Ecclesiastes 11:3–5

¹⁷But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

¹⁷But who so hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother hath need, and shutteth vp his bowels of compassion from him; how dwelleth the loue of God in him?

¹⁰For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

¹⁰For as the raine commeth down, and the snow from heauen, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring foorth and bud, that it may giue seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

¹¹So shall my word bee that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not returne vnto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

⁹Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.

¹⁰Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.

¹¹Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.

¹²They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.

¹³The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.

^9‖Thou visitest the earth and waterest it: thou greatly inrichest it with the riuer of God which is full of water; thou preparest them corne, when thou hast so prouided for it.

^10‖†Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrowes thereof: thou makest it soft with showres, thou blessest the springing thereof.

^11†Thou crownest the yeere with thy goodnesse; and thy paths drop fatnesse.

^12†They drop vpon the pastures of the wildernesse; and the little hilles reioyce on euery side.

¹³The pastures are cloathed with flockes; the valleis also are couered ouer with corne; they shout for ioy, they also sing.

⁷Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

⁷Then said hee vnto the dresser of his Uineyard, Beholde, these three yeeres I come seeking fruit on this figtree, and finde none: cut it downe, why cumbreth it the ground?

⁴⁵And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

⁴⁵And it came to passe in the meane while, that the heauen was blacke with cloudes and winde, and there was a great raine: and Ahab rode and went to Iezreel.

²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

²²And it came to passe that the begger died, and was caried by the Angels into Abrahams bosome: the rich man also died, and was buried.

²³And in hell he lift vp his eyes being in torments, and seeth Abraham afarre off, and Lazarus in his bosome:

²⁴And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, haue mercy on mee, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and coole my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.

²⁵But Abraham saide, Sonne, remember that thou in thy life-time receiuedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus euill things, but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

²⁶And besides all this, betweene vs and you there is a great gulfe fixed, so that they which would passe from hence to you, cannot, neither can they passe to vs, that would come from thence.

¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

¹⁰And now also the axe is layd vnto the root of the trees: ^*Therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.

⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

^4*‖The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he begge in haruest, and haue nothing.

²⁷¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁷¶ ^†Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to doe it.

¹³The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

^13*The slothfull man sayth, There is a lyon without, I shall be slaine in the streetes.

⁸The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

⁸The winde bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tel whence it commeth, and whither it goeth: So is euery one that is borne of the Spirit.

⁵O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

⁵O LORD, how great are thy workes! and thy thoughts are very deepe.

¹⁷Then 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.

¹⁷Then I behelde all the worke of God, that a man cannot finde out the worke that is done vnder the Sunne: because though a man labour to seeke it out, yea further though a wise man thinke to know it, yet shall hee not be able to finde it.

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes past finding out!

²⁸¶ Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

²⁸¶ ^*Hast thou not knowen? hast thou not heard, that the euerlasting God, the LORD, the Creatour of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is wearie? there is no searching of his vnderstanding.

²⁴O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

²⁴O LORD, how manifold are thy workes! in wisedome hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

¹³For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

¹⁵My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

¹⁶Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

¹³For thou hast possessed my reines: thou hast couered me in my mothers wombe.

^14†I will praise thee, for I am fearefully and wonderfully made, marueilous are thy works: and that my soule knoweth right well.

^15‖My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret: and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

^16†‖Thine eyes did see my substance yet being vnperfect, and in thy booke all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned: when as yet there was none of them.

²⁴That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

²⁴That which is farre off, and exceeding deepe, who can finde it out?

⁵Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.

⁶Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

⁷He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

⁸He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.

⁹He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.

¹⁰He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

¹¹The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.

¹²He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.

¹³By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

¹⁴Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

⁵Dead things are formed from vnder the waters, ^‖and the inhabitants thereof.

^6*Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no couering.

⁷He stretcheth out the North ouer the emptie place, and hangeth the earth vpon nothing.

⁸Hee bindeth vp the waters in his thicke clouds, and the cloud is not rent vnder them.

⁹Hee holdeth backe the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud vpon it.

¹⁰Hee hath compassed the waters with bounds, ^†vntill the day and night come to an end.

¹¹The pillars of heauen tremble, and are astonished at his reproofe.

¹²Hee diuideth the sea with his power, and by his vnderstanding he smiteth through ^†the proud.

¹³By his spirit he hath garnished the heauens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

¹⁴Loe, these are parts of his waies, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can vnderstand?

²⁴Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

²⁵Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

²⁸Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

²⁹Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

³⁰Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

³¹For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

³²With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

³³The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

²⁴Remember that thou magnifie his worke, which men behold.

²⁵Euery man may see it, man may behold it afarre off.

²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his yeeres be searched out.

²⁷For hee maketh small the drops of water: they powre downe raine according to the vapour thereof:

²⁸Which the clouds doe drop, and distill vpon man aboundantly.

²⁹Also can any vnderstand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

³⁰Behold, he spreadeth his light vpon it, and couereth ^†the bottome of the sea.

³¹For by them iudgeth he the people, he giueth meate in abundance.

³²With clouds he couereth the light, and commaundeth it not to shine, by the cloud that commeth betwixt.

³³The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattel also concerning ^†the Uapour.

⁴Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.

⁵Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

⁶Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

⁷When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

⁹When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,

¹⁰And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,

¹¹And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

¹²Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;

¹³That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

¹⁴It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

¹⁵And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

¹⁶Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

¹⁷Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

¹⁸Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

¹⁹Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,

²⁰That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

²¹Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

²²Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,

²³Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

²⁴By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

²⁵Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;

²⁶To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

²⁷To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?

²⁸Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

²⁹Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?

³⁰The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

^4*Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the earth? declare, ^†if thou hast vnderstanding.

⁵Who hath layd the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line vpon it?

⁶Wherepuon are the ^†foundations thereof ^†fastened? or who layd the corner stone thereof?

⁷When the morning starres sang together, and all the sonnes of God shouted for ioy.

^8*Or who shut vp the sea with doores, when it brake foorth as if it had issued out of the wombe?

⁹When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thicke darknesse a swadling band for it,

¹⁰And ^‖brake vp for it my decreed place, and set barres and doores,

¹¹And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and heere shall ^†thy proud waues be stayed.

¹²Hast thou commaunded the morning since thy daies? and caused the day-spring to know his place,

¹³That it might take hold of the ^†endes of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?

¹⁴It is turned as clay to the seale, and they stand as a garment.

¹⁵And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arme shalbe broken.

¹⁶Hast thou entred into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

¹⁷Haue the gates of death bene opened vnto thee? or hast thou seene the doores of the shadow of death?

¹⁸Hast thou perceiued the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.

¹⁹Where is the way where light dwelleth? And as for darknesse, where is the place thereof?

²⁰That thou shouldest take it ^‖to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the pathes to the house thereof.

²¹Knowest thou it, because thou wast then borne? or because the number of thy daies is great?

²²Hast thou entred into the treasures of the snowe? or hast thou seene the treasures of the haile,

²³Which I haue reserued against the time of trouble, against the day of battaile and warre?

²⁴By what way is the light parted? which scattereth the East wind vpon the earth.

²⁵Who hath diuided a water-course for the ouerflowing of waters? or a way for the lightning of thunder,

²⁶To cause it to raine on the earth, where no man is: on the wildernesse wherein there is no man?

²⁷To satisfie the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herbe to spring forth.

²⁸Hath the raine a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

²⁹Out of whose wombe came the yce? and the hoary frost of heauen, who hath gendred it?

³⁰The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deepe ^†is frozen.

⁹Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:

^9*Which doth great things & ^†vnsearchable: marueilous things ^†without number.

⁵Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

^5‖Many, O LORD my God; are thy wonderfull workes which thou hast done, and thy thoughts, which are to vs ward: they cannot be reckoned vp in order vnto thee: if I would declare and speake of them, they are moe then can be numbred.

²³Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

²³ Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in iudgement, and in plenty of iustice: he will not afflict.