1Chapter
Everything Is Futile
1The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it hurries back to the place where it rises. 6Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles. 7All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. 9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. 10Can one say about anything, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us. 11There is no remembrance of those who came before; and of those who will come after there will also be no remembrance by those who follow them.
2“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Absolute futility. Everything is futile.” 3What does a person gain for all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 4A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5The sun rises and the sun sets; panting, it hurries back to the place where it rises. 6Gusting to the south, turning to the north, turning, turning, goes the wind, and the wind returns in its cycles. 7All the streams flow to the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8All things are wearisome, more than anyone can say. The eye is not satisfied by seeing or the ear filled with hearing. 9What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. 10Can one say about anything, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us. 11There is no remembrance of those who came before; and of those who will come after there will also be no remembrance by those who follow them.
The Limitations of Wisdom
12I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13I applied my mind to examine and explore through wisdom all that is done under heaven. God has given people this miserable task to keep them occupied. 14I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.
15What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.
18For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
15What is crooked cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.
16I said to myself, “See, I have amassed wisdom far beyond all those who were over Jerusalem before me, and my mind has thoroughly grasped wisdom and knowledge.” 17I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly; I learned that this too is a pursuit of the wind.
18For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.
2Chapter
The Emptiness of Pleasure
1I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
The Emptiness of Possessions
4I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. 8I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. 9So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. 10All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. 11When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
The Relative Value of Wisdom
12Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor be like? He will do what has already been done. 13And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. 14The wise person has eyes in his head,
but the fool walks in darkness.
Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both. 15So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile. 16For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise person dies just like the fool? 17Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
The Emptiness of Work
18I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the one who comes after me. 19And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20So I began to give myself over to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 23For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.
24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him? 26For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
24There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him? 26For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
3Chapter
The Mystery of Time
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.
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.
The Mystery of Injustice and Death
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?
4Chapter
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.
The Loneliness of Wealth
4I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
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.
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.
5Chapter
Caution in God’s Presence
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.
The Realities of Wealth
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.
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.
6Chapter
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?
7All of a person’s labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
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?
7All of a person’s labor is for his stomach, yet the appetite is never satisfied.
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?
7Chapter
Wise Sayings
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?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything that will come after him.
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything that will come after him.
Avoiding Extremes
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.
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.
What the Teacher Found
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.”
8Chapter
Wisdom, Authorities, and Inequities
1Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.
2Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God. 3Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. 4For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. 6For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person’s troubles are heavy on him. 7Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen? 8No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. 9All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.
10In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they did those things. This too is futile. 11Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil. 12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him. 13However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.
14There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile. 15So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night), 17I observed all the work of God and concluded that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.
2Keep the king’s command because of your oath made before God. 3Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don’t persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. 4For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. 6For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person’s troubles are heavy on him. 7Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen? 8No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. 9All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm.
10In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they did those things. This too is futile. 11Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil. 12Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him. 13However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.
14There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile. 15So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
16When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one’s eyes do not close in sleep day or night), 17I observed all the work of God and concluded that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.
9Chapter
Enjoy Life Despite Death
1Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: The righteous, the wise, and their works are in God’s hands. People don’t know whether to expect love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them. 2Everything is the same for everyone: There is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so also it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who takes an oath, so also for the one who fears an oath. 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live; after that they go to the dead. 4But there is hope for whoever is joined with all the living, since a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. There is no longer a reward for them because the memory of them is forgotten. 6Their love, their hate, and their envy have already disappeared, and there is no longer a portion for them in all that is done under the sun.
7Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. 10Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
7Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. 10Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
The Limitations of Wisdom
11Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them. 12For certainly no one knows his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.
13I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me: 14There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it. 15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
17The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.
13I have observed that this also is wisdom under the sun, and it is significant to me: 14There was a small city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege works against it. 15Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
17The calm words of the wise are heeded more than the shouts of a ruler over fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much good.
10Chapter
The Burden of Folly
1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;
so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. 2A wise person’s heart goes to the right,
but a fool’s heart to the left. 3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,
and he shows everyone he is a fool. 4If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post,
for calmness puts great offenses to rest.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. 7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness; 14yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? 15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city. 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness. 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. 20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:
6The fool is appointed to great heights, but the rich remain in lowly positions. 7I have seen slaves on horses, but princes walking on the ground like slaves.
8The one who digs a pit may fall into it, and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. 9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them; the one who splits logs may be endangered by them. 10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer. 12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly, but the end of his speaking is evil madness; 14yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell anyone what will happen after him? 15The struggles of fools weary them, for they don’t know how to go to the city. 16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth and your princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness. 18Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks. 19A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life happy, and money is the answer for everything. 20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry the message, and a winged creature may report the matter.
11Chapter
Invest in Life
1Send your bread on the surface of the water,
for after many days you may find it. 2Give a portion to seven or even to eight,
for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth. 3If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or the north,
the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4One who watches the wind will not sow,
and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5Just as you don’t know the path of the wind,
or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman,
so also you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. 6In the morning sow your seed,
and at evening do not let your hand rest,
because you don’t know which will succeed,
whether one or the other,
or if both of them will be equally good. 7Light is sweet,
and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 8Indeed, if someone lives many years,
let him rejoice in them all,
and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many.
All that comes is futile. 9Rejoice, young person, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the desire of your eyes;
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. 10Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
12Chapter
The Twilight of Life
1So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:
Before the days of adversity come,
and the years approach when you will say,
“I have no delight in them”; 2before the sun and the light are darkened,
and the moon and the stars,
and the clouds return after the rain; 3on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind grain cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly, 4the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint. 5Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry has no effect;
for the mere mortal is headed to his eternal home,
and mourners will walk around in the street; 6before the silver cord is snapped,
and the gold bowl is broken,
and the jar is shattered at the spring,
and the wheel is broken into the well; 7and the dust returns to the earth as it once was,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”
8“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.”
The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion
9In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. 10The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.
12But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
12But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
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