The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 1

1   The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of
    Jerusalem.
2   Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities,
    and all is vanity.
3   What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh
    under the sun?
4   One generation passeth away, and another generation
    cometh:  but the earth standeth for ever.
5   The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his
    place:  and there rising again,
6   Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the
    north:  the spirit goeth forward surveying all places
    round about, and returneth to his circuits.
7   All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not
    overflow:  unto the place from whence the rivers come,
    they return, to flow again.
8   All things are hard:  man cannot explain them by word. 
    The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear
    filled with hearing.
9   What is it that hath been?  the same thing that shall be. 
    What is it that hath been done?  the same that shall be
    done.
10  Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to
    say:  Behold this is new:  for it hath already gone before
    in the ages that were before us.
11  There is no remembrance of former things:  nor indeed of
    those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be
    any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.
12  I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
13  And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely
    concerning all things that are done under the sun.  This
    painful occupation hath God given to the children of men,
    to be exercised therein.
14  I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and
    behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
15  The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of
    fools is infinite.
16  I have spoken in my heart, saying:  Behold I am become
    great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were
    before me in Jerusalem:  and my mind hath contemplated
    many things wisely, and I have learned.
17  And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning,
    and errors, and folly:  and I have perceived that in these
    also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,
18  Because In much wisdom there is much indignation:  and he
    that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 2

1   I said in my heart:  I will go, and abound with delights,
    and enjoy good things.  And I saw that this also was
    vanity.
2   Laughter I counted error:  and to mirth I said:  Why art
    thou vainly deceived?
3   I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine,
    that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid
    folly, till I might see what was profitable for the
    children of men:  and what they ought to do under the sun,
    all the days of their life.
4   I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted
    vineyards,
5   I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of
    all kinds,
6   And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood
    of the young trees,
7   I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great
    family:  and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep,
    above all that were before me in Jerusalem:
8   I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the
    wealth of kings, and provinces:  I made me singing men,
    and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men,
    cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine:
9   And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in
    Jerusalem:  my wisdom also remained with me.
10  And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not:  and
    I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and
    delighting itself in the things which I  had prepared: 
    and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own
    labour.
11  And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands
    had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in
    vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind,
    and that nothing was lasting under the sun.
12  I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly,
    (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his
    maker?)
13  And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light
    differeth from darkness.
14  The eyes of a wise man are in his head:  the fool walketh
    in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both
    alike.
15  And I said in my heart:  If the death of the fool and mine
    shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied
    myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my
    own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.
16  For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than
    of the fool for ever, and the times to come shall cover
    all things together with oblivion:  the learned dieth in
    like manner as the unlearned.
17  And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all
    things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation
    of spirit.
18  Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly
    laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after
    me,
19  Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool,
    and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I
    have laboured and been solicitous: and is there any thing
    so vain?
20  Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring any
    more under the sun.
21  For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and
    carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle
    man:  so this also is vanity, and a great evil.
22  For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and
    vexation of spirit, with which he bath been tormented
    under the sun?
23  All his days axe full of sorrows and miseries, even in the
    night he doth not rest in mind:  and is not this vanity?
24  Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul
    good things of his labours?  and this is from the hand of
    God.
25  Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I?
26  God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom,
    and knowledge, and joy:  but to the sinner he hath given
    vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather
    together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but
    this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the
    mind.
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3

1   All things have their season, and in their times all
    things pass under heaven.
2   A time to be born and a time to die.  A time to plant, and
    a time to pluck up that which is planted.
3   A time to kill, and a time to heal.  A time to destroy,
    and a time to build.
4   A time to weep, and a time to laugh.  A time to mourn, and
    a time to dance.
5   A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather.  A time to
    embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
6   A time to get, 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 keep
    silence, and a time to speak.
8   A time of love, and a time of hatred.  A time of war, and
    a time of peace.
9   What hath man more of his labour?
10  I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of
    men to be exercised in it.
11  He hath made all things good in their time, and hath
    delivered the world to their consideration, so that man
    cannot flnd out the work which God hath made from the
    beginning to the end.
12  And I have known that there was no better thing than to
    rejoice, and to do well in this life.
13  For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of
    his labour, this is the gift of God.
14  I have learned that all the works which God hath made,
    continue for ever:  we cannot add any thing, nor take away
    from those things which God hath made that he may be
    feared.
15  That which hath been made, the same continueth:  the
    things that shall be, have already been:  and God
    restoreth that which is past.
16  I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness,
    and in the place of justice iniquity.
17  And I said in my heart:  God shall judge both the just and
    the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing.
18  I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God
    would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts.
19  Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the
    condition of them both is equal:  as man dieth, so they
    also die:  all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing
    more than beast:  all things are subject to vanity.
20  And all things go to one place:  of earth they were made,
    and into earth they return together.
21  Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend
    upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?
22  And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to
    rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion.  For
    who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after
    him?


              The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4

1   I turned myself to other things, and I saw the oppressions
    that are done under the sun, and the tears of the
    innocent, and they had no comforter; and they were not
    able to resist their violence, being destitute of help
    from any.
2   And I praised the dead rather than the living:
3   And I judged him happier than them both, that is not yet
    born, nor hath seen the evils that are done under the sun.
4   Again I considered all the labours of men, and I remarked
    that their industries are exposed to the envy of their
    neighhour:  so in this also there is vanity, and fruitless
    care.
5   The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own
    flesh, saying:
6   Better is a handful with rest, than both hands full with
    labour, and vexation of mind.
7   Considering I found also another vanity under the sun:
8   There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no
    brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his
    eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect,
    saying:  For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good
    things?  in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.
9   It is better therefore that two should be together, than
    one:  for they have the advantage of their society:
10  If one fall he shall be supported by the other:  woe to
    him that is alone, for when he falleth, he hath none to
    lift him up.
11  And if two lie together, they shall warm one another:  how
    shall one alone be warmed?
12  And if a man prevail against one, two shall withstand him: 
    a threefold cord is not easily broken.
13  Better is a child that is poor and wise, than a king that
    is old and foolish, who knoweth not to foresee for
    hereafter.
14  Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh
    forth to a kingdom:  and another born king is consumed
    with poverty.
15  I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the
    second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
16  The number of the people, of all that were before him is
    infinite:  and they that shall come afterwards, shall not
    rejoice in him:  but this also is vanity, and vexation of
    spirit.
17  Keep thy foot, when thou goest into the house of God, and
    draw nigh to hear.  For much better is obedience, than the
    victims of fools, who know not what evil they do.
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5

1   Speak not any thing rashly, and let not thy heart be hasty
    to utter a word before God.  For God is in heaven, and
    thou upon earth:  therefore let thy words be few.
2   Dreams follow many cares:  and in many words shall be
    found folly.
3   If thou hast vowed any thing to God, defer not to pay it: 
    for an unfaithful and foolish promise displeaseth him: 
    but whatsoever thou hast vowed, pay it.
4   And it is much better not to vow, than after a vow not to
    perform the things promised.
5   Give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin:  and say not
    before the angel:  There is no providence:  lest God be
    angry at thy words, and destroy all the works of thy
    hands.
6   Where there are many dreams, there are many vanities, and
    words without number:  but do thou fear God.
7   If thou shalt see the oppressions of the poor, and violent
    judgments, and justice perverted in the province, wonder
    not at this matter:  for he that is high hath another
    higher, and there are others still higher than these:
8   Moreover there is the king that reigneth over all the land
    subject to him.
9   A covetous man shall not be satisfied with money:  and he
    that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them:  so this
    also is vanity.
10  Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat
    them.  And what doth it profit the owner, but that he
    seeth the riches with his eyes?
11  Sleep is sweet to a labouring man, whether he eat lttle or
    much:  but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to
    sleep.
12  There is also another grievous evil, which I have seen
    under the sun: riches kept to the hurt of the owner.
13  For they are lost with very great affliction:  he hath
    begotten a son, who shall be in extremity of want.
14  As he came forth naked from his mother's womb, so shall he
    return, and shall take nothing away with him of his
    labour.
15  A most deplorable evil:  as he came, so shall he return. 
    What then doth it profit him that he hath laboured for the
    wind?
16  All the days of his life he eateth in darkness, and in
    many cares, and in misery, and sorrow.
17  This therefore hath seemed good to me, that a man should
    eat and drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labour,
    wherewith he hath laboured under the sun, all the days of
    his life, which God hath given him:  and this is his
    portion.
18  And every man to whom God hath given riches, and
    substance, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to
    enjoy his portion, and to rejoice of his labour:  this is
    the gift of God.
19  For he shall not much remember the days of his life,
    because God entertaineth his heart with delight,
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 6

1   There is also another evil, which I have seen under the
    sun, and that frequent among men:
2   A man to whom God hath given riches, and substance, and
    honour, and his soul wanteth nothing of all that he
    desireth:  yet God doth not give him power to eat thereof,
    but a stranger shall eat it up.  This is vanity and a
    great misery.
3   If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years,
    and attain to a great age, and his soul make no use of the
    goods of his substance, and he be without burial:  of this
    man I pronounce, that the untimely born is better than he.
4   For he came in vain, and goeth to darkness, and his name
    shall be wholly forgotten.
5   He hath not seen the sun, nor known the distance of good
    and evil:
6   Although he lived two thousand years, and hath not enjoyed
    good things: do not all make haste to one place?
7   All the labour of man is for his mouth, but his soul shall
    not be filled.
8   What hath the wise man more than the fool?  and what the
    poor man, but to go thither, where there is life?
9   Better it is to see what thou mayst desire, than to desire
    that which thou canst not know.  But this also is vanity,
    and presumption of spirit.
10  He that shall be, his name is already called:  and it is
    known, that he is man, and cannot contend in judgment with
    him that is stronger than himself.
11  There are many words that have much vanity in disputing.

              The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 7

1   What needeth a man to seek things that are above him,
    whereas he knoweth not what is profitable for him in his
    life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and the time that
    passeth like a shadow?  Or who can tell him what shall be
    after him under the sun?
2   A good name is better than precious ointments:  and the
    day of death than the day of one's birth.
3   It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to the
    house of feasting:  for in that we are put in mind of the
    end of all, and the living thinketh what is to come.
4   Anger is better than laughter:  because by the sadness of
    the countenance the mind of the offender is corrected.
5   The heart of the wise is where there is mourning, and the
    heart of fools where there is mirth.
6   It is better to be rebuked by a wise man, than to be
    deceived by the flattery of fools.
7   For as the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is
    the laughter of a fool:  now this also is vanity.
8   Oppression troubleth the wise, and shall destroy the
    strength of his heart.
9   Better is the end of a speech than the beginning.  Better
    is the patient man than the presumptuous.
10  Be not quickly angry:  for anger resteth in the bosom of
    a fool.
11  Say not:  What thinkest thou is the cause that former
    times were better than they are now?  for this manner of
    question is foolish.
12  Wisdom with riches is more profitable, and bringeth more
    advantage to them that see the sun.
13  For as wisdom is a defence, so money is a defence :  but
    learning and wisdom excel in this, that they give life to
    him that possesseth them.
14  Consider the works of God, that no man can correct whom he
    hath despised.
15  In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand
    of the evil day:  for God hath made both the one and the
    other, that man may not find against him any just
    complaint.
16  These things also I saw in the days of my vanity:  A just
    man perisheth in his justice, and a wicked man liveth a
    long time in his wickedness.
17  Be not over just:  and be not more wise than is necessary,
    lest thou become stupid.
18  Be not overmuch wicked:  and be not foolish, lest thou die
    before thy time.
19  It is good that thou shouldst hold up the just, yea and
    from him withdraw not thy hand:  for he that feareth God,
    neglecteth nothing.
20  Wisdom hath strengthened the wise more than ten princes of
    the city.
21  For there is no just man upon earth, that doth good, and
    sinneth not.
22  But do not apply thy heart to all words that are spoken: 
    lest perhaps thou hear thy servant reviling thee.
23  For thy conscience knoweth that thou also hast often
    spoken evil of others.
24  I have tried all things in wisdom.  I have said:  I will
    be wise:  and it departed farther from me,
25  Much more than it was:  it is a great depth, who shall
    find it out?
26  I have surveyed all things with my mind, to know, and
    consider, and seek out wisdom and reason:  and to know the
    wickedness of the fool, and the error of the imprudent:
27  And I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is
    the hunter's snare, and her heart is a net, and her hands
    are bands.  He that pleaseth God shall escape from her: 
    but he that is a sinner, shall be caught by her.
28  Lo this have I found, said Ecclesiastes, weighing one
    thing after another, that I might find out the account,
29  Which yet my soul seeketh, and I have not found it.  One
    man among a thousand I have found, a woman among them all
    I have not found.
30  Only this I have found, that God made man right, and he
    hath entangled himself with an infinity of questions.  Who
    is as the wise man?  and who hath known the resolution of
    the word?

              The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 8

1   The wisdom of a man shineth in his countenance, and the
    most mighty will change his face.
2   I observe the mouth of the king, and the commandments of
    the oath of God.
3   Be not hasty to depart from his face, and do not continue
    in an evil work:  for he will do all that pleaseth him:
4   And his word is full of power:  neither can any man say to
    him:  Why dost thou so?
5   He that keepeth the commandments shall find no evil.  The
    heart of a wise man understandeth time and answer.
6   There is a time and opportunity for every business, and
    great affliction for man:
7   Because he is ignorant of things past, and things to come
    he cannot know by any messenger.
8   It is not in man's power to stop the spirit, neither hath
    he power in the day of death, neither is he suffered to
    rest when war is at hand, neither shall wickedness save
    the wicked.
9   All these things I have considered, and applied my heart
    to all the works that are done under the sun.  Sometimes
    one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.
10  I saw the wicked buried:  who also when they were yet
    living were in the holy place, and were praised in the
    city as men of just works:  but this also is vanity.
11  For because sentence is not speedily pronounced against
    the evil, the children of men commit evils without any
    fear.
12  But though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and by
    patience be borne withal, I know from thence that it shall
    be well with them that fear God, who dread his face.
13  But let it not be well with the wicked, neither let his
    days be prolonged, but as a shadow let them pass away that
    fear not the face of the Lord.
14  There is also another vanity, which is done upon the
    earth.  There are just men to whom evils happen, as though
    they had done the works of the wicked:  and there are
    wicked men, who are as secure, as though they had the
    deeds of the just:  but this also I judge most vain.
15  Therefore I commended mirth, because there was no good for
    a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry,
    and that he should take nothing else with him of his
    labour in the days of his life, which God hath given him
    under the sun.
16  And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to understand
    the distraction that is upon earth:  for there are some
    that day and night take no sleep with their eyes.
17  And I understood that man can find no reason of all those
    works of God that are done under the sun:  and the more he
    shall labour to seek, so much the less shall he find: 
    yea, though the wise man shall say, that he knoweth it, he
    shall not be able to find it.

              The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9

1   All these things have I considered in my heart, that I
    might carefully understand them:  there are just men and
    wise men, and their works are in the hand of God:  and yet
    man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:
2   But all things are kept uncertain for the time to come,
    because all things equally happen to the just and to the
    wicked, to the good and to the evil, to the clean and to
    the unclean, to him that offereth victims, and to him that
    despiseth sacrifices.  As the good is, so also is the
    sinner:  as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.
3   This is a very great evil among all things that are done
    under the sun, that the same things happen to all men: 
    whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled
    with evil, and with contempt while they live, and
    afterwards they shall be brought down to hell.
4   There is no man that liveth always, or that hopeth for
    this:  a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5   For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know
    nothing more, neither have they a reward any more:  for
    the memory of them is forgotten.
6   Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy are all
    perished, neither have they any part in this world, and in
    the work that is done under the sun.
7   Go then, and eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine
    with gladness: because thy works please God.
8   At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil
    depart from thy head.
9   Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the days
    of thy unsteady life, which are given to thee under the
    sun, all the time of thy vanity:  for this is thy portion
    in life, and in thy labour wherewith thou labourest under
    the sun.
10  Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly:  for
    neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom, nor knowledge shall
    be in hell, whither thou art hastening.
11  I turned me to another thing, and I saw that under the
    sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
    strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the learned,
    nor favour to the skilful:  but time and chance in all.
12  Man knoweth not his own end:  but as fishes are taken with
    the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men
    are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come
    upon them.
13  This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and it seemed
    to me to be very great:
14  A little city, and few men in it:  there came against it
    a great king, and invested it, and built bulwarks round
    about it, and the siege was perfect.
15  Now there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he
    delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward
    remembered that poor man.
16  And I said that wisdom is better than strength:  how then
    is the wisdom of the poor man slighted, and his words not
    heard?
17  The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the
    cry of a prince among fools.
18  Better is wisdom, than weapons of war:  and he that shall
    offend in one, shall lose many good things.

              The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 10

1   Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment.  Wisdom
    and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived
    folly.
2   The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the
    heart of a fool is in his left hand.
3   Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be
    himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
4   If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee,
    leave not thy place:  because care will make the greatest
    sins to cease.
5   There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it
    were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
6   A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
7   I have seen servants upon horses:  and princes walking on
    the ground as servants.
8   He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it:  and he that
    breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9   He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them:  and he
    that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
10  If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made
    blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened:  and after
    industry shall follow wisdom.
11  If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that
    backbiteth secretly.
12  The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace:  but the
    lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
13  The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his
    talk is a mischievous error.
14  A fool multiplieth words.  A man cannot tell what hath
    been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell
    him?
15  The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow
    to go to the city.
16  Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when
    the princes eat in the morning.
17  Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose
    princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for
    riotousness.
18  By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and
    through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop
    through.
19  For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may
    feast:  and all things obey money.
20  Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not
    evil of the rich man in thy private chamber:  because even
    the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that
    hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 11

1   Cast thy bread upon the running waters:  for after a long
    time thou shalt find it again.
2   Give a portion to seven, and also to eight:  for thou
    knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3   If the clouds be full, they will pour out rain upon the
    earth.  If the tree fall to the south, or to the north, in
    what place soever it shall fall, there shall it be.
4   He that observeth the wind, shall not sow:  and he that
    considereth the clouds, shall never reap.
5   As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how
    the bones are joined together in the womb of her that is
    with child:  so thou knowest not the works of God, who is
    the maker of all.
6   In the morning sow thy seed, and In the evening let not
    thy hand cease: for thou knowest not which may rather
    spring up, this or that:  and if both together, it shall
    be the better.
7   The light is sweet, and it is delightful for the eyes to
    see the sun.
8   If a man live many years, and have rejoiced in them all,
    he must remember the darksome time, and the many days: 
    which when they shall come, the things past shall be
    accused of vanity.
9   Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy
    heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth,
    and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy
    eyes:  and know that for all these God will bring thee
    into judgment.
10  Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy
    flesh.  For youth and pleasure are vain.
 

             The Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 12

1   Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the
    time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which
    thou shalt say:  They please me not:
2   Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars
    be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:
3   When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the
    strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle
    in a small number, and they that look through the holes
    shall be darkened:
4   And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the
    grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at
    the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music
    shall grow deaf.
5   And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid
    in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust
    shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: 
    because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and
    the mourners shall go round about in the street.
6   Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet
    shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain,
    and the wheel be broken upon the cistern,
7   And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was,
    and the spirit return to God, who gave it.
8   Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are
    vanity.
9   And whereas Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the
    people, and declared the things that he had done:  and
    seeking out, he set forth many parables.
10  He sought profitable words, and wrote words most right,
    and full of truth.
11  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails deeply
    fastened in, which by the counsel of masters are given
    from one shepherd.
12  More than these, my son, require not.  Of making many
    books there is no end:  and much study is an affliction of
    the flesh.
13  Let us all hear together the conclusion of the discourse. 
    Fear God, and keep his commandments:  for this is all man:
14  And all things that are done, God will bring into judgment
    for every error, whether it be good or evil.