and to draw my heart unto wisdom, to lay hold on that which is foolishness, until I should learn what is good for men to do, as long as they live under heaven.

I did great things; I built houses, I planted vineyards,

I made me gardens and pleasure gardens, and planted therein all manner of fruitful trees; 6. I made me pools to water the forest of green trees.

I had menservants, and maidservants, and servants; I had a greater substance of oxen and sheep than all that were before me in Jerusalem.

I also gathered me silver, and gold, and treasure of kings and of countries. I made me singers, and singers, and the lust of men, and all manner of strings,

And increased upon all them that were before me in Jerusalem: wisdom also abode with me.

And all things whatsoever mine eyes desired I left them, and withheld no joy from my heart, that it should rejoice in all my labour: and this I counted my portion in all my labour.

And when I had considered all my works that my hand had done, and the labour that I had laboured under, behold, it was all vain and pitiful, and there was nothing left under the sun.

Then turned I to see wisdom, and prudence, and folly. For who knoweth what manner of man
he shall be after the king whom they have made ready?

Then I saw that wisdom surpassed folly, as light surpasseth darkness, 14. That the wise man’s eyes are in his head, but fools walk in darkness; and yet he perceiveth that one is like another.

Then thought I in mine heart, Because the fool is like me, why then have I sought wisdom?
Then thought I in mine heart, That these things also are vanity.

For the wise man is not remembered for ever, neither is the fool: and the days to come forget all things: and as the wise dieth, so dieth the fool.

Wherefore I was displeased to live: for I was displeased with the things that are done under the sun, that they were so vain and troublesome.

And all my labour that I had under the sun grieved me, that I should leave the same unto a man that should be after me.

For who knoweth whether he shall be wise or foolish? And yet shall reign in all my work, Which I have wisely done under the sun. That also is vain.

Therefore I turned, that my heart might depart from all the work that I have done under the sun.

For a man that hath wrought his work with wisdom, and understanding, and skill, must leave it for an inheritance to another that hath not wrought it. This also is vain, and a great misfortune.

For what shall a man get of all his labour and toil of his heart that he hath under the sun?

For all the days of his life he hath sorrow, and grief, and his heart hath not rested at night?
This also is vain.

Is it not better for a man to eat and drink, and for his soul to be in good health in his work?
But these things also have I seen, that they are of the hand of God.

For who hath more gladly eaten and rejoiced than I?

For to the man that pleaseth him he giveth wisdom, and understanding, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth calamity, that he may gather and heap, and yet be given to him that pleaseth God. Therefore this also is a vain sorrow.
(Ecclesiastes)
Chapter 3
God’s providence shows that the heathen care of food is vain.

To every thing there is a season; and to every purpose under heaven there is an hour.

Being born, dying, planting, eradicating that which is planted, 3. Choking, healing, breaking, building,

Crying, laughing, complaining, dancing,

Scattering stones, gathering stones, hearts, farthings from hearts, 6. Search, lose, keep, discard,

Tearing, sewing, silence, talking,

Love, hate, quarrel, peace has its time.

work as you will, so you can’t do more.

Therefore I saw the trouble which God gave to men, that they should be afflicted within.

But he doeth all things in his good time, and maketh their hearts to be anxious, how things shall be in the world: for man cannot do the work that God doeth, neither the beginning nor the end.

Therefore I perceived that there was nothing better in it, but to be merry, and to do him good in his life.

For every man that eateth and drinketh, and hath good courage in all his work, is the gift of God.

I perceived that whatsoever God doeth, that continueth for ever: there is nothing to add unto it, neither to take away from it: and this is what God doeth, that men should fear him.

What God doeth, that standeth; and what he will do, that shall come to pass: for he seeketh and pursueeth after him.

Further, I saw under the sun a place of judgment, where was an ungodly creature; and a place
of righteousness, where were ungodly men.

Then thought I in mine heart, God must judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a season to every purpose and to every work.

I have spoken in my heart of the nature of men, wherein God doth indicate and make them look as if they were among themselves as cattle.

For man is as the beast: as the beast dieth, so dieth he; and they have all the same breath: and man hath nothing more than beast: for all are vain.

All things come to one place: all things are made of dust, and return to dust.

Who knoweth whether the breath of men go up, and the breath of cattle go down under the earth?

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should be glad in his work: for that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall come after him?
(Ecclesiastes)
Chapter 4
More distant doctrine wherein true happiness does not consist.

I turned, and saw all that were wronged under the sun: and, behold, there were tears of them that were wronged, and had no comforter: and they that wronged them were too mighty to have a comforter.

Then I praised the dead which were dead, rather than the living which had life.

And he that is not yet is better than both, and is not aware of the evil that is done under the sun.

I have seen work and skill in all things: one envieth another. That also is vain and toil.

For a fool claspeth his fingers together, and eateth his flesh.

It is better to have one hand full of peace than both fists full of trouble and sorrow.

I turned, and saw vanity under the sun.

He is one, and not one; he hath neither child nor brethren: neither is there an end of his labour, neither are his eyes full of riches. Whom do I labour after, and break off my soul? This also is vain, and wicked toil:

Two are better than one: for they enjoy their work well.

If a man fall, his companion shall help him up. Woe to him who is alone! If he falls, there is no one to help him up.

even if two lie together, they warm themselves; how can’ one become warm?

One may be overcome, but two may withstand: for a threefold cord is not easily broken.

A poor child that is wise is better than an old king that is a fool, and knoweth not how to beware.

One cometh out of prison unto the kingdom; and one born in his kingdom is impoverished.

And I saw that every living thing that is under the sun walketh by one in the child that shall arise in his stead.

And there was no end of the people that went before him, or of them that followed him: yet they were not glad. This also is a vain and grievous thing.
(Ecclesiastes)
Chapter 5
From the path to true bliss,

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and come and hear. This is better than the sacrifice of fools: for they know not what evil they do.
Chap. 5, v. 1. Be not quick with thy mouth, and let not thy heart haste to speak any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

For where there is much sorrow, there come dreams: and where there are many words, there is heard a fool.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, thou shalt not consume to keep it: for he hath no pleasure in fools. That which thou vowest, keep it.

It is better that thou vow nothing, than that thou keep not that which thou vowest.

Curse not thy mouth, that it may deceive thy flesh: neither say thou before the angel, I am innocent. God will be angry with thy voice, and condemn all the works of thy hands.

Where there are many dreams, there is vanity and many words; but fear God!

When thou seest the poor wronged, and righteousness and justice taken away in the land, marvel not at the noble: for there is yet a high guardian above the high, and there are yet higher than these two.

About this is the king throughout all the land, to build the field.

He that loveth money shall never be satisfied with money: he that loveth riches shall not profit thereby. This also is vain.

For where there is much good, there are many that eat it: and what is he worthy that hath it, without seeing it with his eyes?

To him that worketh sleep is sweet, whether he have eaten little, or whether he have eaten much: but the rich man’s abundance maketh him not sleep.

It is an evil plague that