The Orthodox Pages

email: pater@christopherklitou.com

 

THE OLD TESTAMENT

SEPTUAGINT

GREEK / ENGLISH

ECCLESIASTES CHAPTERS 1-10

Homepage

  Back                                                        

 

   

  

 

 

ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑΣΤΗΣ
 

1

Ρήματα ἐκκλησιαστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαβὶδ βασιλέως ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ.

2 Ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, εἶπεν ὁ ἐκκλησιαστής, ματαιότης ματαιοτήτων, τὰ πάντα ματαιότης.

3 τίς περισσεία τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;

4 γενεὰ πορεύεται καὶ γενεὰ ἔρχεται, καὶ ἡ γῆ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἕστηκε.

5 καὶ ἀνατέλλει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ δύνει ὁ ἥλιος καὶ εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτοῦ ἕλκει.

6 αὐτὸς ἀνατέλλων ἐκεῖ πορεύεται πρὸς νότον καὶ κυκλοῖ πρὸς βορρᾶν· κυκλοῖ κυκλῶν, πορεύεται τὸ πνεῦμα, καὶ ἐπὶ κύκλους αὐτοῦ ἐπιστρέφει τὸ πνεῦμα.

7 πάντες οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἐμπιπλαμένη· εἰς τὸν τόπον, οὗ οἱ χείμαρροι πορεύονται, ἐκεῖ αὐτοὶ ἐπιστρέφουσι τοῦ πορευθῆναι.

8 πάντες οἱ λόγοι ἔγκοποι· οὐ δυνήσεται ἀνὴρ τοῦ λαλεῖν, καὶ οὐ πλησθήσεται ὀφθαλμὸς τοῦ ὁρᾶν, καὶ οὐ πληρωθήσεται οὖς ἀπὸ ἀκροάσεως.

 

9 τί τὸ γεγονός; αὐτὸ τὸ γενησόμενον· καὶ τὶ τό πεποιημένον; αὐτὸ τὸ ποιηθησόμενον· καί οὐκ ἔστι πᾶν πρόσφατον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

 

10 ὃς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ· ἰδὲ τοῦτο κενόν ἐστιν, ἤδη γέγονεν ἐν τοῖς αἰῶσι τοῖς γενομένοις ἀπὸ ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν.

11 οὐκ ἔστι μνήμη τοῖς πρώτοις, καί γε τοῖς ἐσχάτοις γενομένοις οὐκ ἔσται αὐτῶν μνήμη μετὰ τῶν γενησομένων εἰς τὴν ἐσχάτην.

12 ᾿Εγὼ ἐκκλησιαστὴς ἐγενόμην βασιλεὺς ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ·

13 καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ ἐκζητῆσαι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ περὶ πάντων τῶν γινομένων ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν· ὅτι περισπασμὸν πονηρὸν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῦ περισπάσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.

14 εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τὰ πεποιημένα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

15 διεστραμμένον οὐ δυνήσεται ἐπικοσμηθῆναι, καὶ ὑστέρημα οὐ δυνήσεται ἀριθμηθῆναι.

16 ἐλάλησα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου τῷ λέγειν· ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα σοφίαν ἐπὶ πᾶσιν, οἳ ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ, καὶ ἔδωκα καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν.

17 καὶ καρδία μου εἶδε πολλά, σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν, παραβολὰς καὶ ἐπιστήμην ἔγνων ἐγώ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτό ἐστι προαίρεσις πνεύματος·

18 ὅτι ἐν πλήθει σοφίας πλῆθος γνώσεως, καὶ ὁ προστιθεὶς γνῶσιν προσθήσει ἄλγημα.

 

 
2

ΕΙΠΟΝ ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου· δεῦρο δὴ πειράσω σε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ, καὶ ἰδὲ ἐν ἀγαθῷ· καὶ ἰδοὺ καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

2 τῷ γέλωτι εἶπα περιφοράν, καὶ τῇ εὐφροσύνῃ· τί τοῦτο ποιεῖς;

3 καὶ κατεσκεψάμην εἰ ἡ καρδία μου ἑλκύσει ὡς οἶνον τὴν σάρκα μου -καὶ καρδία μου ὡδήγησεν ἐν σοφίᾳ- καὶ τοῦ κρατῆσαι ἐπ᾿ εὐφροσύνην, ἕως οὗ ἴδω ποῖον τὸ ἀγαθὸν τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, ὃ ποιήσουσιν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτῶν.

4 ἐμεγάλυνα ποίημά μου, ᾠκοδόμησά μοι οἴκους. ἐφύτευσά μοι ἀμπελῶνας,

5 ἐποίησά μοι κήπους καὶ παραδείσους καὶ ἐφύτευσα ἐν αὐτοῖς ξύλον πᾶν καρποῦ·

6 ἐποίησά μοι κολυμβήθρας ὑδάτων τοῦ ποτίσαι ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν δρυμὸν βλαστῶντα ξύλα·

7 ἐκτησάμην δούλους καὶ παιδίσκας, καὶ οἰκογενεῖς ἐγένοντό μοι, καί γε κτῆσις βουκολίου καὶ ποιμνίου πολλὴ ἐγένετό μοι ὑπὲρ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ·

8 συνήγαγόν μοι καί γε ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον καὶ περιουσιασμοὺς βασιλέων καὶ τῶν χωρῶν· ἐποίησά μοι ᾄδοντας καὶ ἆδούσας καὶ ἐντρυφήματα υἱῶν ἀνθρώπων, οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας·

9 καὶ ἐμεγαλύνθην καὶ προσέθηκα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς γενομένους ἔμπροσθέν μου ἐν ῾Ιερουσαλήμ· καί γε σοφία μου ἐστάθη μοι.

10 καὶ πᾶν, ὃ ᾔτησαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου, οὐκ ἀφεῖλον ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, οὐκ ἀπεκώλυσα τὴν καρδίαν μου ἀπὸ πάσης εὐφροσύνης, ὅτι καρδία μου εὐφράνθη ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, καὶ τοῦτο ἐγένετο μερίς μου ἀπὸ παντὸς μόχθου.

11 καὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ ἐν πᾶσι ποιήμασί μου, οἷς ἐποίησαν αἱ χεῖρές μου, καὶ ἐν μόχθῳ, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα τοῦ ποιεῖν, καὶ ἰδοὺ τὰ πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περισσεία ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

12 καὶ ἐπέβλεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἰδεῖν σοφίαν καὶ περιφορὰν καί ἀφροσύνην· ὅτι τίς ἄνθρωπος, ὃς ἐπελεύσεται ὀπίσω τῆς βουλῆς τὰ ὅσα ἐποίησεν αὐτήν;

13 καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐστὶ περισσεία τῇ σοφίᾳ ὑπὲρ τὴν ἀφροσύνην, ὡς περισσεία τοῦ φωτὸς ὑπὲρ τὸ σκότος.

14 τοῦ σοφοῦ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἄφρων ἐν σκότει πορεύεται· καὶ ἔγνων καί γε ἐγὼ ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.

15 καὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου· ὡς συνάντημα τοῦ ἄφρονος καί γε ἐμοὶ συναντήσεταί μοι, καὶ ἱνατί ἐσοφισάμην ἐγώ; τότε περισσὸν ἐλάλησα ἐν καρδίᾳ μου, διότι ὁ ἄφρων ἐκ περισσεύματος λαλεῖ, ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

16 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ μνήμη τοῦ σοφοῦ μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, καθότι ἤδη αἱ ἡμέραι ἐρχόμεναι τὰ πάντα ἐπελήσθη· καὶ πῶς ἀποθανεῖται ὁ σοφὸς μετὰ τοῦ ἄφρονος;

17 καὶ ἐμίσησα σὺν τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι πονηρὸν ἐπ᾿ ἐμὲ τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι πάντα ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

18 καὶ ἐμίσησα ἐγὼ σὺν πάντα μόχθον μου, ὃν ἐγὼ κοπιῶ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι ἀφίω αὐτὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ γινομένῳ μετ᾿ ἐμέ·

19 καὶ τίς οἶδεν εἰ σοφὸς ἔσται ἢ ἄφρων; καὶ εἰ ἐξουσιάζεται ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα καὶ ᾧ ἐσοφισάμην ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

20 καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ τοῦ ἀποτάξασθαι τὴν καρδίαν μου ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ μου, ᾧ ἐμόχθησα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον,

21 ὅτι ἐστὶν ἄνθρωπος, ὅτι μόχθος αὐτοῦ ἐν σοφίᾳ καὶ ἐν γνώσει καὶ ἐν ἀνδρείᾳ, καὶ ἄνθρωπος, ὃς οὐκ ἐμόχθησεν ἐν αὐτῷ, δώσει αὐτῷ μερίδα αὐτοῦ. καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ πονηρία μεγάλη·

22 ὅτι γίνεται τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν προαιρέσει καρδίας αὐτοῦ, ᾧ αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

23 ὅτι πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἀλγημάτων καὶ θυμοῦ περισπασμὸς αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἐν νυκτὶ οὐ κοιμᾶται ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης ἐστίν.

24 οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἀνθρώπῳ, ὃ φάγεται καὶ ὃ πίεται καὶ ὃ δείξει τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ. καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον ἐγὼ ὅτι ἀπὸ χειρὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν·

25 ὅτι τίς φάγεται καὶ τίς πίεται πάρεξ αὐτοῦ;

 

26 ὅτι τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἔδωκε σοφίαν καὶ γνῶσιν καὶ εὐφροσύνην· καί τῷ ἁμαρτάνοντι ἔδωκε περισπασμὸν τοῦ προσθεῖναι καὶ τοῦ συναγαγεῖν, τοῦ δοῦναι τῷ ἀγαθῷ πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.


3

ΤΟΙΣ πᾶσι χρόνος καὶ καιρὸς τῷ παντὶ πράγματι ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν.

2 καιρὸς τοῦ τεκεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν, καιρὸς τοῦ φυτεῦσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἐκτῖλαι τὸ πεφυτευμένον,

3 καιρὸς τοῦ ἀποκτεῖναι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἰάσασθαι, καιρὸς τοῦ καθελεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ οἰκοδομεῖν,

4 καιρὸς τοῦ κλαῦσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ γελάσαι, καιρὸς τοῦ κόψασθαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ὀρχήσασθαι,

5 καιρὸς τοῦ βαλεῖν λίθους καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ συναγαγεῖν λίθους, καιρὸς τοῦ περιλαβεῖν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ μακρυνθῆναι ἀπὸ περιλήψεως,

6 καιρὸς τοῦ ζητῆσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἀπολέσαι, καιρὸς τοῦ φυλάξαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ἐκβαλεῖν,

7 καιρὸς τοῦ ρῆξαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ ράψαι, καιρὸς τοῦ σιγᾶν καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ λαλεῖν,

8 καιρὸς τοῦ φιλῆσαι καὶ καιρὸς τοῦ μισῆσαι, καιρὸς πολέμου καὶ καιρὸς εἰρήνης.

9 τίς περισσεία τοῦ ποιοῦντος ἐν οἷς αὐτὸς μοχθεῖ;

 

10 εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὸν περισπασμόν, ὃν ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεὸς τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων τοῦ περισπᾶσθαι ἐν αὐτῷ.

11 σύμπαντα, ἃ ἐποίησε, καλὰ ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καί γε σὺν τὸν αἰῶνα ἔδωκεν ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, ὅπως μὴ εὕρῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸ ποίημα, ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς ἀπ᾿ ἀρχῆς καὶ μέχρι τέλους.

12 ἔγνων ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς, εἰ μὴ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι καὶ τοῦ ποιεῖν ἀγαθὸν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτοῦ.

13 καί γε πᾶς ἄνθρωπος, ὃς φάγεται καὶ πίεται καὶ ἴδῃ ἀγαθὸν ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, δόμα Θεοῦ ἐστιν.

14 ἔγνων ὅτι πάντα, ὅσα ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεός, αὐτὰ ἔσται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα· ἐπ᾿ αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστι προσθεῖναι, καὶ ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφελεῖν, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐποίησεν, ἵνα φοβηθῶσιν ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ.

15 τὸ γενόμενον ἤδη ἐστί, καὶ ὅσα τοῦ γίνεσθαι, ἤδη γέγονε, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ζητήσει τὸν διωκόμενον.

 

16 Καὶ ἔτι εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον τόπον τῆς κρίσεως, ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀσεβής, καὶ τόπον τοῦ δικαίου, ἐκεῖ ὁ ἀσεβής.

17 καὶ εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου· σὺν τὸν δίκαιον καὶ σὺν τὸν ἀσεβῆ κρινεῖ ὁ Θεός, ὅτι καιρὸς τῷ παντὶ πράγματι καὶ ἐπὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιήματι ἐκεῖ.

18 εἶπα ἐγὼ ἐν καρδίᾳ μου περὶ λαλιᾶς υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ὅτι διακρινεῖ αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεός, καὶ τοῦ δεῖξαι ὅτι αὐτοὶ κτήνη εἰσί.

19 καί γε αὐτοῖς συνάντημα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου καὶ συνάντημα τοῦ κτήνους, συνάντημα ἓν αὐτοῖς· ὡς ὁ θάνατος τούτου, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θάνατος τούτου, καὶ πνεῦμα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσι· καὶ τί ἐπερίσσευσεν ὁ ἄνθρωπος παρὰ τὸ κτῆνος; οὐδέν, ὅτι πάντα ματαιότης.

20 τὰ πάντα εἰς τόπον ἕνα· τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο ἀπὸ τοῦ χοός, καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐπιστρέψει εἰς τὸν χοῦν.

21 καὶ τίς οἶδε τὸ πνεῦμα υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, εἰ ἀναβαίνει αὐτὸ ἄνω, καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ κτήνους, εἰ καταβαίνει αὐτὸ κάτω εἰς τὴν γῆν;

22 καὶ εἶδον ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν εἰ μὴ ὃ εὐφρανθήσεται ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν ποιήμασιν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι αὐτὸ μερὶς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι τίς ἄξει αὐτὸν τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν γένηται μετ᾿ αὐτόν;


4

ΚΑΙ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάσας τὰς συκοφαντίας τὰς γενομένας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· καὶ ἰδοὺ δάκρυον τῶν συκοφαντουμένων, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ χειρὸς συκοφαντούντων αὐτοῖς ἰσχύς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς παρακαλῶν.

2 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν πάντας τοὺς τεθνηκότας τοὺς ἤδη ἀποθανόντας ὑπὲρ τοὺς ζῶντας, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ζῶσιν ἕως τοῦ νῦν·

3 καὶ ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τοὺς δύο τούτους ὅστις οὔπω ἐγένετο, ὃς οὐκ εἶδε σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πονηρὸν τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

4 Καὶ εἶδον ἐγὼ σὺν πάντα τὸν μόχθον καὶ σὺν πᾶσαν ἀνδρείαν τοῦ ποιήματος, ὅτι αὐτὸ ζῆλος ἀνδρὸς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἑταίρου αὐτοῦ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

5 ὁ ἄφρων περιέβαλε τὰς χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔφαγε τὰς σάρκας αὐτοῦ.

6 ἀγαθὸν πλήρωμα δρακὸς ἀναπαύσεως ὑπὲρ πληρώματα δύο δρακῶν μόχθου καὶ προαιρέσεως πνεύματος.

7 Καὶ ἐπέστρεψα ἐγὼ καὶ εἶδον ματαιότητα ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

8 ἔστιν εἷς, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι δεύτερος, καί γε υἱὸς καί γε ἀδελφὸς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πειρασμὸς τῷ παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, καί γε ὀφθαλμὸς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται πλούτου. καί τίνι ἐγὼ μοχθῶ καὶ στερίσκω τὴν ψυχήν μου ἀπὸ ἀγαθωσύνης; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ περισπασμὸς πονηρός ἐστι.

9 ἀγαθοὶ οἱ δύο ὑπὲρ τὸν ἕνα, οἷς ἐστιν αὐτοῖς μισθὸς ἀγαθὸς ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτῶν·

10 ὅτι ἐὰν πέσωσιν, ὁ εἷς ἐγερεῖ τὸν μέτοχον αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐαὶ αὐτῷ τῷ ἑνί, ὅταν πέσῃ καὶ μὴ ᾖ δεύτερος ἐγεῖραι αὐτόν.

11 καί γε ἐὰν κοιμηθῶσι δύο, καὶ θέρμη αὐτοῖς· καὶ ὁ εἷς πῶς θερμανθῇ;

12 καὶ ἐὰν ἐπικραταιωθῇ ὁ εἷς, οἱ δύο στήσονται κατέναντι αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸ σπαρτίον τὸ ἔντριτον οὐ ταχέως ἀπορραγήσεται.

13 ᾿Αγαθὸς παῖς πένης καὶ σοφὸς ὑπὲρ βασιλέα πρεσβύτερον καὶ ἄφρονα, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ προσέχειν ἔτι·

14 ὅτι ἐξ οἴκου τῶν δεσμίων ἐξελεύσεται τοῦ βασιλεῦσαι, ὅτι καί γε ἐν βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ ἐγενήθη πένης.

15 εἶδον σὺν πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας τοὺς περιπατοῦντας ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον μετὰ τοῦ νεανίσκου τοῦ δευτέρου, ὃς στήσεται ἀντ᾿ αὐτοῦ·

16 οὐκ ἔστι περασμὸς τῷ παντὶ λαῷ, τοῖς πᾶσιν, ὅσοι ἐγένοντο ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν· καί γε οἱ ἔσχατοι οὐκ εὐφρανθήσονται ἐν αὐτῷ· ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

17 Φύλαξον τὸν πόδα σου, ἐν ᾧ ἐὰν πορεύῃ εἰς οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐγγὺς τοῦ ἀκούειν· ὑπὲρ δόμα τῶν ἀφρόνων θυσία σου, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶν εἰδότες τοῦ ποιῆσαι κακόν.


5

ΜΗ σπεῦδε ἐπὶ στόματί σου, καὶ καρδία σου μὴ ταχυνάτω τοῦ ἐξενέγκαι λόγον πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἄνω, καὶ σὺ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. διὰ τοῦτο ἔστωσαν οἱ λόγοι σου ὀλίγοι.

2 ὅτι παραγίνεται ἐνύπνιον ἐν πλήθει πειρασμοῦ καὶ φωνὴ ἄφρονος ἐν πλήθει λόγων.

3 καθὼς ἂν εὔξῃ εὐχὴν τῷ Θεῷ, μὴ χρονίσῃς τοῦ ἀποδοῦναι αὐτήν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι θέλημα ἐν ἄφροσι· σὺ οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξῃ, ἀπόδος.

4 ἀγαθὸν τὸ μὴ εὔξασθαί σε ἢ τὸ εὔξασθαί σε καὶ μὴ ἀποδοῦναι.

5 μὴ δῷς τὸ στόμα σου τοῦ ἐξαμαρτῆσαι τὴν σάρκα σου καὶ μὴ εἴπῃς πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἄγνοιά ἐστιν, ἵνα μὴ ὀργισθῇ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ φωνῇ σου καὶ διαφθείρῃ τὰ ποιήματα χειρῶν σου.

6 ὅτι ἐν πλήθει ἐνυπνίων καὶ ματαιοτήτων καὶ λόγων πολλῶν, ὅτι σὺ τὸν Θεὸν φοβοῦ.

7 ᾿Εὰν συκοφαντίαν πένητος καὶ ἁρπαγὴν κρίματος καὶ δικαιοσύνης ἴδῃς ἐν χώρᾳ, μὴ θαυμάσῃς ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι· ὅτι ὑψηλὸς ἐπάνω ὑψηλοῦ φυλάξαι, καὶ ὑψηλοὶ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῖς.

8 καὶ περισσεία γῆς ἐπὶ παντί ἐστι, βασιλεὺς τοῦ ἀγροῦ εἰργασμένου.

9 ᾿Αγαπῶν ἀργύριον οὐ πλησθήσεται ἀργυρίου· καὶ τίς ἠγάπησεν ἐν πλήθει αὐτῶν γένημα; καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

10 ἐν πλήθει ἀγαθωσύνης ἐπληθύνθησαν ἔσθοντες αὐτήν· καὶ τί ἀνδρεία τῷ παρ᾿ αὐτῆς ὅτι ἀλλ᾿ ἢ τοῦ ὁρᾶν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ;

11 γλυκὺς ὕπνος τοῦ δούλου εἰ ὀλίγον καὶ εἰ πολὺ φάγεται· καὶ τῷ ἐμπλησθέντι τοῦ πλουτῆσαι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφίων αὐτὸν τοῦ ὑπνῶσαι.

12 ἔστιν ἀρρωστία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, πλοῦτον φυλασσόμενον τῷ παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ εἰς κακίαν αὐτῷ,

13 καὶ ἀπολεῖται ὁ πλοῦτος ἐκεῖνος ἐν περισπασμῷ πονηρῷ, καὶ ἐγέννησεν υἱόν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ οὐδέν.

14 καθὼς ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ γαστρὸς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ γυμνός, ἐπιστρέψει τοῦ πορευθῆναι ὡς ἥκει, καὶ οὐδὲν οὐ λήψεται ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ἵνα πορευθῇ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.

15 καί γε τοῦτο πονηρὰ ἀρρωστία· ὥσπερ γὰρ παρεγένετο, οὕτως καὶ ἀπελεύσεται, καὶ τίς ἡ περισσεία αὐτοῦ, ᾗ μοχθεῖ εἰς ἄνεμον;

16 καί γε πᾶσαι αἱ ἡμέραι αὐτοῦ ἐν σκότει καὶ ἐν πένθει καὶ θυμῷ πολλῷ καὶ ἀρρωστίᾳ καὶ χόλῳ.

17 ᾿Ιδοὺ εἶδον ἐγὼ ἀγαθόν, ὅ ἐστι καλόν, τοῦ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν ἀγαθωσύνην ἐν παντὶ μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, ᾧ ἐὰν μοχθῇ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ἀριθμὸν ἡμερῶν ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὧν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεός· ὅτι αὐτὸ μερὶς αὐτοῦ.

18 καί γε πᾶς ἄνθρωπος, ᾧ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ ἐξουσίασεν αὐτῷ φαγεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ λαβεῖν τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ, τοῦτο δόμα Θεοῦ ἐστιν.

19 ὅτι οὐ πολλὰ μνησθήσεται τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ζωῆς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς περισπᾷ αὐτὸν ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ καρδίας αὐτοῦ.


6

ΕΣΤΙ πονηρία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ πολλή ἐστιν ἐπὶ τὸ ἄνθρωπον·

2 ἀνήρ, ᾧ δώσει αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς πλοῦτον καὶ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δόξαν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑστερῶν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ πάντων, ὧν ἐπιθυμήσει, καὶ οὐκ ἐξουσιάσει αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ φαγεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ξένος φάγεται αὐτόν· τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ ἀρρωστία πονηρά ἐστι.

3 ἐὰν γεννήσῃ ἀνὴρ ἑκατὸν καὶ ἔτη πολλὰ ζήσεται, καὶ πλῆθος ὅ,τι ἔσονται αἱ ἡμέραι ἐτῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ οὐ πλησθήσεται ἀπὸ τῆς ἀγαθωσύνης, καί γε ταφὴ οὐκ ἐγένετο αὐτῷ, εἶπα· ἀγαθὸν ὑπὲρ αὐτὸν τὸ ἔκτρωμα,

4 ὅτι ἐν ματαιότητι ἦλθε καὶ ἐν σκότει πορεύεται, καὶ ἐν σκότει ὄνομα αὐτοῦ καλυφθήσεται.

5 καί γε ἥλιον οὐκ εἶδε καὶ οὐκ ἔγνω, ἀνάπαυσις τούτῳ ὑπὲρ τοῦτον.

6 καὶ εἰ ἔζησε χιλίων ἐτῶν καθόδους καὶ ἀγαθωσύνην οὐκ εἶδε, μὴ οὐκ εἰς τόπον ἕνα πορεύεται τὰ πάντα;

7 Πᾶς μόχθος ἀνθρώπου εἰς στόμα αὐτοῦ, καί γε ἡ ψυχὴ οὐ πληρωθήσεται.

8 ὅτι τίς περισσεία τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ τὸν ἄφρονα; διότι ὁ πένης οἶδε πορευθῆναι κατέναντι τῆς ζωῆς.

9 ἀγαθὸν ὅραμα ὀφθαλμῶν ὑπὲρ πορευόμενον ψυχῇ· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης καὶ προαίρεσις πνεύματος.

10 Εἴ τι ἐγένετο, ἤδη κέκληται ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐγνώσθη ὅ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος, καὶ οὐ δυνήσεται κριθῆναι μετὰ τοῦ ἰσχυροτέρου ὑπὲρ αὐτόν·

11 ὅτι εἰσὶ λόγοι πολλοὶ πληθύνοντες ματαιότητα. τί περισσὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ;

12 ὅτι τίς οἶδεν ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ἀριθμὸν ζωῆς ἡμερῶν ματαιότητος αὐτοῦ; καὶ ἐποίησεν αὐτὰ ἐν σκιᾷ· ὅτι τίς ἀπαγγελεῖ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ, τί ἔσται ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον;


7

ΑΓΑΘΟΝ ὄνομα ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον ἀγαθὸν καὶ ἡμέρα τοῦ θανάτου ὑπὲρ ἡμέραν γεννήσεως.

2 ἀγαθὸν πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πένθους ἢ ὅτι πορευθῆναι εἰς οἶκον πότου, καθότι τοῦτο τέλος παντὸς ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ὁ ζῶν δώσει ἀγαθὸν εἰς καρδίαν αὐτοῦ.

3 ἀγαθὸν θυμὸς ὑπὲρ γέλωτα, ὅτι ἐν κακίᾳ προσώπου ἀγαθυνθήσεται καρδία.

4 καρδία σοφῶν ἐν οἴκῳ πένθους, καὶ καρδία ἀφρόνων ἐν οἴκῳ εὐφροσύνης.

5 ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀκοῦσαι ἐπιτίμησιν σοφοῦ ὑπὲρ ἄνδρα ἀκούοντα ᾆσμα ἀφρόνων·

6 ὡς φωνὴ ἀκανθῶν ὑπὸ τὸν λέβητα, οὕτως γέλως τῶν ἀφρόνων· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

7 ὅτι ἡ συκοφαντία περιφέρει σοφὸν καὶ ἀπόλλυσι τὴν καρδίαν εὐτονίας αὐτοῦ.

8 ἀγαθὴ ἐσχάτη λόγων ὑπὲρ ἀρχὴν αὐτοῦ, ἀγαθὸν μακρόθυμος ὑπὲρ ὑψηλὸν πνεύματι.

9 μὴ σπεύσῃς ἐν πνεύματί σου τοῦ θυμοῦσθαι, ὅτι θυμὸς ἐν κόλπῳ ἀφρόνων ἀναπαύσεται.

10 μὴ εἴπῃς· τί ἐγένετο ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι αἱ πρότεραι ἦσαν ἀγαθαὶ ὑπὲρ ταύτας; ὅτι οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐπηρώτησας περὶ τούτου.

11 ἀγαθὴ σοφία μετὰ κληρονομίας καὶ περισσεία τοῖς θεωροῦσι τὸν ἥλιον·

12 ὅτι ἐν σκιᾷ αὐτῆς ἡ σοφία ὡς σκιὰ ἀργυρίου, καὶ περισσεία γνώσεως τῆς σοφίας ζωοποιήσει τὸν παρ᾿ αὐτῆς.

13 ἰδὲ τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ Θεοῦ· ὅτι τίς δυνήσεται τοῦ κοσμῆσαι ὃν ἂν ὁ Θεὸς διαστρέψῃ αὐτόν;

14 ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ἀγαθωσύνης ζῆθι ἐν ἀγαθῷ καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακίας ἰδέ· καί γε σὺν τούτῳ συμφώνως τοῦτο ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς περὶ λαλιᾶς, ἵνα μὴ εὕρῃ ἄνθρωπος ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ οὐδέν.

15 Σὺν τὰ πάντα εἶδον ἐν ἡμέραις ματαιότητός μου. ἔστι δίκαιος ἀπολλύμενος ἐν δικαίῳ αὐτοῦ, καί ἐστιν ἀσεβὴς μένων ἐν κακίᾳ αὐτοῦ.

16 μὴ γίνου δίκαιος πολύ, μηδὲ σοφίζου περισσά, μήποτε ἐκπλαγῇς.

17 μὴ ἀσεβήσῃς πολὺ καὶ μὴ γίνου σκληρός, ἵνα μὴ ἀποθάνῃς ἐν οὐ καιρῷ σου.

18 ἀγαθὸν τὸ ἀντέχεσθαί σε ἐν τούτῳ, καί γε ἀπὸ τούτου μὴ μιάνῃς τὴν χεῖρά σου, ὅτι φοβουμένοις τὸν Θεὸν ἐξελεύσεται τὰ πάντα.

19 ῾Η σοφία βοηθήσει τῷ σοφῷ ὑπὲρ δέκα ἐξουσιάζοντας τοὺς ὄντας ἐν τῇ πόλει·

20 ὅτι ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἔστι δίκαιος ἐν τῇ γῇ, ὅς ποιήσει ἀγαθὸν καὶ οὐχ ἁμαρτήσεται.

21 καί γε εἰς πάντας λόγους, οὓς λαλήσουσιν ἀσεβεῖς, μὴ θῇς καρδίαν σου, ὅπως μὴ ἀκούσῃς τοῦ δούλου σου καταρωμένου σε·

22 ὅτι πλειστάκις πονηρεύσεταί σε καὶ καθόδους πολλὰς κακώσει καρδίαν σου, ὅτι ὡς καί γε σὺ κατηράσω ἑτέρους.

23 Πάντα ταῦτα ἐπείρασα ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ· εἶπα· σοφισθήσομαι,

24 καὶ αὐτὴ ἐμακρύνθη ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ μακρὰν ὑπὲρ ὃ ἦν, καὶ βαθὺ βάθος, τίς εὑρήσει αὐτό;

25 ἐκύκλωσα ἐγώ, καὶ ἡ καρδία μου τοῦ γνῶναι καὶ τοῦ κατασκέψασθαι καὶ τοῦ ζητῆσαι σοφίαν καὶ ψῆφον καὶ τοῦ γνῶναι ἀσεβοῦς ἀφροσύνην καὶ ὀχληρίαν καὶ περιφοράν.

26 καὶ εὑρίσκω ἐγὼ αὐτὴν καὶ ἐρῶ πικρότερον ὑπὲρ θάνατον, σὺν τὴν γυναῖκα, ἥτις ἐστὶ θήρευμα καὶ σαγῆναι καρδία αὐτῆς, δεσμὸς εἰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς· ἀγαθὸς πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐξαιρεθήσεται ἀπ᾿ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἁμαρτάνων συλληφθήσεται ἐν αὐτῇ.

27 ἰδὲ τοῦτο εὗρον, εἶπεν ὁ ἐκκλησιαστής, μία τῇ μιᾷ τοῦ εὑρεῖν λογισμόν,

28 ὃν ἐπεζήτησεν ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ οὐχ εὗρον· καὶ ἄνθρωπον ἕνα ἀπὸ χιλίων εὗρον καὶ γυναῖκα ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐχ εὗρον.

29 πλὴν ἰδὲ τοῦτο εὗρον, ὃ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς σὺν τὸν ἄνθρωπον εὐθῆ, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐζήτησαν λογισμοὺς πολλούς.


8

ΤΙΣ οἶδε σοφούς; καὶ τίς οἶδε λύσιν ρήματος; σοφία ἀνθρώπου φωτιεῖ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναιδὴς προσώπῳ αὐτοῦ μισηθήσεται.

 

2 στόμα βασιλέως φύλαξον καὶ περὶ λόγου ὅρκου Θεοῦ μὴ σπουδάσῃς.

3 ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πορεύσῃ, μὴ στῇς ἐν λόγῳ πονηρῷ· ὅτι πᾶν ὃ ἐὰν θελήσῃ, ποιήσει,

 

4 καθὼς βασιλεὺς ἐξουσιάζων, καὶ τίς ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ· τί ποιεῖς;

5 ὁ φυλάσσων ἐντολὴν οὐ γνώσεται ρῆμα πονηρόν, καὶ καιρὸν κρίσεως γινώσκει καρδία σοφοῦ·

6 ὅτι παντὶ πράγματί ἐστι καιρὸς καὶ κρίσις, ὅτι γνῶσις τοῦ ἀνθρώπου πολλὴ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν·

7 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι γινώσκων τί τό ἐσόμενον ὅτι καθὼς ἔσται τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;

8 οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ἐξουσιάζων ἐν πνεύματι τοῦ κωλῦσαι σὺν τὸ πνεῦμα· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξουσία ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θανάτου, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀποστολὴ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πολέμου, καὶ οὐ διασώσει ἀσέβεια τὸν παρ᾿ αὐτῆς.

9 καὶ σὺν πᾶν τοῦτο εἶδον καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου εἰς πᾶν τὸ ποίημα, ὃ πεποίηται ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, τὰ ὅσα ἐξουσιάσατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ κακῶσαι αὐτόν.

10 καὶ τότε εἶδον ἀσεβεῖς εἰς τάφους εἰσαχθέντας, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἁγίου, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐπῃνέθησαν ἐν τῇ πόλει, ὅτι οὕτως ἐποίησαν· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

11 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι γινομένη ἀντίρρησις ἀπὸ τῶν ποιούντων τὸ πονηρὸν ταχύ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐπληροφορήθη καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν.

12 ὃς ἥμαρτεν, ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἀπὸ τότε καὶ ἀπὸ μακρότητος αὐτῶν· ὅτι καί γε γινώσκω ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀγαθὸν τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸν Θεόν, ὅπως φοβῶνται ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ.

13 καὶ ἀγαθὸν οὐκ ἔσται τῷ ἀσεβεῖ, καὶ οὐ μακρυνεῖ ἡμέρας ἐν σκιᾷ ὃς οὐκ ἔστι φοβούμενος ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ.

14 ἔστι ματαιότης, ἣ πεποίηται ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι εἰσί δίκαιοι ὅτι φθάνει ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν ἀσεβῶν, καὶ εἰσὶν ἀσεβεῖς ὅτι φθάνει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν δικαίων· εἶπα ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.

15 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν τὴν εὐφροσύνην, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι εἰ μὴ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι, καὶ αὐτὸ συμπροσέσται αὐτῷ ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὅσας ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

16 ᾿Εν οἷς ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι τὴν σοφίαν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὸν περισπασμὸν τὸν πεποιημένον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ ὕπνον ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστι βλέπων.

17 καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι οὐ δυνήσεται ἄνθρωπος τοῦ εὑρεῖν σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον. ὅσα ἂν μοχθήσῃ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ ζητῆσαι, καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσει· καί γε ὅσα ἂν εἴπῃ σοφὸς τοῦ γνῶναι, οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ εὑρεῖν.

 


9

ΟΤΙ σύμπαν τοῦτο ἔδωκα εἰς καρδίαν μου, καὶ καρδία μου σὺν πᾶν εἶδε τοῦτο, ὡς οἱ δίκαιοι καὶ οἱ σοφοὶ καὶ αἱ ἐργασίαι αὐτῶν ἐν χειρὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, καί γε ἀγάπην καί γε μῖσος οὐκ ἔστιν εἰδὼς ὁ ἄνθρωπος· τὰ πάντα πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ματαιότης ἐν τοῖς πᾶσι.

2 συνάντημα ἓν τῷ δικαίῳ καὶ τῷ ἀσεβεῖ, τῷ ἀγαθῷ καὶ τῷ κακῷ καὶ τῷ καθαρῷ καὶ τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ καὶ τῷ θυσιάζοντι καὶ τῷ μὴ θυσιάζοντι· ὡς ὁ ἀγαθός, ὡς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων· ὡς ὁ ὀμνύων, καθὼς ὁ τὸν ὅρκον φοβούμενος.

3 τοῦτο πονηρὸν ἐν παντὶ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι συνάντημα ἓν τοῖς πᾶσι· καί γε καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐπληρώθη πονηροῦ, καὶ περιφέρεια ἐν καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν ἐν ζωῇ αὐτῶν, καὶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς νεκρούς.

4 ὅτι τίς ὃς κοινωνεῖ πρός πάντας τοὺς ζῶντας; ἔστιν ἐλπίς, ὅτι ὁ κύων ὁ ζῶν, αὐτὸς ἀγαθὸς ὑπὲρ τὸν λέοντα τὸν νεκρόν.

5 ὅτι οἱ ζῶντες γνώσονται ὅτι ἀποθανοῦνται, καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ οὐκ εἰσὶ γινώσκοντες οὐδέν· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι μισθός, ὅτι ἐπελήσθη ἡ μνήμη αὐτῶν·

6 καί γε ἀγάπη αὐτῶν καί γε μῖσος αὐτῶν καί γε ζῆλος αὐτῶν ἤδη ἀπώλετο, καί γε μερὶς οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτοῖς ἔτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐν παντὶ τῷ πεποιημένῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

7 Δεῦρο φάγε ἐν εὐφροσύνῃ τὸν ἄρτον σου καὶ πίε ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀγαθῇ οἶνόν σου, ὅτι ἤδη εὐδόκησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὰ ποιήματά σου.

8 ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ἔστωσαν ἱμάτιά σου λευκά, καὶ ἔλαιον ἐπὶ κεφαλῆς σου μὴ ὑστερησάτω.

9 καὶ ἰδὲ ζωὴν μετὰ γυναικός, ἧς ἠγάπησας, πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ζωῆς ματαιότητός σου τὰς δοθείσας σοι ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι αὐτὸ μερίς σου ἐν τῇ ζωῇ σου καὶ ἐν τῷ μόχθῳ σου, ᾧ σὺ μοχθεῖς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.

10 πάντα, ὅσα ἂν εὕρῃ ἡ χείρ σου τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς σου ποίησον, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι ποίημα καὶ λογισμὸς καὶ γνῶσις καὶ σοφία ἐν ᾅδῃ, ὅπου σὺ πορεύῃ ἐκεῖ.

11 ᾿Επέστρεψα καὶ εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι οὐ τοῖς κούφοις ὁ δρόμος καὶ οὐ τοῖς δυνατοῖς ὁ πόλεμος καί γε οὐ τῷ σοφῷ ἄρτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς συνετοῖς πλοῦτος καί γε οὐ τοῖς γινώσκουσι χάρις, ὅτι καιρὸς καὶ ἀπάντημα συναντήσεται τοῖς πᾶσιν αὐτοῖς.

12 ὅτι καί γε οὐκ ἔγνω ὁ ἄνθρωπος τὸν καιρὸν αὐτοῦ· ὡς οἱ ἰχθύες οἱ θηρευόμενοι ἐν ἀμφιβλήστρῳ κακῷ καὶ ὡς ὄρνεα τὰ θηρευόμενα ἐν παγίδι, ὡς αὐτὰ παγιδεύονται οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰς καιρὸν πονηρόν, ὅταν ἐπιπέσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτοὺς ἄφνω.

13 Καί γε τοῦτο εἶδον σοφίαν ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, καὶ μεγάλη ἐστὶ πρός με·

14 πόλις μικρὰ καὶ ἄνδρες ἐν αὐτῇ ὀλίγοι, καὶ ἔλθῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν βασιλεὺς μέγας καὶ κυκλώσῃ αὐτὴν καὶ οἰκοδομήσῃ ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν χάρακας μεγάλους·

15 καὶ εὕρῃ ἐν αὐτῇ ἄνδρα πένητα σοφόν, καὶ διασώσει αὐτὸς τὴν πόλιν ἐν τῇ σοφίᾳ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἐμνήσθη σὺν τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τοῦ πένητος ἐκείνου.

16 καὶ εἶπα ἐγώ· ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ δύναμιν, καὶ σοφία τοῦ πένητος ἐξουδενωμένη, καὶ οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀκουόμενοι.

17 λόγοι σοφῶν ἐν ἀναπαύσει ἀκούονται ὑπὲρ κραυγὴν ἐξουσιαζόντων ἐν ἀφροσύναις.

18 ἀγαθὴ σοφία ὑπὲρ σκεύη πολέμου, καὶ ἁμαρτάνων εἷς ἀπολέσει ἀγαθωσύνην πολλήν.


10

ΜΥΙΑΙ θανατοῦσαι σαπριοῦσι σκευασίαν ἐλαίου ἡδύσματος· τίμιον ὀλίγον σοφίας ὑπὲρ δόξαν ἀφροσύνης μεγάλην,

2 καρδία σοφοῦ εἰς δεξιὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ καρδία ἄφρονος εἰς ἀριστερὸν αὐτοῦ·

3 καί γε ἐν ὁδῷ ὅταν ἄφρων πορεύηται, καρδία αὐτοῦ ὑστερήσει, καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν.

4 ἐὰν πνεῦμα τοῦ ἐξουσιάζοντος ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ σέ, τόπον σου μὴ ἀφῇς, ὅτι ἴαμα καταπαύσει ἁμαρτίας μεγάλας.

5 ἔστι πονηρία, ἣν εἶδον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὡς ἀκούσιον ὃ ἐξῆλθεν ἀπὸ προσώπου ἐξουσιάζοντος·

6 ἐδόθη ὁ ἄφρων ἐν ὕψεσι μεγάλοις, καὶ πλούσιοι ἐν ταπεινῷ καθήσονται.

7 εἶδον δούλους ἐφ᾿ ἵππους καὶ ἄρχοντας πορευομένους ὡς δούλους ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.

8 ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον εἰς αὐτὸν ἐμπεσεῖται, καὶ καθαιροῦντα φραγμόν, δήξεται αὐτὸν ὄφις.

9 ἐξαίρων λίθους διαπονηθήσεται ἐν αὐτοῖς, σχίζων ξύλα κινδυνεύσει ἐν αὐτοῖς.

10 ἐὰν ἐκπέσῃ τὸ σιδήριον, καὶ αὐτὸς πρόσωπον ἐτάραξε, καὶ δυνάμεις δυναμώσει, καὶ περισσεία τοῦ ἀνδρείου σοφία.

 

11 ἐὰν δάκῃ ὄφις ἐν οὐ ψιθυρισμῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι περισσεία τῷ ἐπᾴδοντι.

12 λόγοι στόματος σοφοῦ χάρις, καὶ χείλη ἄφρονος καταποντιοῦσιν αὐτόν·

13 ἀρχὴ λόγων στόματος αὐτοῦ ἀφροσύνη, καὶ ἐσχάτη στόματος αὐτοῦ περιφέρεια πονηρά,

14 καὶ ὁ ἄφρων πληθύνει λόγους, οὐκ ἔγνω ἄνθρωπος τί τὸ γενόμενον, καὶ τί τὸ ἐσόμενον, ὅτι ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ, τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;

15 μόχθος τῶν ἀφρόνων κοπώσει αὐτούς, ὃς οὐκ ἔγνω τοῦ πορευθῆναι εἰς πόλιν.

16 οὐαί σοι, πόλις, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου νεώτερος καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρωΐ ἐσθίουσι.

17 μακαρία σύ, γῆ, ἧς ὁ βασιλεύς σου υἱὸς ἐλευθέρων καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντές σου πρὸς καιρὸν φάγονται ἐν δυνάμει καὶ οὐκ αἰσχυνθήσονται.

18 ἐν ὀκνηρίαις ταπεινωθήσεται ἡ δόκωσις, καὶ ἐν ἀργίᾳ χειρῶν στάξει ἡ οἰκία.

 

19 εἰς γέλωτα ποιοῦσιν ἄρτον καὶ οἶνον καὶ ἔλαιον τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι ζῶντας, καὶ τοῦ ἀργυρίου ταπεινώσει ἐπακούσεται τὰ πάντα.

20 καί γε ἐν συνειδήσει σου βασιλέα μὴ καταράσῃ, καὶ ἐν ταμιείοις κοιτώνων σου μὴ καταράσῃ πλούσιον· ὅτι πετεινὸν τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀποίσει σὺν τὴν φωνήν σου, καὶ ὁ ἔχων τὰς πτέρυγας ἀπαγγελεῖ λόγον σου.


 

 

    

 

    

       

ECCLESIASTES
 

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.

 

2

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 excels 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.

 

 

3

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 judgment, 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?

 

4

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.

 

5

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.

 

 

6

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?

7 All the labour of a man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite shall not be satisfied.

8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, since even the poor knows how to walk in the direction of life?

9 The sight of the eyes is better than that which wanders in soul: this is also vanity, and waywardness of spirit.

10 If anything has been, its name has already been called: and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is stronger than he.

11 For there are many things which increase vanity. What advantage has a man?

12 for who knows what is good for a man in his life, during the number of the life of the days of his vanity? and he has spent them as a shadow; for who shall tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

7

A good name is better than good oil; and the day of death than the day of birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the banquet house: since this is the end of every man; and the living man will apply good warning to his heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart will be made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

5 It is better to hear a reproof of a wise man, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6 As the sound of thorns under a caldron, so is the laughter of fools: this is also vanity.

7 for oppression makes a wise man mad, and destroys his noble heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof: the patient is better than the high-minded.

9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger will rest in the bosom of fools.

10 Say not, What has happened, that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire in wisdom concerning this.

11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and there is an advantage by it to them that see the sun.

12 For wisdom in its shadow is as the shadow of silver: and the excellence of the knowledge of wisdom will give life to him that has it.

13 Behold the works of God: for who shall be able to straighten him whom God has made crooked?

14 In the day of prosperity live joyfully, and consider in the day of adversity: consider, I say, God also has caused the one to agree with the other for this reason, that man should find nothing after him.

15 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man perishing in his justice, and there is an ungodly man remaining in his wickedness.

16 Be not very just; neither be very wise: lest thou be confounded.

17 Be not very wicked; and be not stubborn: lest thou shouldest die before thy time.

18 It is well for thee to hold fast by this; also by this defile not thine hand: for to them that fear God all things shall come forth well.

19 Wisdom will help the wise man more than ten mighty men which are in the city.

20 For there is not a righteous man in the earth, who will do good, and not sin

21 Also take no heed to all the words which ungodly men shall speak; lest thou hear thy servant cursing thee.

22 For many times he shall trespass against thee, and repeatedly shall he afflict thine heart; for thus also hast thou cursed others.

23 All these things have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24 That which is far beyond what was, and a great depth, who shall find it out?

25 I and my heart went round about to know, and to examine, and to seek wisdom, and the account of things, and to know the folly and trouble and madness of the ungodly man.

26 And I find her to be, and I will pronounce to be more bitter than death the woman which is a snare, and her heart nets, who has a band in her hands: he that is good in the sight of God shall be delivered from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.

 

27 Behold, this have I found, said the Preacher, seeking by one at a time to find out the account,

28 which my soul sought after, but I found not: for I have found one man of a thousand; but a woman in all these I have not found.

29 But, behold, this have I found, that God made man upright; but they have sought out many devices.

 

 

8

Who knows the wise? and who knows the interpretation of a saying? A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated.

2 Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word of the oath of God.

3 Be not hasty; thou shalt go forth out of his presence: stand not in an evil matter; for he will do whatsoever he shall please,

4 even as a king having power: and who will say to him, What doest thou?

5 He that keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing: and the heart of the wise knows the time of judgment.

6 For to every thing there is time and judgment; for the knowledge of a man is great to him.

7 For there is no one that knows what is going to be: for who shall tell him how it shall be?

8 There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and there is no power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in the day of the battle; neither shall ungodliness save her votary.

 

9 So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things wherein man has power over man to afflict him.

 

10 And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs, and that out of the holy place: and they departed, and were praised in the city, because they had done thus: this also is vanity.

11 Because there is no contradiction made on the part of those who do evil quickly, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully determined in them to do evil.

 

12 He that has sinned has done evil from that time, and long from beforehand: nevertheless I know, that it is well with them that fear God, that they may fear before him:

13 but it shall not be well with the ungodly, and he shall not prolong his days, which are as a shadow; forasmuch as he fears not before God.

14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly; and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity.

15 Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry: and this shall attend him in his labour all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun.

 

16 Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought upon the earth: for there is that neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.

17 And I beheld all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun; whatsoever things a man shall endeavour to seek, however a man may labour to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yea, how much soever a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it.

 

9

For I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this.I saw that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: yea, there is no man that knows either love or hatred, though all are before their face. Vanity is in all:

 

2  there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good, and to the bad; both to the pure, and to the impure; both to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifice not: as is the good, so is the sinner: as is the swearer, even so is he that fears an oath.

3 There is this evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yea, the heart of the sons of men is filled with evil, and madness is in their heart during their life, and after that they go to the dead.

 

4 for who is he that has fellowship with all the living? there is hope of him: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5 For the living will know that they shall die: but the dead know nothing, and there is no longer any reward to them; for their memory is lost.

6 also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, have now perished; yea, there is no portion for them any more for ever in all that is done under the sun.

 

7 Go, eat thy bread with mirth, and drink thy wine with a joyful heart; for now God has favourably accepted thy works.

8 Let thy garments be always white; and let not oil be wanting on thine head.

9 And see life with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which are given thee under the sun: for that is thy portion in thy life, and in thy labour wherein thou labourest under the sun.

 

10 Whatsoever thine hand shall find to do, do with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Hades wither thou goest.

 

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor yet wealth to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of knowledge; for time and chance will happen to them all.

 

12 For surely man also knows not his time: as fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as birds that are caught in a snare; even thus the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.

 

13 This I also saw to be wisdom under the sun, and it is great before me:

14 suppose there were a little city, and few men in it; and there should come against it a great king, and surround it, and build great mounds against it;

 

15 and should find in it a poor wise man, and he should save the city through his wisdom: yet no man would remember that poor man.

 

16 And I said Wisdom is better than power: yet the wisdom of the poor man is set at nought, and his words not listened to.

17 The words of the wise are heard in quiet more than the cry of them that rule in folly.

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war: and one sinner will destroy much good.

 

10

Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: and a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.

3 Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.

 

4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.

5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.

 

6 The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.

7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.

8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.

9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.

10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and in that case skill is of no advantage to a man.

11 If a serpent bite when there is no charmer’s whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.

12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.

14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?

15 The labour of fools will afflict them, as that of one who knows not to go to the city.

16 Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!

17 Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.

18 By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.

19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.

20 Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.


next ►►►