,this e,book was produced by ,david ,widger from etext #aeha prepared by ,dennis ,mc,carthy1 ,atlanta1 ,georgia and ,tad ,book1 student1 ,pontifical ,north ,american ,college1 ,rome4 ,,the ,,holy ,,bible ,translated from the ,latin ,vulgate ,diligently ,compared with the ,hebrew1 ,greek1 and ,other ,editions in ,divers ,languages ,,the ,,old ,,testament ,first ,published by the ,english ,college at ,douay ,a4,d4 #afji #afaj and ,,the ,,new ,,testament ,first ,published by the ,english ,college at ,rheims ,a4,d4 #aehb ,with ,annotations ,the ,whole ,revised and ,diligently ,compared with the ,latin ,vulgate by ,bishop ,richard ,challoner ,a4,d4 #agdi-ageb ,,ecclesiastes ,this ,book is called ,ecclesiastes1 or ,the ,preacher1 7in ,hebrew1 ,coheleth17 because in it1 ,solomon1 as an excellent preacher1 setteth forth the vanity of the things of this world3 to withdraw the hearts and affections of men from such empty toys4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #a ,the vanity of all temporal things4 #a3a4 ,the words of ,ecclesiastes1 the son of ,david1 king of ,jerusalem4 #a3b4 ,vanity of vanities1 said ,ecclesiastes3 vanity of vanities1 and all is vanity4 #a3c4 ,what hath a man more of all his labour1 that he taketh under the sun8 #a3d4 ,one generation passeth away1 and another generation cometh3 but the earth standeth for ever4 #a3e4 ,the sun riseth1 and goeth down1 and returneth to his place3 and there rising again1 #a3f4 ,maketh his round by the south1 and turneth again to the north3 the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about1 and returneth to his circuits4 #a3g4 ,all the rivers run into the sea1 yet the sea doth not overflow3 unto the place from whence the rivers come1 they return1 to flow again4 #a3h4 ,all things are hard3 man cannot explain them by word4 ,the eye is not filled with seeing1 neither is the ear filled with hearing4 #a3i4 ,what is it that hath been8 the same thing that shall be4 ,what is it that hath been done8 the same that shall be done4 #a3aj4 ,nothing under the sun is new1 neither is any man able to say3 ,behold this is new3 for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us4 #a3aa4 ,there is no remembrance of former things3 nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come1 shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end4 #a3ab4 ,i ,ecclesiastes was king over ,israel in ,jerusalem1 #a3ac4 ,and ,i proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun4 ,this painful occupation hath ,god given to the children of men1 to be exercised therein4 #a3ad4 ,i have seen all things that are done under the sun1 and behold all is vanity1 and vexation of spirit4 #a3ae4 ,the perverse are hard to be corrected1 and the number of fools is infinite4 #a3af4 ,i have spoken in my heart1 saying3 ,behold ,i am become great1 and have gone beyond all in wisdom1 that were before me in ,jerusalem3 and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely1 and ,i have learned4 #a3ag4 ,and ,i have given my heart to know prudence1 and learning1 and errors1 and folly3 and ,i have perceived that in these also there was labour1 and vexation of spirit1 #a3ah4 ,because in much wisdom there is much indignation3 and he that addeth knowledge1 addeth also labour4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #b ,the vanity of pleasures1 riches1 and worldly labours4 #b3a4 ,i said in my heart3 ,i will go1 and abound with delights1 and enjoy good things4 ,and ,i saw that this also was vanity4 #b3b4 ,laughter ,i counted error3 and to mirth ,i said3 ,why art thou vainly deceived8 #b3c4 ,i thought in my heart1 to withdraw my flesh from wine1 that ,i might turn my mind to wisdom1 and might avoid folly1 till ,i might see what was profitable for the children of men3 and what they ought to do under the sun1 all the days of their life4 #b3d4 ,i made me great works1 ,i built me houses1 and planted vineyards1 #b3e4 ,i made gardens1 and orchards1 and set them with trees of all kinds1 #b3f4 ,and ,i made me ponds of water1 to water therewith the wood of the young trees1 #b3g4 ,i got me menservants1 and maidservants1 and had a great family3 and herds of oxen1 and great flocks of sheep1 above all that were before me in ,jerusalem3 #b3h4 ,i heaped together for myself silver and gold1 and the wealth of kings1 and provinces3 ,i made me singing men1 and singing women1 and the delights of the sons of men1 cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine3 #b3i4 ,and ,i surpassed in riches all that were before me in ,jerusalem3 my wisdom also remained with me4 #b3aj4 ,and whatsoever my eyes desired1 ,i refused them not3 and ,i withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure1 and delighting itself in the things which ,i had prepared3 and esteemed this my portion1 to make use of my own labour4 #b3aa4 ,and when ,i turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought1 and to the labours wherein ,i had laboured in vain1 ,i saw in all things vanity1 and vexation of mind1 and that nothing was lasting under the sun4 #b3ab4 ,i passed further to behold wisdom1 and errors and folly1 7,what is man1 said ,i that he can follow the ,king his maker87 #b3ac4 ,and ,i saw that wisdom excelled folly1 as much as light differeth from darkness4 #b3ad4 ,the eyes of a wise man are in his head3 the fool walketh in darkness3 and ,i learned that they were to die both alike4 #b3ae4 ,and ,i said in my heart3 ,if the death of the fool and mine shall be one1 what doth it avail me1 that ,i have applied myself more to the study of wisdom8 ,and speaking with my own mind1 ,i perceived that this also was vanity4 #b3af4 ,for there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool forever1 and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion3 the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned4 #b3ag4 ,and therefore ,i was weary of my life1 when ,i saw that all things under the sun are evil1 and all vanity and vexation of spirit4 #b3ah4 ,again ,i hated all my application wherewith ,i had earnestly laboured under the sun1 being like to have an heir after me1 #b3ai4 ,whom ,i know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool1 and he shall have rule over all my labours with which ,i have laboured and been solicitous3 and is there anything so vain8 #b3bj4 ,wherefore ,i left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore under the sun4 #b3ba4 ,for when a man laboureth in wisdom1 and knowledge1 and carefulness1 he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man3 so this also is vanity1 and a great evil4 #b3bb4 ,for what profit shall a man have of all his labour1 and vexation of spirit1 with which he hath been tormented under the sun8 #b3bc4 ,all his days are full of sorrows and miseries1 even in the night he doth not rest in mind3 and is not this vanity8 #b3bd4 ,is it not better to eat and drink1 and to shew his soul good things of his labours8 and this is from the hand of ,god4 #b3be4 ,who shall so feast and abound with delights as ,i8 #b3bf4 ,god hath given to a man that is good in his sight1 wisdom1 and knowledge1 and joy3 but to the sinner he hath given vexation1 and superfluous care1 to heap up and to gather together1 and to give it to him that hath pleased ,god3 but this also is vanity1 and a fruitless solicitude of the mind4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #c ,all human things are liable to perpetual changes4 ,we are to rest on ,god's providence1 and cast away fruitless cares4 #c3a4 ,all things have their season1 and in their times all things pass under heaven4 #c3b4 ,a time to be born and a time to die4 ,a time to plant1 and a time to pluck up that which is planted4 #c3c4 ,a time to kill1 and a time to heal4 ,a time to destroy1 and a time to build4 #c3d4 ,a time to weep1 and a time to laugh4 ,a time to mourn1 and a time to dance4 #c3e4 ,a time to scatter stones1 and a time to gather4 ,a time to embrace1 and a time to be far from embraces4 #c3f4 ,a time to get1 and a time to lose4 ,a time to keep1 and a time to cast away4 #c3g4 ,a time to rend1 and a time to sew4 ,a time to keep silence1 and a time to speak4 #c3h4 ,a time of love1 and a time of hatred4 ,a time of war1 and a time of peace4 #c3i4 ,what hath man more of his labour8 #c3aj4 ,i have seen the trouble1 which ,god hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it4 #c3aa4 ,he hath made all things good in their time1 and hath delivered the world to their consideration1 so that man cannot find out the work which ,god hath made from the beginning to the end4 #c3ab4 ,and ,i have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice1 and to do well in this life4 #c3ac4 ,for every man that eateth and drinketh1 and seeth good of his labour1 this is the gift of ,god4 #c3ad4 ,i have learned that all the works which ,god hath made1 continue for ever3 we cannot add any thing1 nor take away from those things which ,god hath made that he may be feared4 #c3ae4 ,that which hath been made1 the same continueth3 the things that shall be1 have already been3 and ,god restoreth that which is past4 #c3af4 ,i saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness1 and in the place of justice iniquity4 #c3ag4 ,and ,i said in my heart3 ,god shall judge both the just and the wicked1 and then shall be the time of every thing4 #c3ah4 ,i said in my heart concerning the sons of men1 that ,god would prove them1 and shew them to be like beasts4 #c3ai4 ,therefore the death of man1 and of beasts is one1 and the condition of them both is equal3 as man dieth1 so they also die3 all things breathe alike1 and man hath nothing more than beast3 all things are subject to vanity4 ,man hath nothing more1 etc444 ,viz41 as to the life of the body4 #c3bj4 ,and all things go to one place3 of earth they were made1 and into earth they return together4 #c3ba4 ,who knoweth if the spirit of the children of ,adam ascend upward1 and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward8 ,who knoweth1 etc444 ,viz41 experimentally3 since no one in this life can see a spirit4 ,but as to the spirit of the beasts1 which is merely animal1 and become extinct by the death of the beast1 who can tell the manner it acts so as to give life and motion1 and by death to descend downward1 that is1 to be no more8 #c3bb4 ,and ,i have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work1 and that this is his portion4 ,for who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him8 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #d ,other instances of human miseries4 #d3a4 ,i turned myself to other things1 and ,i saw the oppressions that are done under the sun1 and the tears of the innocent1 and they had no comforter2 and they were not able to resist their violence1 being destitute of help from any4 #d3b4 ,and ,i praised the dead rather than the living3 #d3c4 ,and ,i judged him happier than them both1 that is not yet born1 nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun4 #d3d4 ,again ,i considered all the labours of men1 and ,i remarked that their industries are exposed to the envy of their neighbour3 so in this also there is vanity1 and fruitless care4 #d3e4 ,the fool foldeth his hands together1 and eateth his own flesh1 saying3 #d3f4 ,better is a handful with rest1 than both hands full with labour1 and vexation of mind4 #d3g4 ,considering ,i found also another vanity under the sun3 #d3h4 ,there is but one1 and he hath not a second1 no child1 no brother1 and yet he ceaseth not to labour1 neither are his eyes satisfied with riches1 neither doth he reflect1 saying3 ,for whom do ,i labour1 and defraud my soul of good things8 in this also is vanity1 and a grievous vexation4 #d3i4 ,it is better therefore that two should be together1 than one3 for they have the advantage of their society3 #d3aj4 ,if one fall he shall be supported by the other3 woe to him that is alone1 for when he falleth1 he hath none to lift him up4 #d3aa4 ,and if two lie together1 they shall warm one another3 how shall one alone be warmed8 #d3ab4 ,and if a man prevail against one1 two shall withstand him3 a threefold cord is not easily broken4 #d3ac4 ,better is a child that is poor and wise1 than a king that is old and foolish1 who knoweth not to foresee for hereafter4 #d3ad4 ,because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom3 and another born king is consumed with poverty4 #d3ae4 ,i saw all men living1 that walk under the sun with the second young man1 who shall rise up in his place4 #d3af4 ,the number of the people1 of all that were before him is infinite3 and they that shall come afterwards1 shall not rejoice in him3 but this also is vanity1 and vexation of spirit4 #d3ag4 ,keep thy foot1 when thou goest into the house of ,god1 and draw nigh to hear4 ,for much better is obedience1 than the victims of fools1 who know not what evil they do4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #e ,caution in words4 ,vows are to be paid4 ,riches are often pernicious3 the moderate use of them is the gift of ,god4 #e3a4 ,speak not any thing rashly1 and let not thy heart be hasty to utter a word before ,god4 ,for ,god is in heaven1 and thou upon earth3 therefore let thy words be few4 #e3b4 ,dreams follow many cares3 and in many words shall be found folly4 #e3c4 ,if thou hast vowed any thing to ,god1 defer not to pay it3 for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him3 but whatsoever thou hast vowed1 pay it4 #e3d4 ,and it is much better not to vow1 than after a vow not to perform the things promised4 #e3e4 ,give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin3 and say not before the angel3 ,there is no providence3 lest ,god be angry at thy words1 and destroy all the works of thy hands4 #e3f4 ,where there are many dreams1 there are many vanities1 and words without number3 but do thou fear ,god4 #e3g4 ,if thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor1 and violent judgments1 and justice perverted in the province1 wonder not at this matter3 for he that is high hath another higher1 and there are others still higher than these3 #e3h4 ,moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land subject to him4 #e3i4 ,a covetous man shall not be satisfied with money3 and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them3 so this also is vanity4 #e3aj4 ,where there are great riches1 there are also many to eat them4 ,and what doth it profit the owner1 but that he seeth the riches with his eyes8 #e3aa4 ,sleep is sweet to a labouring man1 whether he eat little or much3 but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep4 #e3ab4 ,there is also another grievous evil1 which ,i have seen under the sun3 riches kept to the hurt of the owner4 #e3ac4 ,for they are lost with very great affliction3 he hath begotten a son1 who shall be in extremity of want4 #e3ad4 ,as he came forth naked from his mother's womb1 so shall he return1 and shall take nothing away with him of his labour4 #e3ae4 ,a most deplorable evil3 as he came1 so shall he return4 ,what then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the wind8 #e3af4 ,all the days of his life he eateth in darkness1 and in many cares1 and in misery1 and sorrow4 #e3ag4 ,this therefore hath seemed good to me1 that a man should eat and drink1 and enjoy the fruit of his labour1 wherewith he hath laboured under the sun1 all the days of his life1 which ,god hath given him3 and this is his portion4 #e3ah4 ,and every man to whom ,god hath given riches1 and substance1 and hath given him power to eat thereof1 and to enjoy his portion1 and to rejoice of his labour3 this is the gift of ,god4 #e3ai4 ,for he shall not much remember the days of his life1 because ,god entertaineth his heart with delight4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #f ,the misery of the covetous man4 #f3a4 ,there is also another evil1 which ,i have seen under the sun1 and that frequent among men3 #f3b4 ,a man to whom ,god hath given riches1 and substance1 and honour1 and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he desireth3 yet ,god doth not give him power to eat thereof1 but a stranger shall eat it up4 ,this is vanity and a great misery4 #f3c4 ,if a man beget a hundred children1 and live many years1 and attain to a great age1 and his soul make no use of the goods of his substance1 and he be without burial3 of this man ,i pronounce1 that the untimely born is better than he4 #f3d4 ,for he came in vain1 and goeth to darkness1 and his name shall be wholly forgotten4 #f3e4 ,he hath not seen the sun1 nor known the distance of good and evil3 #f3f4 ,although he lived two thousand years1 and hath not enjoyed good things3 do not all make haste to one place8 #f3g4 ,all the labour of man is for his mouth1 but his soul shall not be filled4 #f3h4 ,what hath the wise man more than the fool8 and what the poor man1 but to go thither1 where there is life8 #f3i4 ,better it is to see what thou mayst desire1 than to desire that which thou canst not know4 ,but this also is vanity1 and presumption of spirit4 #f3aj4 ,he that shall be1 his name is already called3 and it is known1 that he is a man1 and cannot contend in judgment with him that is stronger than himself4 #f3aa4 ,there are many words that have much vanity in disputing4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #g ,prescriptions against worldly vanities3 mortification1 patience1 and seeking wisdom4 #g3a4 ,what needeth a man to seek things that are above him1 whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his life1 in all the days of his pilgrimage1 and the time that passeth like a shadow8 ,or who can tell him what shall be after him under the sun8 #g3b4 ,a good name is better than precious ointments3 and the day of death than the day of one's birth4 #g3c4 ,it is better to go to the house of mourning1 than to the house of feasting3 for in that we are put in mind of the end of all1 and the living thinketh what is to come4 #g3d4 ,anger is better than laughter3 because by the sadness of the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected4 ,anger444 ,that is1 correction1 or just wrath and zeal against evil4 #g3e4 ,the heart of the wise is where there is mourning1 and the heart of fools where there is mirth4 #g3f4 ,it is better to be rebuked by a wise man1 than to be deceived by the flattery of fools4 #g3g4 ,for as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot1 so is the laughter of a fool3 now this also is vanity4 #g3h4 ,oppression troubleth the wise1 and shall destroy the strength of his heart4 #g3i4 ,better is the end of a speech than the beginning4 ,better is the patient man than the presumptuous4 #g3aj4 ,be not quickly angry3 for anger resteth in the bosom of a fool4 #g3aa4 ,say not3 ,what thinkest thou is the cause that former times were better than they are now8 for this manner of question is foolish4 #g3ab4 ,wisdom with riches is more profitable1 and bringeth more advantage to them that see the sun4 #g3ac4 ,for as wisdom is a defence1 so money is a defence3 but learning and wisdom excel in this1 that they give life to him that possesseth them4 #g3ad4 ,consider the works of ,god1 that no man can correct whom he hath despised4 #g3ae4 ,in the good day enjoy good things1 and beware beforehand of the evil day3 for ,god hath made both the one and the other1 that man may not find against him any just complaint4 #g3af4 ,these things also ,i saw in the days of my vanity3 ,a just man perisheth in his justice1 and a wicked man liveth a long time in his wickedness4 #g3ag4 ,be not over just3 and be not more wise than is necessary1 lest thou become stupid4 ,over just444 ,viz41 ,by an excessive rigour in censuring the ways of ,god in bearing with the wicked4 #g3ah4 ,be not overmuch wicked3 and be not foolish1 lest thou die before thy time4 ,be not overmuch wicked444 ,that is1 lest by the greatness of your sin you leave no room for mercy4 #g3ai4 ,it is good that thou shouldst hold up the just1 yea and from him withdraw not thy hand3 for he that feareth ,god1 neglecteth nothing4 #g3bj4 ,wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of the city4 #g3ba4 ,for there is no just man upon earth1 that doth good1 and sinneth not4 #g3bb4 ,but do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken3 lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee4 #g3bc4 ,for thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often spoken evil of others4 #g3bd4 ,i have tried all things in wisdom4 ,i have said3 ,i will be wise3 and it departed farther from me1 #g3be4 ,much more than it was3 it is a great depth1 who shall find it out8 #g3bf4 ,i have surveyed all things with my mind1 to know1 and consider1 and seek out wisdom and reason3 and to know the wickedness of the fool1 and the error of the imprudent3 #g3bg4 ,and ,i have found a woman more bitter than death1 who is the hunter's snare1 and her heart is a net1 and her hands are bands4 ,he that pleaseth ,god shall escape from her3 but he that is a sinner1 shall be caught by her4 #g3bh4 ,lo this have ,i found1 said ,ecclesiastes1 weighing one thing after another1 that ,i might find out the account1 #g3bi4 ,which yet my soul seeketh1 and ,i have not found it4 ,one man among a thousand ,i have found1 a woman among them all ,i have not found4 #g3cj4 ,only this ,i have found1 that ,god made man right1 and he hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions4 ,who is as the wise man8 and who hath known the resolution of the word8 ,of the word444 ,that is1 of this obscure and difficult matter4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #h ,true wisdom is to observe ,god's commandments4 ,the ways of ,god are unsearchable4 #h3a4 ,the wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance1 and the most mighty will change his face4 #h3b4 ,i observe the mouth of the king1 and the commandments of the oath of ,god4 #h3c4 ,be not hasty to depart from his face1 and do not continue in an evil work3 for he will do all that pleaseth him3 #h3d4 ,and his word is full of power3 neither can any man say to him3 ,why dost thou so8 #h3e4 ,he that keepeth the commandment1 shall find no evil4 ,the heart of a wiser man understandeth time and answer4 #h3f4 ,there is a time and opportunity for every business1 and great affliction for man3 #h3g4 ,because he is ignorant of things past1 and things to come he cannot know by any messenger4 #h3h4 ,it is not in man's power to stop the spirit1 neither hath he power in the day of death1 neither is he suffered to rest when war is at hand1 neither shall wickedness save the wicked4 #h3i4 ,all these things ,i have considered1 and applied my heart to all the works that are done under the sun4 ,sometimes one man ruleth over another to his own hurt4 #h3aj4 ,i saw the wicked buried3 who also when they were yet living were in the holy place1 and were praised in the city as men of just works3 but this also is vanity4 #h3aa4 ,for because sentence is not speedily pronounced against the evil1 the children of men commit evils without any fear4 #h3ab4 ,but though a sinner do evil a hundred times1 and by patience be borne withal1 ,i know from thence that it shall be well with them that fear ,god1 who dread his face4 #h3ac4 ,but let it not be well with the wicked1 neither let his days be prolonged1 but as a shadow let them pass away that fear not the face of the ,lord4 #h3ad4 ,there is also another vanity1 which is done upon the earth4 ,there are just men to whom evils happen1 as though they had done the works of the wicked3 and there are wicked men1 who are as secure as though they had the deeds of the just3 but this also ,i judge most vain4 #h3ae4 ,therefore ,i commended mirth1 because there was no good for a man under the sun1 but to eat1 and drink1 and be merry1 and that he should take nothing else with him of his labour in the days of his life1 which ,god hath given him under the sun4 ,no good for a man1 etc444 ,some commentators think the wise man here speaks in the person of the libertine3 representing the objections of these men against divine providence1 and the inferences they draw from thence1 which he takes care afterwards to refute4 ,but it may also be said1 that his meaning is to commend the moderate use of the goods of this world1 preferably to the cares and solicitudes of worldlings1 their attachment to vanity and curiosity1 and presumptuously diving into the unsearchable ways of divine providence4 #h3af4 ,and ,i applied my heart to know wisdom1 and to understand the distraction that is upon earth3 for there are some that day and night take no sleep with their eyes4 #h3ag4 ,and ,i understood that man can find no reason of all those works of ,god that are done under the sun3 and the more he shall labour to seek1 so much the less shall he find3 yea1 though the wise man shall say1 that he knoweth it1 he shall not be able to find it4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #i ,man knows not certainty that he is in ,god's grace4 ,after death no more work or merit4 #i3a4 ,all these things have ,i considered in my heart1 that ,i might carefully understand them3 there are just men and wise men1 and their works are in the hand of ,god3 and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love1 or hatred3 #i3b4 ,but all things are kept uncertain for the time to come1 because all things equally happen to the just and to the wicked1 to the good and to the evil1 to the clean and to the unclean1 to him that offereth victims1 and to him that despiseth sacrifices4 ,as the good is1 so also is the sinner3 as the perjured1 so he also that sweareth truth4 #i3c4 ,this is a very great evil among all things that are done under the sun1 that the same things happen to all men3 whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with evil1 and with contempt while they live1 and afterwards they shall be brought down to hell4 #i3d4 ,there is no man that liveth always1 or that hopeth for this3 a living dog is better than a dead lion4 #i3e4 ,for the living know that they shall die1 but the dead know nothing more1 neither have they a reward any more3 for the memory of them is forgotten4 ,know nothing more444 ,viz41 as to the transactions of this world1 in which they have now no part1 unless it be revealed to them2 neither have they any knowledge or power now of doing any thing to secure their eternal state1 7if they have not taken care of it in their lifetime37 nor can they now procure themselves any good1 as the living always may do1 by the grace of ,god4 #i3f4 ,their love also1 and their hatred1 and their envy are all perished1 neither have they any part in this world1 and in the work that is done under the sun4 #i3g4 ,go then1 and eat thy bread with joy1 and drink thy wine with gladness3 because thy works please ,god4 #i3h4 ,at all times let thy garments be white1 and let not oil depart from thy head4 #i3i4 ,live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest1 all the days of thy unsteady life1 which are given to thee under the sun1 all the time of thy vanity3 for this is thy portion in life1 and in thy labour wherewith thou labourest under the sun4 #i3aj4 ,whatsoever thy hand is able to do1 do it earnestly3 for neither work1 nor reason1 nor wisdom1 nor knowledge shall be in hell1 whither thou art hastening4 #i3aa4 ,i turned me to another thing1 and ,i saw that under the sun1 the race is not to the swift1 nor the battle to the strong1 nor bread to the wise1 nor riches to the learned1 nor favour to the skilful3 but time and chance in all4 #i3ab4 ,man knoweth not his own end3 but as fishes are taken with the hook1 and as birds are caught with the snare1 so men are taken in the evil time1 when it shall suddenly come upon them4 #i3ac4 ,this wisdom also ,i have seen under the sun1 and it seemed to me to be very great3 #i3ad4 ,a little city1 and few men in it3 there came against it a great king1 and invested it1 and built bulwarks round about it1 and the siege was perfect4 #i3ae4 ,now there was found in it a man poor and wise1 and he delivered the city by his wisdom1 and no man afterward remembered that poor man4 #i3af4 ,and ,i said that wisdom is better than strength3 how then is the wisdom of the poor man slighted1 and his words not heard8 #i3ag4 ,the words of the wise are heard in silence1 more than the cry of a prince among fools4 #i3ah4 ,better is wisdom1 than weapons of war3 and he that shall offend in one1 shall lose many good things4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #aj ,observations on wisdom and folly1 ambition and detraction4 #aj3a4 ,dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment4 ,wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly4 #aj3b4 ,the heart of a wise man is in his right hand1 and the heart of a fool is in his left hand4 #aj3c4 ,yea1 and the fool when he walketh in the way1 whereas he himself is a fool1 esteemeth all men fools4 #aj3d4 ,if the spirit of him that hath power1 ascend upon thee1 leave not thy place3 because care will make the greatest sins to cease4 #aj3e4 ,there is an evil that ,i have seen under the sun1 as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince3 #aj3f4 ,a fool set in high dignity1 and the rich sitting beneath4 #aj3g4 ,i have seen servants upon horses3 and princes walking on the ground as servants4 #aj3h4 ,he that diggeth a pit1 shall fall into it3 and he that breaketh a hedge1 a serpent shall bite him4 #aj3i4 ,he that removeth stones1 shall be hurt by them3 and he that cutteth trees1 shall be wounded by them4 #aj3aj4 ,if the iron be blunt1 and be not as before1 but be made blunt1 with much labour it shall be sharpened3 and after industry shall follow wisdom4 #aj3aa4 ,if a serpent bite in silence1 he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly4 #aj3ab4 ,the words of the mouth of a wise man are grace3 but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong4 #aj3ac4 ,the beginning of his words is folly1 and the end of his talk is a mischievous error4 #aj3ad4 ,a fool multiplieth words4 ,a man cannot tell what hath been before him3 and what shall be after him1 who can tell him8 #aj3ae4 ,the labour of fools shall afflict them that know not how to go to the city4 #aj3af4 ,woe to thee1 ,o land1 when thy king is a child1 and when the princes eat in the morning4 #aj3ag4 ,blessed is the land1 whose king is noble1 and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment1 and not for riotousness4 #aj3ah4 ,by slothfulness a building shall be brought down1 and through the weakness of hands1 the house shall drop through4 #aj3ai4 ,for laughter they make bread1 and wine that the living may feast3 and all things obey money4 #aj3bj4 ,detract not the king1 no not in thy thought2 and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber3 because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice1 and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #aa ,exhortation to works of mercy1 while we have time1 to diligence in good1 and to the remembrance of death and judgment4 #aa3a4 ,cast thy bread upon the running waters3 for after a long time thou shalt find it again4 #aa3b4 ,give a portion to seven1 and also to eight3 for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth4 #aa3c4 ,if the clouds be full1 they will pour out rain upon the earth4 ,if the tree fall to the south1 or to the north1 in what place soever it shall fall1 there shall it be4 ,if the tree fall1 etc444 ,the state of the soul is unchangeable when once she comes to heaven or hell3 and a soul that departs this life in the state of grace1 shall never fall from grace3 as on the other side1 a soul that dies out of the state of grace1 shall never come to it4 ,but this does not exclude a place of temporal punishments for such souls as die in the state of grace3 yet not so as to be entirely pure3 and therefore they shall be saved1 indeed1 yet so as by fire4 #a ,cor4 #c4ac1 #ad1 #ae4 #aa3d4 ,he that observeth the wind1 shall not sow3 and he that considereth the clouds1 shall never reap4 #aa3e4 ,as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit1 nor how the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is with child3 so thou knowest not the works of ,god1 who is the maker of all4 #aa3f4 ,in the morning sow thy seed1 and in the evening let not thy hand cease3 for thou knowest not which may rather spring up1 this or that3 and if both together1 it shall be the better4 #aa3g4 ,the light is sweet1 and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun4 #aa3h4 ,if a man live many years1 and have rejoiced in them all1 he must remember the darksome time1 and the many days3 which when they shall come1 the things past shall be accused of vanity4 #aa3i4 ,rejoice therefore1 ,o young man1 in thy youth1 and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth1 and walk in the ways of thy heart1 and in the sight of thy eyes3 and know that for all these ,god will bring thee into judgment4 #aa3aj4 ,remove anger from thy heart1 and put away evil from thy flesh4 ,for youth and pleasure are vain4 ,ecclesiastes ,chapter #ab ,the ,creator is to be remembered in the days of our youth3 all worldly things are vain3 we should fear ,god and keep his commandments4 #ab3a4 ,remember thy ,creator in the days of thy youth1 before the time of affliction come1 and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say3 ,they please me not3 #ab3b4 ,before the sun1 and the light1 and the moon1 and the stars be darkened1 and the clouds return after the rain3 ,before the sun1 etc444 ,that is1 before old age3 the effects of which upon all the senses and faculties are described in the following verses1 under a variety of figures4 #ab3c4 ,when the keepers of the house shall tremble1 and the strong men shall stagger1 and the grinders shall be idle in a small number1 and they that look through the holes shall be darkened3 #ab3d4 ,and they shall shut the doors in the street1 when the grinder's voice shall be low1 and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird1 and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf4 #ab3e4 ,and they shall fear high things1 and they shall be afraid in the way1 the almond tree shall flourish1 the locust shall be made fat1 and the caper tree shall be destroyed3 because man shall go into the house of his eternity1 and the mourners shall go round about in the street4 #ab3f4 ,before the silver cord be broken1 and the golden fillet shrink back1 and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain1 and the wheel be broken upon the cistern1 #ab3g4 ,and the dust return into its earth1 from whence it was1 and the spirit return to ,god1 who gave it4 #ab3h4 ,vanity of vanities1 said ,ecclesiastes1 and all things are vanity4 #ab3i4 ,and whereas ,ecclesiastes was very wise1 he taught the people1 and declared the things that he had done3 and seeking out1 he set forth many parables4 #ab3aj4 ,he sought profitable words1 and wrote words most right1 and full of truth4 #ab3aa4 ,the words of the wise are as goads1 and as nails deeply fastened in1 which by the counsel of masters are given from one shepherd4 #ab3ab4 ,more than these1 my son1 require not4 ,of making many books there is no end3 and much study is an affliction of the flesh4 #ab3ac4 ,let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse4 ,fear ,god1 and keep his commandments3 for this is all man3 ,all man444 ,the whole business and duty of man4 #ab3ad4 ,and all things that are done1 ,god will bring into judgment for every error1 whether it be good or evil4 ,error444 ,or1 hidden and secret thing4