Ecclesiastes 7:23–25

²²Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

²²Professing themselues to be wise, they became fooles:

²⁰Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

^20*Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisedome of this world?

⁵For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

⁵For God doeth know, that in the day ye eate thereof, then your eyes shalbee opened: and yee shall bee as Gods, knowing good and euill.

¹BUT king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

²Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

³And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

⁴For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

⁵For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

⁶And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.

⁷Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

⁸And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

¹¶ But King Solomon loued ^*many strange women, ( ^‖together with y ^e daughter of Pharaoh) women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians & Hittites:

²Of the nations concerning which the LORD said vnto the children of Israel, ^*Yee shall not goe in to them, neither shall they come in vnto you, for surely they will turne away your heart after their gods: Solomon claue vnto these in loue.

³And he had seuen hundred wiues, Princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wiues turned away his heart.

⁴For it came to passe when Solomon was old, that his wiues turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of Dauid his father.

⁵For Solomon went after ^*Ashtoreth the goddesse of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Amorites.

⁶And Solomon did euill in the sight of the LORD, and ^†went not fully after the LORD, as did Dauid his father.

⁷Then did Solomon build an hie place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Ierusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.

⁸And likewise did hee for all his strange wiues, which burnt incense and sacrificed vnto their gods.

¹¹And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

¹²Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

¹¹And God said vnto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thy selfe ^†long life, neither hast asked riches for thy selfe, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thy selfe vnderstanding ^†to discerne iudgement;

¹²Behold, I haue done according to thy word: loe, I haue giuen thee a wise and an vnderstanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like vnto thee.

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

³³O the depth of the riches both of the wisedome and knowledge of God! how vnsearchable are his iudgements, and his wayes past finding out!

¹⁶Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

¹⁶Who onely hath immortalitie, dwelling in the light, which no man can approch vnto, whom no man hath seene, nor can see: to whom be honour and power euerlasting. Amen.

⁸¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

⁸¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your wayes my wayes, saith the LORD.

⁹For as the heauens are higher then the earth, so are my wayes higher then your wayes, and my thoughts then your thouhts.

²⁸And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

^28*And vnto man he said, Behold, the feare of the LORD, that is wisedome, and to depart from euill, is vnderstanding.

⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderfull for me: it is high, I cannot attaine vnto it.

⁷Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

⁸It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

⁷Canst thou by searching finde out God? canst thou finde out the Almightie vnto perfection?

⁸ It is ^†as high as heauen, what canst thou doe? deeper then hell, what canst thou know?

¹²But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

¹³Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

¹⁵It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

¹⁶It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

¹⁷The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

¹⁸No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

¹⁹The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

²⁰Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

²¹Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

²²Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

²³God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

¹²But where shall wisedome bee found? and where is the place of vnderstanding?

¹³Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the liuing.

^14*The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.

^15†It ^*cannot be gotten for golde, neither shall siluer be weighed for the price thereof.

¹⁶It cannot be valued with the golde of Ophir, with the precious Onix, or the Saphire.

¹⁷The golde and the chrystall cannot equall it: and the exchange of it shall not be for ^‖iewels of fine golde.

¹⁸No mention shalbe made of ^‖Corall, or of Pearles: for the price of wisedome is aboue Rubies.

¹⁹The Topaze of Ethiopia shall not equall it, neither shall it be valued with pure golde.

^20*Whence then commeth wisedome? and where is the place of vnderstanding?

²¹Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all liuing, and kept close from the foules of the ^‖ayre.

²²Destruction and death say, Wee haue heard the fame thereof with our eares.

²³God vnderstandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

⁶Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.

^6†Thy righteousnesse is like the great mountaines; thy iudgements are a great deepe; O LORD, thou preseruest man and beast.

¹¹¶ For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.

¹²It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

¹⁴But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

¹¹¶ For this Commaundement which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it farre off.

^12*It is not in heauen, that thou shouldest say, Who shal goe vp for vs to heauen, and bring it vnto vs, that wee may heare it, and doe it?

¹³Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall goe ouer the sea for vs, and bring it vnto vs, that we may heare it, and doe it?

¹⁴But the word is very nigh vnto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest doe it.

¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

^13†The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishnesse: and the end of his talke is mischieuous madnesse.

¹³Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

¹³Up, sanctifie the people, and say, Sanctifie your selues against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, vntill ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

⁵And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

⁹The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

³And through couetousnesse shall they with fained words, make marchandise of you, whose iudgement now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbreth not.

⁴For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, but cast them downe to hell, and deliuered them into chaines of darkenesse, to be reserued vnto iudgment:

⁵And spared not the old world, but saued Noah the eight person a preacher of righteousnesse, bringing in the flood vpon the world of the vngodly:

⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an ouerthrowe, making them an ensample vnto those that after should liue vngodly:

⁷And deliuered iust Lot, vexed with the filthy conuersation of the wicked:

⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing & hearing, vexed his righteous soule from day to day, with their vnlawfull deeds.)

⁹The Lord knoweth how to deliuer the godly out of temptations, and to reserue the vniust vnto the day of iudgement to be punished:

³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

⁶Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

³Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers, walking after their owne lusts,

⁴And saying, Where is the promise of his comming? For since the fathers fell asleepe, all things continue as they were frō the beginning of the creation.

⁵For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heauens were of olde, and the earth ^†standing out of the water, and in the water,

⁶Whereby the world that then was, being ouerflowed with water, perished.

⁷But the heauens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserued vnto fire against the day of Iudgement, and perdition of vngodly men.

⁸But (beloued) bee not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeeres, and a thousand yeeres as one day.

⁹The Lord is not slacke cōcerning his promise (as some men count slacknesse) but is long-suffring to vs-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

¹²And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.

¹²And she answered him, Nay, my brother, doe not ^†force me: for ^*†no such thing ought to bee done in Israel; doe not thou this folly.

¹³And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

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

¹⁵That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

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.

¹³And I gaue my heart to seeke and search out by wisedome, concerning all things that are done vnder heauen: this sore trauell hath God giuen to the sonnes of man, ^‖to be exercised therewith.

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

^15* That which is crooked, cannot be made straight: and ^†that which is wanting cannot be numbred.

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.

¹I SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

²I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

³I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

¹¶ I said in mine heart, Goe to now, I wil prooue thee with mirth, therfore enioy pleasure: and behold, this also is vanitie.

²I saide of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

^3*††I sought in mine heart to giue my selfe vnto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisedome) and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sonnes of men, which they should doe vnder the heauen all the dayes of their life.

¹²¶ And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

¹²¶ ^*‖And I turned my selfe to behold wisedome, and madnesse and folly: for what can the man doe, that commeth after the king? euen that which hath bene already done.

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.

²⁰Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

²⁰Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despaire of all the labour which I tooke vnder the Sunne.

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.

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.

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.

^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.

²⁷Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:

^27‖Behold, this haue I found (saith the Preacher) counting one by one to finde out the account:

¹FOR all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

²All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

³This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

¹¶ ^†For all this I considered in my heart, euen to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their workes, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either loue, or hatred, by all that is before them.

^2*All things come alike to all: there is one euent to the righteous and to the wicked, to the good and to the cleane, and to the vncleane; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, and hee that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

³This is an euill among all things that are done vnder the Sunne, that there is one euent vnto all: yea also the heart of the sonnes of men is full of euill, and madnesse is in their heart while they liue, and after that they goe to the dead.

⁷And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

⁷And the sonnes of Iacob came out of the field when they heard it, and the men were grieued: and they were very wroth, because hee had wrought folly in Israel, in lying with Iacobs daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

¹RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

²Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

¹¶ ^‖*Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I pleade with thee: yet let mee talke with thee of thy iudgements: Wherefore doeth the way of the wicked prosper? Wherefore are all they happie that deale very treacherously?

^2†Thou hast planted them, yea they haue taken root: they grow, yea they bring foorth fruit, thou art neere in their mouth, and farre from their reines.

¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹²Let a beare robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather then a foole in his folly.

¹¹As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

^11*†As a dogge returneth to his vomite: so a foole returneth to his folly.