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare.
27"Look," says the Teacher, "this is what I have discovered: "Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28while I was still searching but not finding— I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all.
29This only have I found: God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes."
New King James Version
Chapter 3
1To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
9What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?
10I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,
13and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.
15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.
18I said in my heart, “Concerning the condition of the sons of men, God tests them, that they may see that they themselves are like animals.”
19For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity.
20All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.
21Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?
22So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
Chapter 4
1Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter— On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
5 The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.
6 Better a handful with quietness Than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind.
8There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, “For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?” This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.
9Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
11Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
12Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
13Better a poor and wise youth Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
14For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
2Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.
3For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed—
5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
6Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?
7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
10He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
11When goods increase, They increase who eat them; So what profit have the owners Except to see them with their eyes?
12The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.
13 There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.
14But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.
15 As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.
16And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
17All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.
18Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
19As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God.
20For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.
Chapter 6
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction.
3If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he—
4for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.
5Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man,
6even if he lives a thousand years twice—but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?
7 All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.
8For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
10Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.
11Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better?
Chapter 7
1A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; 2Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart. 3Sorrow is better than laughter, For by a sad countenance the heart is made better. 4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools. 6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity. 7Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, And a bribe debases the heart. 8The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this. 11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it. 13Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
15I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
16 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
17Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.
19 Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.
20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.
21Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22For many times, also, your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.
23All this I have proved by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise”; But it was far from me.
24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, Who can find it out?
25 I applied my heart to know, To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, To know the wickedness of folly, Even of foolishness and madness.
26 And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets, Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her, But the sinner shall be trapped by her.
27Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “ Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason,
28Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found, But a woman among all these I have not found.
29Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”