CHAPTER 1 **1** The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. **2** Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all _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. **5** The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth 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 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. **10** Is there _any_ thing whereof it may be said, See, this _is_ new? it hath 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. **12** ¶ I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. **13** And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all _things_ that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man 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** _That which is_ crooked cannot be made straight: and 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 **1** I 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 to 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 all 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: **7** I 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 Jerusalem before me: **8** I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, _as_ musical 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 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 profit under the sun. **12** ¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what _can_ the man _do_ that cometh after the king? _even_ that which hath been already done. **13** Then I saw that 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 happeneth 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. **17** Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun _is_ grievous unto me: for all _is_ vanity and vexation of spirit. **18** ¶ Yea, 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. **19** And who knoweth 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 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. **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 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. CHAPTER 3 **1** To every _thing there is_ a season, and a time to every purpose under the 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 break down, and a time to build up; **4** 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 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 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 God doeth _it_, that _men_ should fear before him. **15** That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. **16** ¶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, _that_ wickedness _was_ there; and the place of righteousness, _that_ iniquity _was_ there. **17** I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for _there is_ a time there for every purpose and for every work. **18** I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. **19** For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all _is_ vanity. **20** All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. **21** Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? **22** Wherefore 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? CHAPTER 4 **1** So 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. **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 for 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. **7** Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. **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 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 travail. **9** ¶ Two _are_ better than one; because 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, 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 **1** Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, 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_ thing 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 at the matter: for _he that is_ higher than the highest regardeth; and _there be_ higher than they. **9** ¶ 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. **11** When 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? **12** The 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. **13** There is a sore evil _which_ I have seen under the sun, _namely_, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. **14** But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and _there is_ nothing in his hand. **15** As 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. **16** And this also _is_ a sore evil, _that_ in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? **17** All his days also he eateth in darkness, and _he hath_ much sorrow and wrath with his sickness. **18** ¶ Behold _that_ which I have seen: _it is_ good and comely _for one_ to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it _is_ his portion. **19** Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this _is_ the gift of God. **20** For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth _him_ in the joy of his heart. CHAPTER 6 **1** There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it _is_ common among men: **2** A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this _is_ vanity, and it _is_ an evil disease. **3** ¶ If a man beget 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. **4** For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. **5** Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known _any thing_: this hath more rest than the other. **6** ¶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice _told_, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place? **7** All the labour of man _is_ for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. **8** For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? **9** ¶ Better _is_ the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this _is_ also vanity and vexation of spirit. **10** That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it _is_ man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. **11** ¶ Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what _is_ man the better? **12** For who knoweth what _is_ good for man in _this_ life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun? CHAPTER 7 **1** A 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. **3** Sorrow _is_ better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is 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 the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. **6** For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so _is_ the laughter of the fool: this also _is_ vanity. **7** ¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. **8** Better _is_ the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: _and_ the patient in spirit _is_ better than the proud in spirit. **9** Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. **10** Say not thou, What is _the cause_ that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. **11** ¶ Wisdom _is_ good with an inheritance: and _by it there is_ profit to them that see the sun. **12** For wisdom _is_ a defence, _and_ money _is_ a defence: but the excellency of knowledge _is, that_ wisdom giveth life to them that have it. **13** Consider the work of God: for who can make _that_ straight, which he hath made crooked? **14** In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. **15** All _things_ have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just _man_ that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked _man_ that prolongeth _his life_ in his wickedness. **16** Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? **17** Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? **18** _It is_ good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. **19** Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty _men_ which are in the city. **20** For _there is_ not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. **21** Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: **22** For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. **23** ¶ All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it _was_ far from me. **24** That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? **25** I applied mine 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: **26** And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart _is_ snares and nets, _and_ her hands _as_ bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. **27** Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, _counting_ one by one, to find out the account: **28** Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. **29** Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. CHAPTER 8 **1** Who _is_ as the wise _man_? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. **2** I _counsel thee_ to keep the king’s commandment, and _that_ in regard of the oath of God. **3** Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. **4** Where the word of a king _is, there is_ power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? **5** Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment. **6** ¶ Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man _is_ great upon him. **7** For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? **8** _There is_ no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither _hath 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. **9** All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: _there is_ a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. **10** And 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. **11** Because 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. **12** ¶ Though 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, which fear before him: **13** But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong _his_ days, _which are_ as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. **14** There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just _men_, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked _men_, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also _is_ vanity. **15** Then I commended mirth, because a man hath 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 giveth him under the sun. **16** ¶ When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also _there is that_ neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) **17** Then I beheld all the work of God, 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_; yea further; though a wise _man_ think to know _it_, yet shall he not be able to find _it_. CHAPTER 9 **1** For 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: no man knoweth either love or hatred _by_ all _that is_ before them. **2** All _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 sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as _is_ the good, so _is_ the sinner; _and_ he that sweareth, as _he_ that feareth an oath. **3** This _is_ an evil among all _things_ that are done under the sun, that _there is_ one event unto all: yea, 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. **4** ¶ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. **5** For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. **6** Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any _thing_ that is done under the sun. **7** ¶ Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. **8** Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. **9** Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that _is_ thy portion in _this_ life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. **10** Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do _it_ with thy might; for _there is_ no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. **11** ¶ I 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 happeneth to them all. **12** For man also knoweth 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 falleth suddenly upon them. **13** ¶ This 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: **15** Now 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. **16** Then said I, Wisdom _is_ better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom _is_ despised, and his words are not heard. **17** The words of wise _men are_ heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. **18** Wisdom _is_ better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. CHAPTER 10 **1** Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: _so doth_ a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom _and_ honour. **2** A wise man’s heart _is_ at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. **3** Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth _him_, and he saith to every one _that_ he _is_ a fool. **4** If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. **5** There is an evil _which_ I have seen under the sun, as an error _which_ proceedeth from the ruler: **6** Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. **7** I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. **8** He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. **9** Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; _and_ he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. **10** If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom _is_ profitable to direct. **11** Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. **12** The words of a wise man’s mouth _are_ gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. **13** The beginning of the words of his mouth _is_ foolishness: and the end of his talk _is_ mischievous madness. **14** A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? **15** The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. **16** ¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king _is_ a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! **17** Blessed _art_ thou, O land, when thy king _is_ the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! **18** ¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. **19** ¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all _things_. **20** ¶ Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. CHAPTER 11 **1** Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. **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 of rain, they empty _themselves_ upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. **4** He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. **5** As thou knowest 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 thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. **6** In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both _shall be_ alike good. **7** ¶ Truly the light _is_ sweet, and a pleasant _thing it is_ for the eyes to behold the sun: **8** But 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 cometh _is_ vanity. **9** ¶ Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these _things_ God will bring thee into judgment. **10** Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth _are_ vanity. CHAPTER 12 **1** Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; **2** While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: **3** In 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, **4** And 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 musick shall be brought low; **5** Also _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 goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: **6** Or 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. **7** Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. **8** ¶ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all _is_ vanity. **9** And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, _and_ set in order many proverbs. **10** The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and _that which was_ written _was_ upright, _even_ words of truth. **11** The words of the wise _are_ as goads, and as nails fastened _by_ the masters of assemblies, _which_ are given from one shepherd. **12** And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books _there is_ no end; and much study _is_ a weariness of the flesh. **13** Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this _is_ the whole _duty_ of man. **14** For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether _it be_ good, or whether _it be_ evil.