the sun, that it goeth to one as it goeth to another: therefore also the heart of men is filled with evil, and folly is in their heart, while they live; and after that they die.

For with all living things there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither do they deserve any more; for their memory is forgotten,

That they be no more loved, nor hated, nor envied; neither have they any more any part in the world in anything that is done under the sun.

Go therefore, eat thy bread with gladness, drink thy wine with good courage: for thy work is pleasing unto God.

Let thy garments be always white, and let not thy head lack ointment.

Use life with thy wife, whom thou lovest, as long as thou hast the vain life which God hath given thee under the sun, as long as thy vain life endureth: for this is thy portion in life, and in thy work which thou doest under the sun.

Whatsoever thou hast power to do, do it fresh: for in hell, whither thou goest, there is neither work, nor skill, nor understanding, nor wisdom.

I turned, and saw how it is under the sun, that to run is not to be swift, to fight is not to be strong, to eat is not to be skillful, to be rich is not to be wise; that a man may be pleasant is not that he may do a thing well, but all depends upon time and fortune.

Neither knoweth man his time: but as the fishes are taken with a noisome snare, and as the birds are caught with a snare, so men are taken with the evil time, when it suddenly cometh upon them.

I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, which seemed great unto me, 14. And there was a small city, and few people in it: and there came a great king, and filled it, and built great fortresses about it,

And there was found in it a poor wise man, which was able to save that city by his wisdom:
and no man remembered that poor man.

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength. Nor was the poor man’s wisdom despised, nor his words obeyed.

For the words of the wise are more effectual among the quiet, than the shouting of lords among fools.

For wisdom is better than armour: but a few knaves destroy much good.
Ch. 10, v. 1. So the noxious flies spoil good ointments. Therefore at times folly is better than wisdom and honour.

For the heart of the wise is on his right hand: but the heart of the fool is on his left.

Though the fool himself be foolish in his doings, yet he thinketh every man a fool.

Wherefore, if a mighty one go against thy will, be not dismayed: for forbearance stilleth great evil.
(Ecclesiastes)
Chapter 10
Of authorities and subjects.

There is a calamity that I have seen under the sun, namely, foolishness, which is common among the mighty,

That a fool sitteth in great dignity, and the rich sit down here.

I saw servants on horses, and princes walking as servants.

But he that maketh a pit shall fall into three: and he that breaketh the fence shall be stung by a serpent.

He that rolleth away stones shall have trouble; and he that cleaveth wood shall be hurt thereby.

If an iron be blunt, and the edge remain unsharpened, it must be sharpened again with power: so also wisdom followeth diligence.

A launderer is nothing better than a serpent that stings unsworn.

The words of a wise man’s mouth are pleasant: but the lips of a fool devour him.

The beginning of his words is foolishness, and the end is pernicious folly.

A fool speaketh much: for a man knoweth not what hath been; and who shall tell him what shall be after him?

the work of the fools becomes sour to them, because one does not know to go to the city.

Woe unto thee, O land, whose king is a child, and whose prince eateth early!

Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is noble, and whose prince eateth in due season, for strength, and not for pleasure.

(For by slothfulness the beams sink, and by negligent hands the house is dripping).

That maketh bread to make merry, and wine to make glad the living, and money to make all things work for them.

Curse not the king in thine heart, neither curse the rich man in thy bedchamber: for the fowls of the air carry the voice, and they that have wings repeat it.
Chapter 11
To practice goodness; to shun anxious worry.

Let thy bread pass over the waters, and thou shalt find it for a long time.

Divide from among seven, and from among eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall come upon the earth.

When the clouds are full, they give rain upon the earth: and when the tree falleth, let it fall toward the south, or toward the north, upon what place it falleth, there shall it lie.

He that looketh to the wind soweth not, and he that looketh to the clouds reapeth not.

As thou knowest not the way of the wind, and as the bones are prepared in the womb, so thou canst not know the work of God which he doeth everywhere.

Early see thy seed, and let not thine hand depart in the evening: for thou knowest not whether it be this or that: and if it be both, so much the better.

The light is sweet, and it is pleasant to the eyes to see the sun.

If a man live a long time, and be merry in all things, he remembereth but the evil days, that they are so many: for all that he hath met with is vain.
(Ecclesiastes)
Chapter 12
Of Grievousness of Age and God’s Judgment.

Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth; and let thine heart be merry in thy youth. Do that which thy heart lusteth after, and is pleasing to thine eyes: and know that God will bring thee into judgment for all this.

Put away sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy body: for childhood and youth are vain.
Ch. 12, v. 1 Remember thy Maker in thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years come, when thou shalt say, They please me not,

Before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,

At the time when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong are bowed down, and the millers stand idle, because they have been so few; and the faces through the windows are darkened,

and the doors of the street are shut, that the voice of the miller’s wife may be hushed, and awake when the bird sings, and all the daughters of song bend down, 5. That even the high ones may fear and be afraid in the way; when the almond tree blossometh, and the locust is burdened, and all pleasure perisheth (for man goeth away, as he abideth for ever, and the accusers go about in the street,

Before the silver cord be taken away, and the fountain of gold run down, and the bucket be broken in the fountain, and the wheel be broken in the fountain.

For the dust must return to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it.

It is all vain, said the preacher, all vain!

This same preacher was not only wise, but taught the people good doctrine, and discerned, and searched out, and set forth many sayings.

He sought to find pleasant words, and wrote rightly the words of truth.

These words of the wise are spears and nails, written by the masters of the assemblies, and given by a shepherd.

Beware, my son, of others more: for there is no end of much bookmaking, and much preaching weariseth out the body.

Let us hear the main sum of all doctrine: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this belongs to all men.

For God shall bring all works into judgment, which is hid, whether it be good or evil.
Text of the unrevised Luther Bible 1545:
DeepL English Translation
[Processed by BackToLuther. German text published here.]
The Song of Solomon (Song of Songs) ^
Chapter 1
The Christian Church longs for her Bridegroom, Christ, to whom she is promised and united in love.

the Song of Solomon.

Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine; 3. That they may smell thy good ointment. Thy name is an ointment poured out: therefore do the handmaids love thee.
4: Lead me after thee, and we will run. The king leadeth me into his chamber. We rejoice and are glad in thee; We remember thy love more than wine. The pious love thee.

I am black, but I am lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the carpets of Solomon.

Look not upon me, because I am black: for the sun hath burned me. My mother’s children are
angry with me. They have made me the keeper of the vineyards: but the vineyard which I had, I have not kept it.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou restest at noonday, that I walk not to and fro among the flocks of thy companions.

If thou knowest not thyself, O fairest of women, go out in the footsteps of the sheep, and feed thy goats by the shepherds’ houses.

I will liken thee, my friend, unto my travelling witness unto Pharaoh’s chariot.

Thy cheeks are set in braces, and thy neck in chains.

We will make thee clasps of gold, and