Ecclesiastes 12:4–9

¹⁰Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

^10†*Moreouer, I will take from them the voyce of myrth, and the voice of gladnes, the voice of the bridegrome, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the milstones, & the light of the candle.

³⁵I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?

³⁵I am this day fourescore yeeres olde: and can I discerne betweene good and euill? Can thy seruant taste what I eate, or what I drinke? can I heare any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherfore then should thy seruant bee yet a burden vnto my lord the king?

²²And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

²²And the voyce of harpers and musitions, and of pipers, and trumpetters, shall bee heard no more at all in thee: and no craftsman, of whatsoeuer craft hee be, shall be found any more in thee: and the sound of a milstone shalbe heard no more at all in thee:

¹³If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

¹³If I waite, the graue is mine house: I haue made my bedde in the darknesse.

¹⁷¶ Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

¹⁸And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

¹⁹For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.

²⁰Yet hear the word of the Lord, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.

¹⁷¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider yee, and call for the mourning women, that they may come, and send for cunning women, that they may come.

¹⁸And let them make haste, and take vp a wailing for vs, that our eyes may run down with teares, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

¹⁹For a voyce of wayling is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled? wee are greatly confounded, because wee haue forsaken the land, because our dwellings haue cast vs out.

²⁰Yet heare the word of the LORD, O ye women, & let your eare receiue the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and euery one her neighbour lamentation.

²³For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

²³For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all liuing.

³¹The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

³¹The hoary head is a crowne of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousnesse.

³And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

⁴And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,

⁵My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.

⁶And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

⁷¶ And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

⁸And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

⁹And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

¹⁰And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

³And fortie dayes were fulfilled for him, (for so are fulfilled the dayes of those which are imbalmed) and the Egyptians ^†mourned for him threescore and ten dayes.

⁴And when the dayes of his mourning were past, Ioseph spake vnto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I haue found grace in your eyes, speake, I pray you, in the eares of Pharaoh, saying,

^5*My father made me sweare, saying, Loe, I die: in my graue which I haue digged for me, in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therfore let me goe vp, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come againe.

⁶And Pharaoh said, Goe vp, and bury thy father, according as he made thee sweare.

⁷¶ And Ioseph went vp to bury his father: and with him went vp all the seruants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,

⁸And all the house of Ioseph, and his brethren, and his fathers house: onely their litle ones, and their flockes, and their heards, they left in the land of Goshen.

⁹And there went vp with him both charets and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

¹⁰And they came to the threshing floore of Atad, which is beyond Iordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seuen dayes.

¹⁰With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.

¹⁰With vs are both the gray headed, and very aged men, much elder then thy father.

³²¶ Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.

³²¶ Thou shalt rise vp before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and feare thy God: I am the LORD.

¹⁰For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

¹¹Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

¹²Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

¹⁴Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

¹⁰For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the foole, and the brutish person perish, and leaue their wealth to others.

^11†Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for euer, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their owne names.

¹²Neuerthelesse man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beastes that perish.

^13†This their way is their follie; yet their posteritie approue their sayings. Selah.

^14‖‖Like sheepe they are layd in the graue, death shall feede on them; and the vpright shall haue dominion ouer them in the morning, and their beauty shall consume in the graue, from their dwelling.

¹⁸Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

^18††Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not: vntill I haue shewed thy strength vnto this generation, and thy power to euery one that is to come.

¹⁰Whatsoever 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.

¹⁰Whatsoeuer thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with thy might: for there is no worke, nor deuice, nor knowledge, nor wisedome in the graue, whither thou goest.

³⁸And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

³⁸And he said, My sonne shall not goe downe with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischiefe befall him by the way in the which yee goe, then shall ye bring downe my gray haires with sorrow to the graue.

²⁹And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

²⁹And if ye take this also from me, and mischiefe befall him, ye shall bring downe my gray haires with sorrow to the graue.

³¹It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

³¹It shall come to passe, when he seeth that the lad is not with vs, that he will die, and thy seruants shall bring downe the gray haires of thy seruant our father with sorrow to the graue.

²⁷And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

²⁷And as it is appointed vnto men once to die, but after this the Iudgement:

⁴And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

⁴And euen to your old age I am he, and euen to hoare haires will I cary you: I haue made, and I will beare, euen I wil cary and wil deliuer you.

¹¹¶ Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

¹¹¶ Moreouer, the word of the LORD came vnto me, saying; Ieremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rodde of an almond tree.

³⁸And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

³⁹And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

³⁸And hee commeth to the house of the Ruler of the Synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

³⁹And when he was come in, hee saith vnto them, Why make yee this adoe, and weepe? the damosell is not dead, but sleepeth.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

^29*The glory of yong men is their strength: and the beautie of old men is the gray head.

²And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:

³And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.

²And said vnto mee, What seest thou? and I said, I haue looked, and behold a candlesticke all of gold, ^†with a bowle vpon the top of it, and his seuen lampes thereon, and ^‖seuen pipes to the seuen lampes, which were vpon the top thereof.

³And two Oliue trees by it, one vpon the right side of the bowle, and the other vpon the left side thereof.

²And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

^2*And many of them that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to euerlasting life, and some to shame and euerlasting contempt.

²⁰All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

²¹Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

²⁰All goe vnto one place, all are of the dust, and all turne to dust againe.

^21††Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth vpward; and the spirit of the beast that goeth downeward to the earth?

⁴His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.

⁴His breath goeth foorth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish.

¹⁹In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

¹⁹In the sweate of thy face shalt thou eate bread, till thou returne vnto the ground: for out of it wast thou taken, for dust thou art, and vnto dust shalt thou returne.

¹⁴If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

¹⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

^14*If he set his heart ^†vpon man, if he gather vnto himselfe his spirit and his breath;

^15*All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turne againe vnto dust.

¹THE burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

¹¶ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth foorth the Heauens, and laith the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

¹⁶For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

¹⁶For I will not contend for euer, neither will I be alwayes wroth: for the spirit should faile before me, and the soules which I haue made.

⁷And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

⁷And the LORD God formed man ^†* of the dust of the ground, & breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and ^*man became a liuing soule.

²²And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

²²And they fell vpon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shal one man sinne, and wilt thou be wroth with all the Congregation?

¹¹His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

¹¹His bones are ful of the sinne of his youth, which shall ye downe with him in the dust.

¹⁶Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

¹⁶Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man ouer the Congregation,

¹⁶So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.

¹⁶So the king sware secretly vnto Ieremiah, saying, As the LORD liueth that made vs this soule, I wil not put thee to death, neither will I giue thee into the hand of these men that seeke thy life.

³Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

³Thou turnest man to destruction: and sayest, Returne yee children of men.

²⁷And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

²⁷And Abraham answered, and said, Behold now, I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes.

⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

⁹Furthermore, wee haue had fathers of our flesh, which corrected vs, and we gaue them reuerence: shall we not much rather bee in subiection vnto the Father of Spirits, and liue?

¹⁹How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?

²⁰They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.

¹⁹Howe much lesse on them that dwell in ^*houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth.

²⁰They are ^†destroyed from morning to euening: they perish for euer, without any regarding it.

²³To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

²³To the generall assembly, and Church of the first borne which are ^‖written in heauen, and to God the Iudge of all, and to the spirits of iust men made perfect:

²¹And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

²¹And why doest thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquitie? for now shall I sleepe in the dust, and thou shalt seeke me in the morning, but I shall not be.

²Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

^2*Uanitie of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanitie of vanities, all is vanitie.

¹²For 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?

^12†*For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the dayes of his vaine life, which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shal be after him vnder the sunne?

⁸There 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.

^8*‖ There is no man that hath power ouer the spirit to retaine the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that warre, neither shall wickednesse deliuer those that are giuen to it.

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

¹⁴I haue seene all the workes that are done vnder the Sunne, and behold, all is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

¹⁷Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

¹⁷Therefore I hated life, because the worke that is wrought vnder the Sunne is grieuous vnto mee: for all is vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

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.

⁴¶ ^††Againe I considered all trauaile, and euery right worke, that for this a man is enuied of his neighbour: this is also vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

⁹Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

^9‖Surely men of low degree are vanitie, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the ballance, they are altogether lighter then vanitie.

³²And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

³²And he spake three thousand prouerbes: and his songs were a thousand and fiue.

¹THE proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

¹¶ The Prouerbes of Solomon the sonne of Dauid, King of Israel,

¹THESE are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

¹¶ These are also Prouerbes of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Iudah copied out.

⁸Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.

⁸Happie are thy men, happy are these thy seruants, which stand continually before thee, and that heare thy wisedom.

¹THE proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

¹¶ ^*The Prouerbes of Solomon: A wise sonne maketh a glad father: but a foolish sonne is the heauinesse of his mother.

¹²¶ Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

¹³I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.

¹⁴And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)

¹⁵And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,

¹⁶Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.

¹⁷And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

¹⁸And the Lord said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.

¹⁹Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.

²⁰And the Lord hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

²¹And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.

¹²¶ Then spake Solomon; The LORD ^*said that hee would dwell in the thicke darkenesse.

¹³I haue surely built thee an house to dwel in, a setled place for thee to abide in for euer.

¹⁴And the King turned his face about, and blessed all the Congregation of Israel: (and all the Congregation of Israel stood.)

¹⁵And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth vnto Dauid my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying;

¹⁶Since the day that I brought foorth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no citie out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house that my Name might be therein; but I chose ^*Dauid to be ouer my people Israel.

¹⁷And it was in the heart of Dauid my father, to builde an house for the Name of the LORD God of Israel.

¹⁸And the LORD sayd vnto Dauid my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house vnto my Name, thou diddest well that it was in thine heart.

¹⁹Neuerthelesse, thou shalt not build the house, but thy sonne that shall come foorth out of thy loynes, hee shall build the house vnto my Name.

²⁰And the LORD hath perfourmed his word that he spake, and I am risen vp in the roume of Dauid my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and haue built an House for the Name of the LORD God of Israel.

²¹And I haue set there a place for the Arke, wherein is the Couenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.