by Septuagint
Chapter 31
[1] A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy. [2] When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn. [3] When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth. [4] A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys it. [5] He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it. [6] A great snare is spread for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness. [7] A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.
[8] Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath. [9] A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not. [10] Bloody men hate a holy person, but the upright will seek his soul. [11] A fool utters all is mind: but the wise reserves his in part. [12] When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors. [13] When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both. [14] When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for a testimony. [15] Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents. [16] When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.
[17] Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest; and he shall give honour to thy soul. [18] There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed. [19] A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey. [20] If thou see a man hasty in his words, know that the fool has hope rather than he. [21] He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself. [22] A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin. [23] Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.
[24] He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it, [25] they fearing and reverencing men unreasonably have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts in his master shall be safe. [26] Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord. [27] A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner.
[10] Who shall find a virtuous woman? for such a one is more valuable than precious stones. [11] The heart of her husband trusts in her: such a one shall stand in no need of fine spoils. [12] For she employs all her living for her husband’s good. [13] Gathering wool and flax, she makes it serviceable with her hands. [14] She is like a ship trading from a distance: so she procures her livelihood. [15] And she rises by night, and gives food to her household, and appointed tasks to her maidens. [16] She views a farm, and buys it: and with the fruit of her hands she plants and a possession. [17] She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work. [18] And she finds by experience that working is good; and her candle goes not out all night. [19] She reaches forth her arms to needful works, and applies her hands to the spindle. [20] And she opens her hands to the needy, and reaches out fruit to the poor.
[21] Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed. [22] She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet. [23] And her husband becomes a distinguished person in the gates, when he sits in council with the old inhabitants of the land. [24] She makes fine linens, and sells girdles to the Chananites: she opens her mouth heedfully and with propriety, and controls her tongue. [25] She puts on strength and honour; and rejoices in the last days. [26] But she opens her mouth wisely, and according to law. [27] The ways of her household are careful, and she eats not the bread of idleness. [28] And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her. [29] Many daughters have obtained wealth, many have wrought valiantly; but thou hast exceeded, thou hast surpassed all. [30] Charms are false, and woman’s beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord. [31] Give her of the fruit of her lips; and let her husband be praised in the gates.
Ecclesiastes
Chapter 1
[1] The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Israel in Jerusalem. [2] Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
[3] What advantage is there to a man in all his labour that he takes under the sun? [4] A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever. [5] And the sun arises, and the sun goes down and draws toward its place; [6] arising there it proceeds southward, and goes round toward the north. The wind goes round and round, and the wind returns to its circuits. [7] All the rivers run into the sea; and yet the sea is not filled: to the place whence the rivers come, thither they return again. [8] All things are full of labour; a man will not be able to speak of them: neither shall the eye be satisfied with seeing, neither shall the ear be filled with hearing.
[9] What is that which has been? the very thing which shall be: and what is that which has been done? the very thing which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [10] Who is he that shall speak and say, Behold, this is new? it has already been in the ages that have passed before us. [11] There is no memorial to the first things; neither to the things that have been last shall their memorial be with them that shall at the last time.
[12] I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. [13] And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.
[14] I beheld all the works that were wrought under the sun; and, beheld, all were vanity and waywardness of spirit. [15] That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and deficiency cannot be numbered. [16] I spoke in my heart, saying, Behold, I am increased, and have acquired wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem: also I applied my heart to know wisdom and knowledge. [17] And my heart knew much — wisdom, and knowledge, parables and understanding: I perceived that this also is waywardness of spirit. [18] For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.
Chapter 2
[1] I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, and behold thou good: and, behold, this is also vanity. [2] I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why doest thou this:
[3] And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their life. [4] I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards. [5] I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree. [6] I made me pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood. [7] I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem. [8] Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.
[9] So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before in Jerusalem: also my wisdom was established to me. [10] And whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour. [11] And I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I laboured to perform: and behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun.
[12] Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it? [13] And I saw that wisdom exc
els folly, as much as light excels darkness. [14] The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived, even I, that one event shall happen to them all.
[15] And I said in my heart, As the event of the fool is, so shall it be to me, even to me: and to what purpose have I gained wisdom? I said moreover in my heart, This is also vanity, because the fool speaks of his abundance. [16] For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool for ever; forasmuch as now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with the fool?
[17] So I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit. [18] And I hated the whole of my labour which I took under the sun; because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. [19] And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? and whether he will have power over all my labour in which I laboured, and wherein I grew wise under the sun? this is also vanity. [20] so I went about to dismiss from my heart all my labour wherein I had laboured under the sun. [21] For there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil. [22] For it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun. [23] For all his days are days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.
[24] A man has nothing really good to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul as good in his trouble. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God. [25] For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him? [26] For God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.
Chapter 3
[1] To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven. [2] A time of birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what has been planted; [3] a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to pull down, and a time to build up; [4] a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to lament, and a time to dance; [5] a time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing; [6] a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; [7] a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak; [8] a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
[9] What advantage has he that works in those things wherein he labours?
[10] I have seen all the trouble, which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with. [11] All the things which he has made are beautiful in his time: he has also set the whole world in their heart, that man might not find out the work which God has wrought from the beginning even to the end. [12] I know that there is no good in them, except for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
[13] Also in the case of every man who shall eat and drink, and see good in all his labour, this is a gift of God. [14] I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done it, that men may fear before him. [15] That which has been is now; and whatever things are appointed to be have already been; and God will seek out that which is past.
[16] And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgement, there was the ungodly one; and the place of righteousness, there was the godly one. [17] And I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.
[18] I said in my heart, concerning the speech of the sons of man, God will judge them, and that to shew that they are breasts. [19] Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity. [20] All go to one place; all were formed of the dust, and all will return to dust. [21] And who has seen the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward? and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth? [22] And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?
Chapter 4
[1] So I returned, and saw all the oppressions that were done under the sun: and behold the tear of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter: [2] and I praised all the dead that had already died more than the living, as many as are alive until now. [3] Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.
[4] And I saw all labour, and all the diligent work, that this is a man’s envy from his neighbour. This is also vanity and waywardness of spirit. [5] The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh. [6] Better is a handful of rest than two handfuls of trouble and waywardness of spirit.
[7] So I returned, and saw vanity under the sun. [8] There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble. [9] Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour. [10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up. [11] Also if two should lie together, they also get heat: but how shall one be warmed alone? [12] And if one should prevail against him, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord shall not be quickly broken.
[13] Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish king, who knows not how to take heed any longer. [14] For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor. [15] I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one’s place. [16] There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.
[17] Keep thy foot, whensoever thou goest to the house of God; and when thou art near to hear, let thy sacrifice be better than the gift of fools: for they know not that they are doing evil.
Chapter 5
[1] Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. [2] For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool’s voice is with a multitude of words.
[3] Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed. [4] It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. [5] Suffer not thy mouth to lead thy flesh to sin; and say not in the presence of God, It was an error: lest God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the works of thy hands. [6] For there is evil in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.
[7] If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them. [8] Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field.
[9] He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver: and who has loved gain, in the abundance thereof? this is also vanity. [10] In the multitude of good they are increased that eat it: and what virtue has the owner, but the right of beholding it with his eyes? [11] The sleep of a servant is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but to one who is satiated with wealth, there is none that suffers him to sleep.
[12] There is an infirmity
which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt. [13] And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble: and the man begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. [14] As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand. [15] And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours? [16] Yea, all his days are in darkness, and in mourning, and much sorrow, and infirmity, and wrath.
[17] Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion. [18] Yea, and as for every man to whom God has given wealth and possessions, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to receive his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. [19] For he shall not much remember the days of his life; for God troubles him in the mirth of his heart.
Chapter 6
[1] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is abundant with man: [2] a man to whom God shall give wealth, and substance, and honour, and he wants nothing for his soul of all things that he shall desire, yet God shall not give him power to eat of it, for a stranger shall devour it: this is vanity, and an evil infirmity.
[3] If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, yea, however abundant the days of his years shall be, yet if his soul shall not be satisfied with good, and also he have no burial; I said, An untimely birth is better than he. [4] For he came in vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered in darkness. [5] Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known rest: there is no more rest to this one than another. [6] Though he has lived to the return of a thousand years, yet he has seen no good: do not all go to one place?