Ecclesiastes 4:13–16

¹⁶And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king’s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

¹⁶And it came to passe as hee talked with him, that the king said vnto him, Art thou made of the Kings counsell? forbeare; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the Prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath ^†determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened vnto my counsell.

¹BETTER is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

¹¶ ^*Better is the poore that walketh in his integrity, then he that is peruerse in his lippes, and is a foole.

⁹For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

¹⁰Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

⁹For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, ^‖to shewe himselfe strong in the behalfe of them, whose heart is perfite towards him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; therefore, from hencefoorth thou shalt haue warres.

¹⁰Then Asa was wroth with the Seer, and put him in a prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa ^†oppressed some of the people the same time.

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.

⁸And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

⁸And the king of Israel said vnto Iehoshaphat, There is yet one man, (Micaiah the sonne of Imlah) by whom we may enquire of the LORD; but I hate him, for he doth not prophesie good concerning me, but euill. And Iehoshaphat said, Let not the King say so.

¹⁵Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

¹⁶Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

¹⁵Now there was found in it a poore wise man, and hee by his wisedome deliuered the citie; yet no man remembred that same poore man.

^16*Then said I, Wisedome is better then strength: neuerthelesse, the poore mans wisedome is despised, and his words are not heard.

²These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

²These are the generations of Iacob: Ioseph being seuenteene yeeres old, was feeding the flocke with his brethren, and the lad was with the sonnes of Bilhah, and with the sonnes of Zilpah, his fathers wiues: and Ioseph brought vnto his father their euill report.

⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

^6*Better is the poore that walketh in his vprightnesse, then he that is peruerse in his wayes, though he be rich.

²⁰And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.

²¹And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

²²Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

²⁰And the spirit of God ^†came vpon Zechariah the sonne of Iehoiada the priest, which stood aboue the people, and said vnto them: Thus saith God, Why transgresse yee the commandements of the LORD, that yee cannot prosper? Because yee haue forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

²¹And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandement of the king, in the court of the house of the LORD.

²²Thus Ioash the king remembred not the kindnesse which Iehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his sonne: and when he died, he said, The LORD looke vpon it, and require it.

¹⁴¶ Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

¹⁴¶ ^*Then Pharaoh sent and called Ioseph, and they ^†brought him hastily out of the dungeon: And he shaued himselfe, and changed his raiment, and came in vnto Pharaoh.

⁷He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

⁸That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

^7*He raiseth vp the poore out of the dust: and lifteth the needie out of the dung-hill:

⁸That he may set him with princes: euen with the princes of his people.

¹¹To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

^11*To set vp on high those that be low; that those which mourne, may be exalted to safetie.

²⁰The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.

^20*The breath of our nostrels, the anointed of the LORD was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadowe we shall liue among the heathen.

¹²And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

¹²And Iehoiachin the King of Iudah went out to the king of Babylon, hee, and his mother, and his seruants, and his princes, and his ^‖officers: and the king of Babylon tooke him in the eight yeere of his reigne.

⁶So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.

⁶So Iehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Iehoiachin his sonne reigned in his stead.

²⁷¶ And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

²⁸And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;

²⁹And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

³⁰And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

²⁷¶ And it came to passe in the seuen and thirtieth yeere of the captiuitie of Iehoiachin king of Iudah, in the twelfth moneth, on the seuen and twentieth day of the moneth, that Euilmerodach king of Babylon, in the yeere that he began to reigne, did lift vp the head of Iehoiachin king of Iudah out of prison.

²⁸And he spake ^†kindly to him, and set his throne aboue the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,

²⁹And changed his prison garments: and he did eate bread continually before him all the dayes of his life.

³⁰And his allowance was a continuall allowance giuen him of the king, a dayly rate for euery day, all the dayes of his life.

⁷And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

⁷And they slew the sonnes of Zedekiah before his eyes, and ^†put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brasse, and carried him to Babylon.

³¹While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

³¹While the word was in the Kings mouth, there fell a voice from heauen, saying, O King Nebuchad-nezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdome is departed from thee.

³³Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

³⁴Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

³⁵And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

³⁶And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

³⁷¶ And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

³⁸And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

³⁹And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

⁴⁰Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

⁴¹And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

⁴²And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

⁴³And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁴And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

³³Now therfore let Pharaoh looke out a man discreet and wise, and set him ouer the land of Egypt.

³⁴Let Pharaoh doe this, and let him appoint ^‖officers ouer the land, & take vp the fift part of the land of Egypt, in the seuen plenteous yeeres.

³⁵And let them gather all the food of those good yeeres that come, and lay vp corne vnder the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keepe food in the cities.

³⁶And that food shall be for store to the land, against the seuen yeeres of famine, which shall bee in the land of Egypt, that the land ^†perish not through the famine.

³⁷¶ And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his seruants.

³⁸And Pharaoh said vnto his seruants, Can we find such a one, as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?

³⁹And Pharaoh said vnto Ioseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreete and wise, as thou art:

^40*Thou shalt be ouer my house, and according vnto thy word shall all my people be ^†ruled: only in the throne will I be greater then thou.

⁴¹And Pharaoh said vnto Ioseph, See, I haue set thee ouer all the land of Egypt.

⁴²And Pharaoh tooke off his ring from his hand, & put it vpon Iosephs hand, and arayed him in vestures of ^‖fine linnen, and put a gold chaine about his necke.

⁴³And he made him to ride in the second charet which he had: and they cried before him, ^‖Bow the knee: and he made him ruler ouer all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁴And Pharaoh said vnto Ioseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift vp his hand or foote, in all the land of Egypt.

²⁶And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king’s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

²⁷And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king’s house.

²⁶And he tooke away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the kings house, hee euen tooke away all: and he tooke away all the shields of gold ^*which Solomon had made.

²⁷And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them vnto the hands of the chiefe of the ^†guard, which kept the doore of the kings house.

³¹¶ Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

³²And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his fathers had done.

³³And Pharaoh-nechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.

³⁴And Pharaoh-nechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

³¹¶ Iehoahaz was twenty and three yeeres olde when he beganne to reigne, and hee reigned three moneths in Ierusalem: and his mothers name was Hamital, the daughter of Ieremiah, of Libnah.

³²And hee did that which was euill in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

³³And Pharaoh Nechoh put him in bandes at Riblah in the land of Hamath, ^‖that he might not reigne in Ierusalem, and ^†put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of siluer, and a talent of golde.

³⁴And Pharaoh Nechoh made Eliakim the sonne of Iosiah king, in the roume of Iosiah his father, and turned his name to ^*Iehoiakim, and tooke Iehoahaz away: and hee came to Egypt, and died there.

¹IN his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.

²And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets.

¹¶ In his dayes Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came vp, and Iehoiakim became his seruant three yeeres: then hee turned and rebelled against him.

²And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bandes of the Syrians, and bandes of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Iudah to destroy it, ^*according to the word of the LORD, which hee spake ^†by his seruants the Prophets.

⁶And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁶And on this maner did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the King for iudgement: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

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.

⁴⁰And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

⁴⁰And all the people came vp after him, and the people piped with ^‖pipes, and reioyced with great ioy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.

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.

⁵¶ Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

⁶And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

⁷And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

⁵¶ Then Adoniiah the sonne of Haggith exalted himselfe, saying, I wil ^†be king: And he prepared him charets and horesemen, and fiftie men to runne before him.

⁶And his father had not displeased him ^†at any time, in saying, Why hast thou done so? And hee also was a very goodly man, and his mother bare him after Absalom.

⁷And hee ^†conferred with Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the Priest: and they following Adoniiah, ^†helped him.

¹⁰And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins.

¹¹And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹²¶ So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

¹³And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him;

¹⁴And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹⁵Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the Lord, that he might perform his saying, which the Lord spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

¹⁶¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

¹⁰And the young men that were growen vp with him, spake vnto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speake vnto this people that spake vnto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heauy, but make thou it lighter vnto vs; thus shalt thou say vnto them, My litle finger shall bee thicker then my fathers loynes.

¹¹And now whereas my father did lade you with a heauy yoke, I wil adde to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whippes, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹²¶ So Ieroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me againe the third day.

¹³And the king answered the people ^†roughly, and forsooke the old mens counsell that they gaue him:

¹⁴And spake to them after the counsell of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heauy, and I will adde to your yoke; my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

¹⁵Wherefore the king hearkened not vnto the people: for the cause was from the LORD, that hee might performe his saying, which the LORD spake by ^*Ahiiah the Shilonite vnto Ieroboam the sonne of Nebat.

¹⁶¶ So when all Israel saw that the king hearkned not vnto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion haue we in Dauid? neither haue we inheritance in the sonne of Iesse: to your tents, O Israel: nowe see to thine owne house, Dauid. So Israel departed vnto their tents.

¹²And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counseller, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.

¹³¶ And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

¹²And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, Dauids counseller, from his citie, euen from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices: and the conspiracie was strong, for the people encreased continually with Absalom.

¹³¶ And there came a messenger to Dauid, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.

⁷Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

⁸For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.

⁷Where the people of Israel were slaine before the seruants of Dauid, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.

⁸For the battell was there scattered ouer the face of all the countrey: and the wood ^†deuoured more people that day, then the sword deuoured.

⁹¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

⁹¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saued vs out of the hand of our enemies, and he deliuered vs out of the hand of the Philistines, and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.

¹¹Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

^11*Then I looked on all the workes that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to doe: and behold, all was vanitie, and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit vnder the Sunne.

²⁶For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

^26†*For God giueth to a man that is good in his sight, wisedome, and knowledge, and ioy: but to the sinner hee giueth traueile, to gather and to heape vp that he may giue to him that is good before God: This also is vanitie and vexation of spirit.

¹⁹If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

²⁰But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

¹⁹If yee then haue dealt truely and sincerely with Ierubbaal, and with his house this day, then reioyce yee in Abimelech, aud let him also reioyce in you.

²⁰But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and deuoure the men of Shechem and the house of Millo: and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and deuoure Abimeleeh.