Ecclesiastes 2:2–5

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.

¹BUT Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.

²¶ He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.

³And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.

⁴And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.

⁵And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.

⁶¶ And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.

⁷¶ Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

⁸¶ And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.

⁹All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

¹⁰And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.

¹¹And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.

¹²And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, and for the porch of the house.

¹¶ But Solomon was building his owne house ^*thirteene yeres, and he finished all his house.

²¶ Hee built also the house of the forrest of Lebanon; the length thereof was a hundred cubites, and the breadth thereof fiftie cubites, and the height thereof thirtie cubites, vpon foure rowes of Cedar pillars, with Cedar beames vpon the pillars.

³And it was couered with Cedar aboue vpon the ^†beames, that lay on fortie fiue pillars, fifteene in a row.

⁴And there were windowes in three rowes, and ^†light was against light in three rankes.

⁵And all the ^‖doores and postes were square, with the windowes: and light was against light in three rankes.

⁶¶ And he made a porch of pillars, the length thereof was fiftie cubites, and the breadth thereof thirtie cubites: and the porch was ^‖before them: and the other pillars, and the thicke beame were ^‖before them.

⁷¶ Then hee made a porch for the throne where he might iudge, euen the porch of Iudgement: and it was couered with Cedar from ^†one side of the floore to the other.

⁸¶ And his house where he dwelt, had another court within the porch, which was of the like worke: Solomon made also an house for Pharaohs daughter, ( ^*whom he had taken to wife) like vnto this porch.

⁹All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with sawes, within and without, euen from the foundation vnto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.

¹⁰And the foundation was of costly stones, euen great stones; stones of ten cubites, and stones of eight cubites.

¹¹And aboue were costly stones (after the measures of hewed stones) and Cedars.

¹²And the great court round about, was with three rowes of hewed stones, and a row of Cedar beames, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

²⁷And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:

²⁷And ouer the Uineyards, was Shimei the Ramathite: ^†ouer the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars, was Sabdi the Ziphmite.

¹⁹The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.

²⁰And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.

¹⁹The throne had sixe steps, and the top of the throne was round ^†behind: and there were ^†stayes on either side on the place of the seate, and two lyons stood beside the stayes.

²⁰And twelue lions stood there on the one side and on the other vpon the sixe steps: there was not ^†the like made in any kingdome.

¹⁹There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.

¹⁹ There is a league betweene me and thee, and betweene my father and thy father: behold, I haue sent vnto thee a present of siluer and gold; come and breake the league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may ^†depart from me.

¹AND it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,

¹¶ And ^*it came to passe, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the kings house, and all Solomons desire which hee was pleased to doe,

¹⁰Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.

¹⁰Also he built towers in the desert, and ^‖digged many welles, for hee had much cattell, both in the low countrey, and in the plaines: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountaines, and in ^‖Carmel: for hee loued ^†husbandrie.

¹AND it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the Lord, and his own house,

²That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

³And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.

⁴And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.

⁵Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;

⁶And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

¹¶ And ^*it came to passe (at the end of twentie yeeres, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, & his own house)

²That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.

³And Solomon went to Hamath Zobah, and preuailed against it.

⁴And he built Tadmor in the wildernesse, and all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath.

⁵Also he built Beth-horon the vpper, and Beth-horon the nether, fensed cities with walles, gates and barres:

⁶And Baalath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the charet-cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and ^†all that Solomon desired to build in Ierusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.

¹¹¶ And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the Lord hath come.

¹¹¶ And Solomon ^*brought vp the daughter of Pharaoh out of the citie of Dauid, vnto the house that he had built for her: for hee said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of Dauid king of Israel, because the places are ^†holy, whereunto the Arke of the LORD hath come.

¹⁸¶ Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom’s place.

¹⁸¶ Now Absalom in his life time had taken and reared vp for himselfe a pillar, which is in ^*the Kings dale: for hee said, I haue no sonne to keepe my name in remembrance: And hee called the pillar after his owne name, and it is called vnto this day, Absaloms place.

³⁰The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

³⁰The King spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I haue built for the house of the kingdome, by the might of my power, and for the honour of my maiestie?

¹²Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

¹³And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

¹⁴Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

¹²Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

¹³And when thy heards and thy flocks multiply, and thy siluer and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied:

¹⁴Then thine heart bee lifted vp, and thou forget the LORD thy God (which brought thee foorth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage,

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.

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.

¹NOW will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

¹¶ ^*†Now will I sing to my welbeloued, a song of my beloued touching his vineyard: my wellbeloued hath a vineyard in a very fruitfull hill.

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.

^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.

¹²Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.

^12†Let vs get vp earely to the vineyards, let vs see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appeare, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I giue thee my loues.

¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

¹²My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon, hee let out the vineyard vnto keepers: euery one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of siluer.

¹²My vineyard which is mine, is before me: thou (O Solomon) must haue a thousand, and those that keepe the fruit thereof, two hundred.

¹⁴My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.

¹⁴My beloued is vnto me, as a cluster of ^‖Camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.

⁸¶ And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

⁹And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

⁸¶ And the LORD God planted a garden Eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

⁹And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow euery tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food: the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and euill.

⁴¶ And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.

⁴¶ And it came to passe, that when Zedekiah the king of Iudah saw them and all the men of warre, then they fled and went forth out of the citie by night, by the way of the kings garden, by the gate betwixt the two walles, and hee went out the way of the plaine.

²⁷They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

²⁸Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

²⁹But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

²⁷They did eate, they dranke, they married wiues, they were giuen in mariage, vntill the day that Noe entred into the arke: and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

^28*Likewise also as it was in the dayes of Lot, they did eat, they dranke, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded:

²⁹But the same day that Lot went out of Sodome, it rained fire and brimstone from heauen, & destroyed them all:

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²My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.

²My beloued is gone downe into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feede in the gardens, and to gather lillies.