Meditations from the Book of
Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 The words of the preacher, the son of David,
king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the
preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What is man gained
by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes
and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun
rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where
it rises. The wind blows to the south,
and goes around to the north. Around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns. All streams run to the
sea, but the sea is not full. To the place where the streams
flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness.
A man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with
seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what
will be, And what has been done is what will be done, And there
is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it
is said, See, this is new? It has been already in the ages
before us. There is no remembrance of former
things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet
to be among those who come after. I, the preacher, have been king
over Israel and Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek and
to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. I have
seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all
is vanity and is striving after wind. I said in my heart, I have
acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before
me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart to know
wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceive that this also
is but a striving after wind, for in much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2. I said
in my heart, Come now, I will test you with pleasure. Enjoy
yourself. But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad,
and of pleasure, what use is it? I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards
for myself. I made myself gardens and parks,
and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself
pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought
male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house.
I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than
any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for
myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces.
I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight
of the children of man. So I became great, and surpassed
all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with
me, and whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept
my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all
my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered
all that my hands had done, and the toil I had expended in doing
it, and behold all was vanity and a striving after wind, and
there was nothing to be gained under the sun. So I turned to consider wisdom
and madness and folly. Then I saw that there is more
gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light
than in darkness. The wise person has his eyes
in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived
that the same event happens to all of them. Then I said in my
heart, What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then
have I been so very wise? And I said in my heart that this
also is vanity. For of the wise is of the fool
there is no enduring remembrance, Seeing that in the days to come
all will have been long forgotten, How the wise dies just like the
fool. So I hated life, because what
is done under the sun Was grievous to me, for all is vanity and
a striving after wind. I hated all my toil in which
I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man
who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise
or a fool. Yet he will be master of all
for which I toiled. This also is vanity. So I turned
about, and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of
my labors under the sun. Because sometimes a person who
has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything
to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also
is vanity, and a great evil. What has a man from all the toil
and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For
all his days are full of sorrows, and his work is of vexation. Even in the night his heart does
not rest. This also is vanity. There is
nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink
and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the
hand of God. For apart from Him, who can eat,
or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him,
God has given him wisdom, and knowledge, and joy. But to the
sinner, He has given the business of gathering and collecting,
only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity, and
striving after wind. Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 For everything
there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,
a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up what is planted, a time to kill, and a time to
heal, a time to break down, and a time to build up, a time to
weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to
dance. A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together. A time to embrace, and a time
to refrain from embracing. A time to seek, and a time to
lose. A time to keep, and a time to
cast away. A time to tear, and a time to
sew. A time to keep silence, and a
time to speak. A time to love, and a time to
hate, a time of war and a time for peace. What gain has a worker
from his toil? I have seen the business that
God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has
made everything beautiful in its time, yet so that he cannot
find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceive
that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and
to do good as long as they live. Also that everyone should eat
and drink and take pleasure in all his toil. This is God's gift
to man. I perceive 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. That which is, already has been. That which is to be, already
has been. Moreover, 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. I
said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked,
for there is a time for every matter and for every work. I
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. For 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. All go to one place. All are
from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the
spirit of man goes upward, and the spirit of the beast goes
down into the earth? So 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? Ecclesiastes chapter 4 Again
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. And I thought the dead who are
already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
But better than both is he who has not yet been, and has not
seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Then I saw
that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of
his neighbor. This also is vanity in a striving
after wind. Better is a handful of quietness
than two hands full of toil in a striving after wind. Again,
I saw vanity under the sun. One 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. Two are better than
one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if
they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is
alone when he falls, and is not another to lift him up. Again,
if two lie together, they keep warm. But how can one keep warm
alone? And though a man might prevail
against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A three-fold
cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes chapter 5. Guard 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. Be 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. When you vow a vow to God, do
not delay paying it, for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what
you vow. It is better that you should
not vow than that you should vow and not pay. He who loves
money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth
with his income. This also is vanity. What advantage
has their owner? but to see them with his eyes. Sweet is the sleep of a laborer,
whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich
will not let him sleep. There is a grievous evil that
I have seen under the sun. Riches were kept by their owner
to his hurt, and those riches were lost in a bad venture. As
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. This 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? Moreover all his days he eats
in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and anger. Behold,
what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and
find enjoyments 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, everyone else 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. For
he will not much remember the days of his life, because God
keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 There
is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on
mankind, a 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. All the toil of man is for his
mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage
has a wise man over the fool? Better is the sight of the eyes
than the wandering of the appetite. This also is vanity and a striving
after win. The more words the more vanity. And what is the advantage to
man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives a 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? Ecclesiastes chapter 7 A good
name is better than precious ointment, and the days of death
than the day of birth. It 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.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart
is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the
house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better for a man to hear
the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. For as
the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of
the fools. This also is vanity. Better is
the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is
better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to
become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. Say not,
Why were the former days better than these? For it is not from
wisdom that you ask this. Consider the work of God. Who
can make straight what He has made crooked? In 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. In 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 evil doing. Wisdom gives strength
to the wise man, more than ten rulers who are in a city. Surely
there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never
sins. Do not take to heart all the
things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing
you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed
others. 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. See, this alone I found, that
God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. Ecclesiastes chapter 8 Because
a sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the
heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. Though
a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life,
yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because
they fear before him. But it will not be well with
the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because
he does not fear before God. Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 But all
this I lay to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and
the wise in their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is
love or hate, man does not know, both are before him. This is
an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event
happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children
of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while
they live. And after that they go to the
dead. But he who is joined with all
the living has hope. For a living dog is better than
a dead lion. For the living know that they
will die, but the dead know nothing. Their love and their hate and
their envy have already perished. And forever they have no more
share in all that is done under the sun. Go, eat your bread with
joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. for God has already
approved what you do. Let your garments be always white,
let not oil be lacking on your head. Enjoy life with the wife
whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given
you under the sun, because that is your portion in life, and
in your toilet which you toil under the sun. Whatever your
hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work,
or thought, or knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol in which you
are going. Again I saw that under the sun
the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,
nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor
to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them
all. For man does not know his time,
like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that
are caught in a snare. So the children of man are snared
in an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. I have also
seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great
to me. There was a little city with
few men in it, and a great king came against it and besieged
it. building great siege works against
it. But there was found in it a poor,
wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one
remembered that poor man. But I say, that wisdom is better
than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words
are not heard. The words of the wise, heard,
and quiet, are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons
of war, but one sinner destroys much good. Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 If the
iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use
more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed. If the serpent
bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the charmer. The words of a wise man's mouth
win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning
of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his
talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words. Woe to you, O land, when your
king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning. Happy are
you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and
your princes feast at the proper time. For strength, and not for
drunkenness. Through sloth the roof sinks
in, And through indolence the house leaks. Even in your thoughts
do not curse the king, Nor in your bedroom curse the rich,
For a bird of the air will carry your voice, Or some winged creature
tell the matter. Ecclesiastes Chapter 11 Cast
your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.
If a tree falls to the south or to the north, in a place where
the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind
will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. In
the morning sow your seed, in the evening withhold not your
hand, for you do not know which will prosper this or that, or
whether both alike will be good. Light is sweet, and it is pleasant
for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the
days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your
youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.
Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes, but
know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 Remember
also your Creator in the days of your youth. Before the evil
days come and the years draw near, of which you will say,
I have no pleasure in them. Before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return
after the rain, because man is going to his eternal home, and
the mourners go about the streets. Before the silver cord is snapped,
or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at
the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. and the dust
returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God
who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the
preacher, all is vanity. Besides being wise, the preacher
also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging
many proverbs with great care. The preacher sought to find words
of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words
of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the
collected sayings. They are given by one shepherd.
My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there
is no end, and much study is the weariness of the flesh. The
end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will
bring every deed into judgment. with every secret thing, whether
good or evil. Yeah. an an an you you and an Oooooooooooooooo Yeah.