Ecclesiastes 4:1–3

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.

¹⁶¶ And moreouer, I sawe vnder the Sunne the place of iudgement, that wickednesse was there; and the place of righteousnesse, that iniquitie was there.

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.

⁸¶ ^†If thou seest the oppression of the poore, and violent peruerting of iudgement, and iustice in a prouince, maruell not at the matter: for he that is higher then the highest, regardeth, and there be higher then they.

¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

¹⁶At my first answere no man stood with mee, but all men forsooke mee: I pray God that it may not bee laid to their charge.

¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully knowen, and that all the Gentiles might heare: and I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lyon.

⁷For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

^7††For the Uineyard of the LORD of hostes is the house of Israel, and the men of Iudah his pleasant plant: and he looked for iudgement, but beholde oppression; for righteousnesse, but behold a crie.

²³But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.

²³But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee: which haue said to thy soule, Bow downe that wee may goe ouer: and thou hast laide thy body as the ground, and as the streete to them that went ouer.

¹³In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

¹⁴And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

¹⁵Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

¹³In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and reuolt, conceiuing and vttering from the heart words of falshood.

¹⁴And iudgement is turned away backward, and iustice standeth a farre off: for truth is fallen in the streete, and equitie cannot enter.

^15‖†Yea truth faileth, and he that departeth from euill maketh himselfe a pray: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him, that there was no iudgement.

⁴Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

⁴Beholde, the hire of the labourers which haue reaped downe your fieldes, which is of you kept backe by fraud, cryeth: and the cryes of them which haue reaped, are entred into the eares of the Lord of Sabaoth.

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

⁹By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to crie: they crie out by reason of the arme of the mightie.

²She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

²Shee ^*weepeth sore in the ^*night, and her teares are on her cheekes: among all her louers she hath none to comfort her, all her friends haue dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

⁹Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O Lord, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.

⁹Her filthines is in her skirts, she remembreth not her last end, therfore she came downe wonderfully: shee had no comforter: O LORD, behold my affliction: for y ^e enemie hath magnified himselfe.

⁵And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

^5‖And I will come neere to you to iudgement, and I will bee a swift witnesse against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppresse the hireling in his wages, the widowe, and the fatherlesse, and that turne aside the stranger from his right, and feare not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

⁵⁶But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

⁵⁶But all this was done, that the ^*Scriptures of the Prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the Disciples forsooke him, and fled:

⁵For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

^5‖For the oppression of the poore, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise (saith the LORD,) I will set him in safetie from him that puffeth at him.

³My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

^3*My teares haue bene my meate day and night; while they continually say vnto me, Where is thy God?

⁹I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

⁹I will say vnto God, My rocke, why hast thou forgotten me? why goe I mourning, because of the oppression of the enemy?

⁷Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

^7*†Their feete runne to euill, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, wasting & destruction are in their paths.

³³The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

³³The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not, eate vp: and thou shalt be onely oppressed and crushed alway:

⁴⁸Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

⁴⁸Therefore shalt thou serue thine enemies, which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakednesse, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron vpon thy necke, vntill he haue destroyed thee.

⁷¶ Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.

⁷¶ ^*Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad: and a gift destroyeth the heart.

¹³And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

¹⁴And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

¹³And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serue with rigour.

¹⁴And they made their liues bitter, with hard bondage, in morter and in bricke, and in all maner of seruice in the fielde: all their seruice wherein they made them serue, was with rigour.

¹⁶And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

¹⁶And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew-women, and see them vpon the stooles, if it be a sonne, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then shee shall liue.

²²And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

²²And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Euery sonne that is borne, yee shall cast into the riuer, and euery daughter ye shall saue aliue.

²³¶ And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

²⁴And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

²³¶ And it came to passe in processe of time, that the king of Egypt died, and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came vp vnto God, by reason of the bondage.

²⁴And God heard their groning, and God remembred his ^*Couenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Iacob.

¹⁶There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

¹⁷But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.

¹⁸Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

¹⁹And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

¹⁶There is no straw giuen vnto thy seruants, and they say to vs, Make bricke: and beholde, thy seruants are beaten; but the fault is in thine owne people.

¹⁷But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let vs goe and doe sacrifice to the LORD.

¹⁸Goe therefore now and worke: for there shall no straw bee giuen you, yet shall ye deliuer the tale of brickes.

¹⁹And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in euill case, after it was said, Yee shall not minish ought from your brickes of your dayly taske.

⁴I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

⁴I also could speake as yee doe: if your soule were in my soules stead, I could heape vp words against you, and shake mine head at you.

²¹Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

²²Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

²¹Haue pity vpon me, haue pitie vpon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

²²Why doe ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

⁷They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

⁸They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

⁹They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

¹⁰They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;

¹¹Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

¹²Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

⁷They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they haue no couering in the cold.

⁸They are wet with the showres of the mountaines, and imbrace the rocke for want of a shelter.

⁹They plucke the fatherlesse from the brest, and take a pledge of the poore.

¹⁰They cause him to go naked without clothing: and they take away the sheafe from the hungry,

¹¹ Which make oyle within their walles, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.

¹²Men groane from out of the city, and the soule of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.

²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

²⁹Returne, I pray you, let it not be iniquitie; yea returne againe: my righteousnesse ^† is in it.

⁷And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

⁸And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

⁷And the anger of the LORD was hot agaiust Israel, and hee solde them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

⁸And that yere they vexed and ^†oppressed the children of Israel: eighteene yeeres, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Iordan, in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

³And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

³And the children of Israel cried vnto the LORD: for he had nine hundred charets of yron: and twentie yeres hee mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

¹³And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.

¹³And this haue yee done againe, couering the Altar of the LORD with teares, with weeping and with crying out, in so much that hee regardeth not the offering any more, or receiueth it with good will at your hand.

¹⁸Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

¹⁸Then shall yee returne and discerne betweene the righteous and the wicked, betweene him that serueth God, and him that serueth him not.

¹AND there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

²For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.

³Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.

⁴There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.

⁵Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.

¹¶ And there was a great crie of the people, and of their wiues, against their brethren the Iewes.

²For there were that said, We, our sonnes, and our daughters are many: therefore wee take vp corne for them, that we may eat, and liue.

³ Some also there were that saide, We haue morgaged our landes, vineyards and houses, that we might buy corne, because of the dearth.

⁴There were also that said, Wee haue borrowed money for the kings tribute, and that vpon our lands and vineyards.

⁵Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and loe, wee bring into bondage our sonnes and our daughters, to bee seruants, and some of our daughters are brought vnto bondage already, neither is it in our power to redeeme them: for other men haue our lands and vineyards.

¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

¹⁶The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁵ As a roaring lyon and a ranging beare: so is a wicked ruler ouer the poore people.

¹⁶The prince that wanteth vnderstanding, is also a great oppressour: but he that hateth couetousnesse, shall prolong his dayes.

³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

^3†A poore man that oppresseth the poore, is like a sweeping raine which leaueth no food.

⁹He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

¹⁰He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

^9†He lieth in waite secretly as a lyon in his denne, he lieth in wait to catch the poore: he doth catch the poore when he draweth him into his net.

^10†‖He croucheth, and humbleth himselfe, that the poore may fall by his strong ones.

⁴I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

^4‖††I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me, refuge failed me: no man cared for my soule.

²⁰Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

²⁰Reproch hath broken my heart, and I am full of heauines: and I looked for some ^†to take pitie, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

⁵Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.

⁵Thou feedest them with the bread of teares: and giuest them teares to drinke in great measure.

⁷All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

^7*All the brethren of the poore doe hate him: howe much more doe his friends goe farre from him? Hee pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

⁸Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.

⁹For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

⁸Mine enemies reproch me all the day: and they that are mad against me, are sworne against me.

⁹For I haue eaten ashes like bread: and mingled my drinke with weeping.

¹¹Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

¹²Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

¹³For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

¹⁴With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

¹⁵Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

¹⁶Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

¹⁷There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

¹⁸There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

¹⁹The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.

²⁰Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

²¹Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

²²Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

²³Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

²⁴For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

²⁵For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

²⁶I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.

¹¹Why died I not from the wombe? why did I not giue vp the ghost when I came out of the bellie?

¹²Why did the knees preuent mee? or why the breasts, that I should sucke?

¹³For now should I haue lien still and beene quiet, I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest,

¹⁴With Kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselues,

¹⁵Or with Princes that had golde, who filled their houses with siluer:

¹⁶Or as an hidden vntimely birth, I had not bene; as infants which neuer saw light.

¹⁷There the wicked cease from troubling: and there the ^†wearie be at rest.

¹⁸ There the prisoners rest together, they heare not the voice of the oppressour.

¹⁹The small and great are there, and the seruant is free from his master.

²⁰Wherefore is light giuen to him that is in misery, and life vnto the bitter in soule?

²¹Which ^†long for death, but it commeth not, and dig for it more then for hid treasures:

²²Which reioice exceedingly, and are glad when they can finde the graue?

²³ Why is light giuen to a man, whose way is hid, ^*and whom God hath hedged in?

²⁴For my sighing commeth ^†before I eate, and my roarings are powred out like the waters.

²⁵For ^†the thing which I greatly feared is come vpon me, and that which I was afraid of, is come vnto me.

²⁶I was not in safetie, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet: yet trouble came.

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¶ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

⁵For 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.

⁶Also 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.

⁴¶ For to him that is ioyned to all the liuing, there is hope: for a liuing dogge is better then a dead Lion.

⁵For the liuing know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither haue they any more a reward, for the memorie of them is forgotten.

⁶Also their loue, and their hatred, and their enuy is now perished; neither haue they any more a portion for euer in any thing that is done vnder the Sunne.

²⁹For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

²⁹For beholde, the dayes are comming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that neuer bare, and the paps which neuer gaue sucke.

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.

⁴For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.

⁵Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.

³¶ If a man beget an hundred children, and liue many yeeres, so that the dayes of his yeeres bee many: and his soule be not filled with good, and also that he haue no buriall, I say, that an vntimely birth is better then he.

⁴For he commeth in with vanitie, and departeth in darkenesse, and his name shall be couered with darkenesse.

⁵Moreouer hee hath not seene the Sunne, nor knowen any thing: this hath more rest then the other.

¹⁹And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

¹⁹And woe vnto them that are with child, and to them that giue sucke in those dayes.

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.

¹⁷Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.

¹⁸Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

¹⁷Because he slew me not from the wombe: or that my mother might haue beene my graue, and her wombe to be alwaies great with me.

^18*Wherefore came I forth out of the wombe to see labour and sorrow, that my daies should be consumed with shame?

²Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

³And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the Lord.

²Oh that I had in the wildernesse a lodging place of wayfaring men, that I might leaue my people, and goe from them: for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

³And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the trueth vpon the earth: for they proceed from euil to euill, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

¹⁸Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

¹⁹I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

^18*Wherfore then hast thou brought me forth out of the wombe? Oh that I had giuen vp the ghost, and no eye had seene me!

¹⁹I should haue bene as though I had not bene, I should haue bene caried from the wombe to the graue.

¹⁰Because it shut not up the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

¹¹Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

¹²Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?

¹³For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,

¹⁴With kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;

¹⁵Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:

¹⁶Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.

¹⁰Because it shut not vp the doores of my mothers wombe, nor hid sorrowe from mine eyes.

¹¹Why died I not from the wombe? why did I not giue vp the ghost when I came out of the bellie?

¹²Why did the knees preuent mee? or why the breasts, that I should sucke?

¹³For now should I haue lien still and beene quiet, I should haue slept; then had I bene at rest,

¹⁴With Kings and counsellers of the earth, which built desolate places for themselues,

¹⁵Or with Princes that had golde, who filled their houses with siluer:

¹⁶Or as an hidden vntimely birth, I had not bene; as infants which neuer saw light.

²²Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

²²Which reioice exceedingly, and are glad when they can finde the graue?

⁶And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

⁷Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

⁸I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

⁹Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

¹¹Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

⁶And I said, O that I had wings like a doue; for then would I flee away and be at rest.

⁷Loe, then would I wander farre off, and remaine in the wildernesse. Selah.

⁸I would hasten my escape from the windie storme, and tempest.

⁹Destroy, O LORD, and diuide their tongues: for I haue seene violence and strife in the citie.

¹⁰Day and night they goe about it vpon the walles thereof: mischiefe also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

¹¹Wickednesse is in the midst thereof: deceite and guile depart not from her streets.

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.