Ecclesiastes 2:1–3

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

¹⁹And I will say to my soule, Soule, thou hast much goods layd vp for many yeeres, take thine ease, eate, drinke, and be merry.

¹⁵Then 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.

^15*Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing vnder the Sunne, then to eate and to drinke, and to be merrie: for that shall abide with him of his labour, the dayes of his life, which God giueth him vnder the Sunne.

¹GO to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

¹¶ Goe to now, yee rich men, weepe and howle for your miseries that shall come vpon you.

⁵Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

⁵Yee haue liued in pleasure on the earth, and bene wanton: ye haue nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter:

⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

^8‖ When thou saidst, Seeke ye my face, my heart said vnto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seeke.

⁵And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

⁵And the king of Syria said, Goe to, Goe, and I will send a letter vnto the king of Israel. And hee departed, and tooke ^†with him ten talents of siluer, and sixe thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

¹⁶I 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.

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

¹⁶I communed with mine owne heart, saying, Loe, I am come to great estate, and haue gotten ^*more wisedome then all they that haue beene before me in Ierusalem: yea my heart ^†had great experience of wisedome & knowledge.

^17*And I gaue my heart to know wisedome, and to know madnesse and folly: I perceiued that this also is vexation of spirit.

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.

⁹¶ Reioyce, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheere thee in the dayes of thy youth, and walke in the wayes of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into iudgement.

¹⁵Then 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.

^15†Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the foole, so it happeneth euen to me, and why was I then more wise? then I said in my heart, That this also is vanitie.

¹⁷I 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.

¹⁸I 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.

^17†I said in mine heart, God shall iudge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there, for euery purpose and for euery worke.

^18‖I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sonnes of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselues are beasts.

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

³And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

⁴And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

³And ^†they sayd one to another; Goe to, let vs make bricke, and ^†burne them thorowly. And they had bricke for stone, and slime had they for morter.

⁴And they said; Goe to, let vs build vs a city and a tower, whose top may reach vnto heauen, and let vs make vs a name, lest we be scattered abroad vpon the face of the whole earth.

⁷Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

⁷Goe to, let vs go downe, and there cōfound their language, that they may not vnderstand one anothers speech.

¹¹Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

^11*Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compasse your selues about with sparks: walke in the light of your fire, and in the sparkes that ye haue kindled. This shall ye haue of mine hand, yee shall lie downe in sorrow.

⁵¶ The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

⁵¶ ^*The LORD God hath opened mine eare, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backe.

¹³Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

¹³Goe to now ye that say, To day or to morrow wee will goe into such a city and continue there a yere, and buy, and sell, and get gaine:

¹⁹¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

¹⁹¶ There was a certaine rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linnen, and fared sumptuously euery day.

⁶He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

^6†He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moued: for I shall neuer be in aduersitie.

¹THE fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

¹¶ The foole hath sayd in his heart, There is no God: they are corrupt, they haue done abominable workes, there is none that doeth good.

⁶And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.

⁷Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

⁶And in my prosperitie I said, I shall neuer be mooued.

^7† LORD, by thy fauour thou hast made my mountaine to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.

⁷How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

⁸Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

⁷How much she hath glorified her selfe, and liued deliciously, so much torment and sorrow giue her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a ^*Queene, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

⁸Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall bee vtterly burnt with fire, for strong is the Lord God, who iudgeth her.

³For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

³For we our selues also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceiued, seruing diuers lusts and pleasures, liuing in malice and enuy, hatefull, and hating one another.

⁵And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

^5†And now goe to; I will tell you what I will doe to my Uineyard, I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten vp; and breake downe the wall thereof, and it shall be troden downe.

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

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

¹³Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

¹³Euen in laughter the heart is sorrowfull; and the end of that mirth is heauinesse.

²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:

⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

²That he no longer should liue the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

³For the time past of our life may suffice vs to haue wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciuiousnes, lusts, excesse of wine, reuellings, banquetings, and abhominable idolatries.

⁴Wherein they thinke it strange, that you runne not with them to the same excesse of riot, speaking euil of you:

²¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

³Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

⁵It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

⁶For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.

²¶ It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the liuing will lay it to his heart.

^3‖Sorrow is better then laughter: for by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better.

⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fooles is in the house of mirth.

^5* It is better to heare the rebuke of the wise, then for a man to heare the song of fooles.

^6†For as the crackling of thornes vnder a pot, so is the laughter of the foole: this also is vanitie.

³Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

⁴That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

⁵That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

⁶That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.

³Ye that ^*put farre away the ^*euil day, and cause the ^‖seat of violence to come neere:

⁴That lie vpon beds of Yuorie, and ^‖stretch themselues vpon their couches, and eate the lambes out of the flocke, and the calues out of the midst of the stall:

⁵That ^‖chaunt to the sound of the Uiole, and inuent to themselues instruments of musicke, like Dauid:

⁶That ^‖drinke wine in bowles, and anoint themselues with the chiefe ointments: but they are not grieued for the ^†affliction of Ioseph.

¹²And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

¹³And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.

¹²And in that day did the LORD God of hostes call to weeping and to mourning, and to baldnesse, and to girding with sackecloth.

^13*And behold ioy and gladnesse, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine; let vs eate and drinke, for to morrow we shall die.

¹WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

¹¶ Wine is a mocker, strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.

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

^17*And I gaue my heart to know wisedome, and to know madnesse and folly: I perceiued that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹³¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

¹³¶ ^‖Let vs heare the conclusion of the whole matter: Feare God, and keepe his commandements, for this is the whole duetie of man.

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?

¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

¹⁸And bee not drunke with wine, wherein is excesse: but bee filled with the Spirit:

⁹And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

⁹And Iacob said vnto Pharaoh, ^*The dayes of the yeeres of my pilgrimage are an hundred & thirtie yeres: few and euill haue the dayes of the yeeres of my life bene, and haue not attained vnto the dayes of the yeeres of the life of my fathers, in the dayes of their pilgrimage.

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

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

⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes, strong drinke:

^5††Lest they drinke, and forget the Law, and peruert the iudgement of any of the afflicted.

³⁶¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

³⁶¶ And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he held a feast in his house like the feast of a king; & Nabals heart was merry within him, for hee was very drunken: wherefore shee tolde him nothing, lesse or more, vntill the morning light.

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

¹⁵And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that beleeueth, with an infidel?

¹⁶And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idoles? for ye are the Temple of the liuing God, as God hath saide, ^*I will dwell in them, and walke in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

^17*Wherefore come out from among them, and bee yee separate, saieth the Lord, and touch not the vncleane thing, and I will receiue you,

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.

²⁴¶ ^*‖ There is nothing better for a man, then that he should eat and drinke, and that he should make his soule enioy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

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

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

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

¹³And also that euery man should eate and drinke, and enioy the good of all his labour: it is the gift of God.

¹⁸It 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.

¹⁸ It is good that thou shouldest take holde of this, yea also from this withdraw not thine hand: for hee that feareth God, shall come foorth of them all.

²⁵I 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:

^25†I applyed mine heart to know, and to search, and to seeke out wisdome, and the reason of things, aud to know the wickednes of folly, euen of foolishnesse and madnesse.

¹⁴If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

¹⁴If a man die, shall he liue againe? All the dayes of my appointed time will I waite, till my change come.

²⁴¶ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

²⁴¶ ^*No man can serue two masters: for either he will hate the one and loue the other, or else hee will holde to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serue God and Mammon.

²⁹Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

³³Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

^29*Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath rednesse of eyes?

³⁰They that tarry long at the wine, they that goe to seeke mixt wine.

³¹Looke not thou vpon the wine when it is red, when it giueth his colour in the cup, when it moueth it selfe aright.

^32‖At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

³³Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall vtter peruerse things.

^34†Yea thou shalt be as he that lyeth downe in the midst of the sea, or as he that lyeth vpon the top of a mast.

^35†They haue striken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sicke: they haue beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seeke it yet againe.

⁹For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.

¹⁰The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

¹¹Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

¹²So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

^9†‖For all our dayes are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our yeeres as a tale that is told.

^10†The dayes of our yeres are threescore yeeres and ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourescore yeeres, yet is their strength labour and sorrow: for it is soone cut off, and we flie away.

¹¹Who knoweth the power of thine anger? euen according to thy feare, so is thy wrath.

^12†So teach vs to number our daies: that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisedome.