13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forSaketh them shall have mercy.

14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

154sa roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. 16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that bateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.

Ja. 1. 10. Job 29 16.

c Ps. 32. 5. d ch. 28. 27.

1 Or, set a

city on fire.

e 1 Pe. 5. 8.

2 Heb. Men of blood. fch. 12. 16 Ge, 9. 6.

& 14. 33.

3 Or,

the usurer. h Job 25. 3. M6. 5. 45.

i Ps. 72, 4.

ch. 12. 11.

ch. 13. 24.

I ch. 10. 1.

20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste tom ch. 20. 21 be rich shall not be 4innocent.

21 To have respect of persons is not good: for P for a piece of bread that man will transgress.

& 23. 4.

4 Or, unpunished.

n Ps. 37, 36

& 58. 10.

o ch. 18 5 p Eze. 13. 19.

22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty 5 Or, hath shall come upon him.

23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of 7a de stroyer.

8

an evil eye
hasteth to
be rich.

Ps. 74. 9.
Or, is

made naked. Lk. 11. 28. 7 Heb. a man destroying.

8 Or, matters?

25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust eh. 26. 12. in the LORD "shall be made fat.

26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.

CHAPTER 29

t ch. 13. 10.

u 1 Tim. 6. 6

ch. 19. 17.

w Job 22. 29, ch. 15, 33

& 18. 12. Dan. 4. 37. Mt. 23. 12. Jas. 4. 6. Job 24. 4. y ch. 8. 36.

z Ge. 12. 12 & 20. 2, 11. Jn. 12. 43.

HE, that being often reproved harden- P. 25, 2

eth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 2 When the righteous are 12 in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but dhe that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. 4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but 13 he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

9 Heb. A man of reproofs. 10 Heb.

set on high. 11 Heb. the face of a ruler.

ch. 6. 15. 12 Or, Esth. 3. 15.

increased.

d ch. 5. 9, 10 & 6. 26.

e ch. 10, 1.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour 13 Heb. spreadeth a net for his feet.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

a man of
oblations.

f ch. 31. 1.
P 73. 22.
14 Heb. know.

of Hezekiah.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.

8 Scornful men 1 bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

10 2 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. 12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.

14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for

ever.

15k The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but "the righteous shall see their fall.

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will

not answer.

20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his 8 words?there is more hope of a fool than of him.

21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him be come his son at the length.

22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

23 Aman's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoso is partner with a thief "hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso "putteth his trust in the LORD shall be 10 safe.

26 Many seek 11 the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.

27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked. CHAPTER 30

THE words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even f the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 2 Surely I am more brutish than ang man, and have not the understanding of

4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

5 Every word of God is 2pure: he is a dshield unto them that put their trust in him.

6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 7 Two things have I required of thee; 4deny me them not before I die:

a Jn. 3. 13. Heb. wise,

made wise. Job 38, 4-7. Ps. 104. 3,

5, 6. Isa. 40. 12-15 e ch. 6. 6. 2 Heb. purified. d Ps. 84. 11. 3 Heb. gathered together.

Deu. 4 2.

4 Heb.

withhold not from me.

8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed 5'Or, horse. me with food 6 convenient for me:

Heb. girt in the loins,

9 Lest I be full, and 7deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, 6 Heb. of my and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

10 8Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among

men.

15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, 1 It is enough:

16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough. 17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of 13 the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

19 P The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; "the way of a ship in the 15 midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

allowance.
Mt. 6. 11.

f Deu. 8. 14
& 31. 20
& 32. 15.
7 Heb.
belie thee.
8 Heb. Hurt
not with thy
tongue.

?

ch. 16, 2

ver. 4. ch. 10. 1.

Ps. 131. 1.

jch. 5. 9. Ps. 57. 4.

Deu. 17. 17. 1 Ki. 11. 1. m Ecc. 10. 17.

9 Heh, alter. 10 Heb. of all the sons of affliction. 11 Heb. Wealth.

n Ps. 104. 15. o ch. 27. 20. 12 Heb. bitter of soul. 13 Or, the brook,

14 Heb.

the sons of
destruction.

p Wis. 5. 11.
7 ch. 12. 4

& 18. 22.

Wis. 5. 10, Ecclus. 7. 19.

and of king Lemuel.

upon the earth, but they are 1 exceeding wise:

25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the sum

mer;

26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them 3 by bands;

28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

TH

CHAPTER 31

THE words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my Vows?

3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment 10 of any of the afflicted.

6" Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be 12 of heavy hearts.

7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all 14 such as are appointed to destruction.

9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. 14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

16 She considereth a field, and 16 buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

181 She perceiveth that her merchandise 1 Heb. is good: her candle goeth not out by

night.

19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 2 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with 3 scarlet.

She tasteth,

2 Heb. She spreadeth.

3 Or, double garments.

4 Or, have gotten riches.

22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known "in the gates, a Ru. 3. 11 when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

& 4. 1, 2.

a virtuous woman.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

29 Many daughters 4have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

CHAPTER 1

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, ver. 12. vanity of vanities; dall is vanity.

3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

1 Or, to aflict them. ch. 12. 8. d Ro. 8. 20. e ver. 14, &c. Ps. 62. 9

& 144. 4.

& 5. 16.

5 The sun also ariseth, and the sunch. 3. 9 goeth down, and 3hasteth to his place where he arose.

6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they 5 return again.

8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath 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.

search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man 1 to be exercised therewith.

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 h That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and 2 that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

CHAPTER 2

SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

3 I sought in mine heart 6to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine 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 7all the days of their life.

4 I made me great works; "I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and

I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

a ch. 4. 4

& 5. 11 (Heb.). 1 Heb. give.

2 Heb. sons of my house. ch. 1.3. Ge. 14. 14. Ki. 9. 28 & 10. 10, 14, 21.

7 I got me servants and maidens, and had 2 servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 81 gathered me also silver and gold,1 and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the d provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as 3musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with

me.

10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and 9 this was my portion of all my labour.

11 Then 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 vexation of spirit, and there was no under the sun.

d1 Ki. 20.

14, &c.

2 ch. 3. 12,
13, 22
& 5. 18

& 8. 15.
Lk. 12. 19.

1 Co. 15. 32. 3 Heb. musical instrument and instru ments.

4Or, delight

his senses. f ver. 3.

5 Heb. before him, 9 ch. 3. 22 & 5. 18 & 9. 9.

profith ch. 1. 14.

for

12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly what can the man do that cometh after the king? 7 even that which hath been already done.

13 Then I saw 8that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14 The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it 10happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.

16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man as the fool.

there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, fe. Ps. 49. 10.

9 Heb. to be
far from.
10 Heb.
happeneth

to me, even
to me.

11 Or, seek.
ch. 6, 8, 11

& 7. 11, 16
& 12. 9, 12.

17 Therefore I hated life; because them Ge. 44. 13. work that is wrought under the sun is n ch. 1. 3. & 2. 22. grievous unto me: for all is vanity and o ch. 1. 13 vexation of spirit. p Ge.3. 17-19. 9 ch. 1. 14. Ge. 1. 31.

18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had 12 taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall het have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.

20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

12 Heb. laboured. P. 39. 6. Ps. 31. 14

& 37. 3.

ch. 2. 24.

ch. 5. 19 & 9. 9.

under the sun.

21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh 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.

25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

26 For God giveth to a man that is good 5 in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up. that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

up;

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance: 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to 11 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 to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9" What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the "travail, which P God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing "beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also "that every man should eat. and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and

CHAPTER 4

sons of man. 5 Heb. is ascending.

Ex. 3. 5 & 30. 18-20, ch. 2. 24.

1 Sn. 15. 22. Pro. 15. 8

k ch. 6. 12 & 8. 7

& 10. 14.

6 Or, word. ch. 5. 8

& 7. 7. mEcclus. 7.14. Mt. 6. 7.

COI returned, and considered all the toppressions that are done under the sun and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter: and on the 7side of their oppres-7 Heb. hand. sors there was power; but they had no comforter.

2 Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.

3 Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that 9for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

6'Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

n Nu. 30. 2. o Ps. 50. 14. Pro. 20. 23. p Job 3.

11-22

Mal. 2. 7.

1 Co. 11. 10. 8 Heb. all the rightness of work.

9 Heb. this

is the envy
of a man
from his
neighbour.

r ch. 1. 11.

7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity Pro. 6. 10.

under the sun.

& 24. 33.

t Pro. 15. 16. u ch. 3. 16

& 4 1.

10 Heb.

8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his Eze. 18, 18. labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore tra

Vail,

9 Two are better than one; because

at the will,
or, purpose.

Ps. 12. 5.
P. 39. 6.

y Pa. 37. 16.

under the sun.

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 falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone!

12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, 2 who will no more be admonished.

14 For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

15 I 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 vexation of spirit.

CHAPTER 5

KEEP thy foot when thou goest to

the house of God, and be more ready to hear, j than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.

2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any 6thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

4" When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

6 Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

8 If thou seest "the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not 10 at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

91 Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.