Ecclesiastes1
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David [beloved], king in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace].2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity.3What profit has a man of all his labour which he takes under the sun?4[One] generation passes away, and [another] generation comes: but the earth abides forever.5The sun also arises, and the sun goes down, and hastes to his place where he arose.6The wind goes toward the south, and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to his circuits.7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from what place the rivers come, there they return again.8All things [are] full of labour; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.9The thing that has been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.10Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it has been already of old time, which was before us.11[There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.12I the Preacher was king over Yisra’el [He Holds Onto The Heel Of God] in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace].13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven: this sore travail has God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] given to the sons of man to be exercised with that.14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and anguish of spirit.15[That which is] crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.16I communed with my own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]: yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is anguish of spirit.18For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow.1I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove youi with gladness, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also [is] vanity.2I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of gladness, What does it?3I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.4I made me great works; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards:5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all [kind of] fruits:6I made me pools of water, to water with that the wood that brings forth trees:7I got [me] servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace] before me:8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar (particular; special; one’s own) treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical instruments, and that of all sorts.9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Yerushalayim [Foundation of Peace]: also my wisdom remained with me.10And whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and anguish of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that comes after the king? [even] that which has been already done.13Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.14The wise man’s eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happens to them all.15Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.16For [there is] no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever; seeing that which now [is] in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dies the wise [man]? as the fool.17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun [is] grievous unto me: for all [is] vanity and anguish of spirit.18Yes, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.19And who knows whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This [is] also vanity.20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.21For there is a man whose labour [is] in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not laboured in it shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.22For what has man of all his labour, and of the anguish of his heart, wherein he has laboured under the sun?23For all his days [are] sorrows, and his travail grief; yes, his heart takes not rest in the night. This is also vanity.24[There is] nothing better for a man, [than] that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].25For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I?26For [God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]] gives to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]. This also [is] vanity and anguish of spirit.1To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;7A time to rend (tear apart; forcefully rip apart), and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.9What profit has he that works in that wherein he laboureth?10I have seen the travail, which God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.11He has made every [thing] beautiful in his time: also he has set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] makes from the beginning to the end.12I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it [is] the gift of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].14I know that, whatsoever God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] does, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] does [it], that [men] should fear before him.15That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] requires that which is past.16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, [that] wickedness [was] there; and the place of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.17I said in my heart, God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for [there is] a time there for every purpose and for every work.18I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.19For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; yes, they have all one breath; so that a man has no preeminence above a beast: for all [is] vanity.20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.21Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?22For what reason I perceive that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?1So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of [such as were] oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but they had no comforter.2For what reason I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.3Yes, better [is he] than both they, which has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.4Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and anguish of spirit.5The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh.6Better [is] an handful [with] quietness, than both the hands full [with] travail and anguish of spirit.7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.8There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [says he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yes, it [is] a sore travail.9Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falls; for [he has] not another to help him up.11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm [alone]?12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.13Better [is] a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.14For out of prison he comes to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becomes poor.15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.16[There is] no end of all the people, [even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and anguish of spirit.1Keep youi foot when youi go to the house of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.2Be not rash with youi mouth, and let not youi heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]: for God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] [is] in heaven, and youi upon earth: therefore let youi words be few.3For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice [is known] by multitude of words.4When youi vow a vow unto God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], defer not to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools: pay that which youi have vowed.5Better [is it] that youi should not vow, than that youi should vow and not pay.6Suffer not youi mouth to cause youi flesh to sin; neither say youi before the angel, that it [was] an error: wherefore should God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] be angry at youi voice, and destroy the work of youi hands?7For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [diverse] vanities: but fear youi God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].8If youi see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for [he that is] higher than the highest regards; and [there be] higher than they.9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field.10He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity.11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, saving the beholding [of them] with their eyes?12The sleep of a labouring man [is] sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.13There is a sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begets a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand.15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.16And this also [is] a sore evil, [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has laboured for the wind?17All his days also he eats in darkness, and [he has] much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.18Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely (attractive; proper (one’s own; peculiar; particular); becoming) [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] gives him: for it [is] his portion.19Every man also to whom God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] answer [him] in the joy of his heart.1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it [is] common among men:2A man to whom God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] gives him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats it: this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.3If a man beget (to be father of; be ancestor of) an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.4For he comes in with vanity, and departs in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.5Moreover he has not seen the sun, nor known [anything]: this has more rest than the other.6Yes, though he live a thousand years twice [told], yet has he seen no good: do not all go to one place?7All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.8For what has the wise more than the fool? what has the poor, that knows to walk before the living?9Better [is] the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this [is] also vanity and anguish of spirit.10That which has been is named already, and it is known that it [is] man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what [is] man the better?12For who knows what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?1A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.2[It is] better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.3Sorrow [is] better than laughter: for by the sadness of the Countenance (Face, appearance; show favor) the heart is made better.4The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools [is] in the house of gladness.5[It is] better to hear the rebuke (reprimand; strongly warn; restrain) of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so [is] the laughter of the fool: this also [is] vanity.7Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart.8Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.9Be not hasty in youi spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools.10Say not youi, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for youi do not enquire wisely concerning this.11Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance: and [by it there is] profit to them that see the sun.12For wisdom [is] a defense, [and] money [is] a defense: but the excellency of knowledge [is, that] wisdom gives life to them that have it.13Consider the work of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]: for who can make [that] straight, which he has made crooked?14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.15All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongs [his life] in his wickedness.16Be not righteous over much; neither make yourself over wise: why should youi destroy yourself?17Be not over much wicked, neither be youi foolish: why should youi die before youi time?18[It is] good that youi should take hold of this; yes, also from this withdraw not youi hand: for he that fears God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall come forth of them all.19Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty [men] which are in the city.20For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that does good, and sins not.21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest youi hear youi servant curse youi:22For oftentimes also youi own heart knows that youi yourself likewise have cursed others.23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it [was] far from me.24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?25I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness [and] madness:26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleases God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.27Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, [counting] one by one, to find out the account:28Which yet my soul seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.29Lo, this only have I found, that God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] has made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.1Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who knows the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.2I [counsel youi] to keep the king’s commandment, and [that] in regard of the oath of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he does whatsoever pleases him.4Where the word of a king [is, there is] power: and who may say unto him, What do youi?5Whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment.6Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man [is] great upon him.7For he knows not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?8[There is] no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [has he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.9All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: [there is] a time wherein one man rules over another to his own hurt.10And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this [is] also vanity.11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.12Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his [days] be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], which fear before him:13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he fears not before God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered].14There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just [men], unto whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked [men], to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also [is] vanity.15Then I commended gladness, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] gives him under the sun.16When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also [there is that] neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes)17Then I beheld all the work of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find [it]; yes further; though a wise [man] think to know [it], yet shall he not be able to find [it].1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, [are] in the hand of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered]: no man knows either love or hatred [by] all [that is] before them.2All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices, and to him that sacrifices not: as [is] the good, so [is] the sinner; [and] he that swears, as [he] that fears an oath.3This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all: yes, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any [thing] that is done under the sun.7Go youi way, eat youi bread with joy, and drink youi wine with a merry heart; for God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] now accepts youi works.8Let youi garments be always white; and let youi head lack no ointment.9Live joyfully with the wife whom youi love all the days of the life of youi vanity, which he has given youi under the sun, all the days of youi vanity: for that [is] youi portion in [this] life, and in youi labour which youi take under the sun.10Whatsoever youi hand finds to do, do [it] with youi might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, to which youi go.11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all.12For man also knows not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so [are] the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it [seemed] great unto me:14[There was] a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.16Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard.17The words of wise [men are] heard in quiet more than the cry of him that rules among fools.18Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good.1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so does] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and] honour.2A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.3Yes also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails [him], and he says to every one [that] he [is] a fool.4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against youi, leave not youi place; for yielding pacifies great offences.5There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceeds from the ruler:6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.8He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.9Whoso removes stones shall be hurt with that; [and] he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to direct.11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.12The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow (to approve, commend, accept) up himself.13The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?15The labour of the foolish wears every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city.16Woe to youi, O land, when youi king [is] a child, and youi princes eat in the morning!17Blessed (Favored by God; happy; prosperous) [are] youi, O land, when youi king [is] the son of nobles, and youi princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!18By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through.19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answer all [things].20Curse not the king, no not in youi thought; and curse not the rich in youi bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.1Cast youi bread upon the waters: for youi shall find it after many days.2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for youi know not what evil shall be upon the earth.3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty [themselves] upon the earth: and if the tree fall to (to do entirely, do wholly) ward (in custody, with a guard; prison) the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be.4He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap.5As youi know not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so youi know not the works of God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] who makes all.6In the morning sow youi seed, and in the evening withhold not youi hand: for youi know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both [shall be] alike good.7Truly the light [is] sweet, and a pleasant [thing it is] for the eyes to behold the sun:8But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes [is] vanity.9Rejoice, O young man, in youi youth; and let youi heart cheer youi in the days of youi youth, and walk in the ways of youi heart, and in the sight of youi eyes: but know youi, that for all these [things] God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] will bring youi into judgment.10Therefore remove sorrow from youi heart, and put away evil from youi flesh: for childhood and youth [are] vanity.1Remember now youi Creator in the days of youi youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw near, when youi shall say, I have no pleasure in them;2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;5Also [when] they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] who gave it.8Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all [is] vanity.9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and [that which was] written [was] upright, [even] words of truth.11The words of the wise [are] as goads, and as nails fastened [by] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end; and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered], and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.14For God-Elōhīm (The Living Word) [The Many Powered] shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether [it be] good, or whether [it be] evil.
TovRose