Ecclesiastes 8:12–14

¹¹But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

^11*But the meeke shall inherite the earth: and shall delight themselues in the abundance of peace.

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

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

⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that feare him, from generation to generation.

¹⁵All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

¹⁵All things haue I seene in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his righteousnes, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednes.

¹⁴I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

¹⁴I know that whatsoeuer God doeth, it shalbe for euer: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doth it, that men should feare before him.

¹⁰Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

¹¹Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

¹⁰Say yee to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eate the fruit of their doings.

^11†Woe vnto the wicked, it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his handes shalbe giuen him.

¹⁸The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

¹⁹They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

¹⁸The LORD knoweth the dayes of the vpright: and their inheritance shall be for euer.

¹⁹They shall not be ashamed in the euill time: and in the dayes of famine they shalbe satisfied.

²⁰There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

²¹And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

²²They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

²³They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

²⁴And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

²⁰There shalbe no more thence an infant of dayes, nor an olde man, that hath not filled his dayes: for the childe shall die an hundreth yeeres olde: but the sinner being an hundreth yeres old, shalbe accursed.

²¹And they shall builde houses, and inhabite them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eate the fruit of them.

^22†They shal not build, and another inhabit: they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the daies of a tree, are the dayes of my people, and mine elect shal long enioy the worke of their hands.

²³They shall not labour in vaine, nor bring forth for trouble: for they are the seede of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

^24*And it shal come to passe, that before they call, I will answere, & whiles they are yet speaking, I will heare.

²²What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

²² What if God, willing to shew his wrath, & to make his power knowen, indured with much long suffering the vessels of wrath ^‖fitted to destruction:

³⁴Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁴Then shall the King say vnto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

³²For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

³³But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

³²For the ^‖turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them.

³³But who so hearkneth vnto mee, shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from feare of euill.

⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

⁵But after thy hardnesse, and impenitent heart, ^*treasurest vp vnto thy selfe wrath, against the day of wrath, and reuelation of the righteous iudgement of God:

³⁰Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.

³⁰Feare before him all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not mooued.

⁵Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

⁶Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

⁷But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

⁸And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the Lord, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.

⁹Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

⁵Moreouer thou knowest also what Ioab the sonne of Zeruiah did to mee, and what he did to the two captaines of the hostes of Israel, vnto ^*Abner the sonne of Ner, and vnto ^*Amasa the sonne of Iether, whom hee slewe, and ^†shed the blood of warre in peace, and put the blood of warre vpon his girdle that was about his loynes, and in his shooes that were on his feet.

⁶Doe therefore according to thy wisedome, and let not his hoare head goe downe to the graue in peace.

⁷But shewe kindnesse vnto the sonnes of ^*Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eate at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.

⁸And behold, thou hast with thee ^*Shimei the sonne of Gera, a Beniamite of Bahurim, which cursed mee with a ^†grieuous curse, in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but hee came downe to meete me at Iordane, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, ^*I will not put thee to death with the sword.

⁹Nowe therefore holde him not guiltlesse: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to doe vnto him, but his hoare head bring thou downe to the graue with blood.

²⁵¶ But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.

²⁵¶ But there was none like vnto Ahab, which did sell himselfe to worke wickednesse in the sight of the LORD, whom Iezebel his wife ^‖stirred vp.

³⁴And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

³⁵And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.

³⁴And a certaine man drew a bow ^†at a venture, and smote the king of Israel betweene the ^†ioynts of the harnesse: wherefore hee sayd vnto the driuer of his charet, Turne thine hand, and cary me out of the hoste, for I am ^†wounded.

³⁵And the battell ^†increased that day: and the king was stayed vp in his charet against the Syrians, and died at euen: and the blood ranne out of the wound, into the ^†mids of the charet.

²⁵Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.

²⁵Thou shalt not eate it, that it may goe well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt doe that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

¹⁶And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

^16*And this also is a sore euill, that in all points as he came, so shall hee goe: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the winde?

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.

¹³Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

¹⁴Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

¹³Therefore thus saith the LORD God; Behold, my seruants shall eate, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my seruants shall drinke, but yee shall be thirstie: behold, my seruants shall reioyce, but yee shall be ashamed.

^14†Behold, my seruants shall sing for ioy of heart, but yee shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howle for vexation of spirit.

⁴¹Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

⁴²For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

⁴³I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

⁴⁴Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

⁴⁵Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

⁴¹Then shall he say also vnto them on the left hand, ^*Depart from me, ye cursed, into euerlasting fire, prepared for the deuill and his angels.

⁴²For I was an hungred, and yee gaue me no meat: I was thirstie, and ye gaue me no drinke:

⁴³I was a stranger, and yee tooke me not in: naked, and ye clothed mee not: sicke, and in prison, and yee visited me not.

⁴⁴Then shall they also answere him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sicke, or in prison, and did not minister vnto thee?

⁴⁵Then shall he answere them, saying, Uerely, I say vnto you, in as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

⁴⁶And ^*these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternall.

²¹Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

²¹Euill pursueth sinners: but to the righteous, good shall be repayd.

¹PRAISE ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

¹¶ ^†Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his Commaundements.

¹³He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.

^13†Hee will blesse them that feare the LORD: both small and great.

⁹O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

^9‖O worship the LORD, in the beautie of holinesse: feare before him all the earth.

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?

¹¹Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

^11†Woe vnto the wicked, it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his handes shalbe giuen him.

²He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

^2*Hee commeth forth like a flower, and is cut downe: he fleeth also, as a shaddow and continueth not.

²¹There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

^21* There is no peace, sayth my God, to the wicked.

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.

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.

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.

¹³Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

¹³Therefore this iniquitie shalbe to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking commeth suddenly at an instant.

¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

¹⁴Whereas yee know not what shalbe on the morow: ^*for what is your life? ^‖It is euen a vapour that appeareth for a litle time, and then vanisheth away.

⁵Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

⁵Yea, the light of the wicked shalbe put out, and the sparke of his fire shall not shine.

⁵That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

^5*That the triumphing of the wicked is ^†short, and the ioy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

³⁰That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

^30*That the wicked is reserued to the day of destruction; they shall bee brought foorth to ^†the day of wrath.

⁶My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

⁷O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

^6*My dayes are swifter then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.

⁷O remember that my life is winde: mine eye ^†shall no more ^†see good.

²⁹And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

²⁹And shall come foorth, ^*they that haue done good, vnto the resurrection of life, and they that haue done euill, vnto the resurrection of damnation.

⁴⁹So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

⁵⁰And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

⁴⁹So shall it be at the ende of the world: the Angels shal come forth, and seuer the wicked from among the iust,

⁵⁰And shal cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

⁵The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

⁵The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loueth violence, his soule hateth.

⁴Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

^4*Man is like to vanity: his dayes are as a shadow that passeth away.

⁵Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

^5†*Behold, thou hast made my dayes as an hand breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily euery man at his best state is altogether vanitie. Selah.

²³But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

^23††But thou, O God, shalt bring them downe into the pit of destruction: Bloody and deceitfull men shall not liue out halfe their dayes, but I will trust in thee.

¹⁵All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

¹⁵All things haue I seene in the dayes of my vanitie: there is a iust man that perisheth in his righteousnes, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickednes.

¹⁴The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

^14*The wise mans eyes are in his head, but the foole walketh in darknes: and I my selfe perceiued also that one euent happeneth to them all.

¹⁵And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

^15†*And now we call the proud happy: yea, they that worke wickednes are set vp, yea they that tempt God, are euen deliuered.

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.

⁷Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

^7*Wherefore doe the wicked liue, become old, yea, are mightie in power?

¹²Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.

¹³Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.

¹⁴For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.

¹²Behold, these are the vngodly: who prosper in the world, they increase in riches.

¹³Uerily I haue cleansed my heart in vaine, and washed my hands in innocencie.

^14†For all the day long haue I bene plagued, and chastened euery morning.

³For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

^3*For I was enuious at the foolish, when I sawe the prosperity of the wicked.

⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:

^5†There is an euill which I haue seene vnder the Sunne, as an errour, which proceedeth from the ruler.

⁴¶ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

⁴¶ ^††Againe I considered all trauaile, and euery right worke, that for this a man is enuied of his neighbour: this is also vanitie, and vexation of spirit.

⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

⁸There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither childe nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches, neither sayth hee, For whom doe I labour, and bereaue my soule of good? this is also vanitie, yea it is a sore trauell.

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?

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?

¹⁷How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

¹⁸They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

¹⁹God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

²⁰His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

²²Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

²³One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

²⁴His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

²⁶They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

²⁸For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

²⁹Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

³⁰That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

³²Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

³³The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

³⁴How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?

¹⁷How oft is the ^‖candle of the wicked put out? and how oft commeth their destruction vpon them? God distributeth sorrowes in his anger.

¹⁸They are as stubble before the winde, and as chaffe that the storme ^†carieth away.

¹⁹God layeth vp his ^†iniquitie for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

²⁰His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drinke of the wrath of the Almightie.

²¹For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his moneths is cut off in the middest?

²²Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he iudgeth those that are high.

²³One dieth ^†in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

²⁴His ^‖breasts are full of milke, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

²⁵And another dieth in the bitternesse of his soule, and neuer eateth with pleasure.

²⁶They shall lie downe alike in the dust, and the wormes shall couer them.

²⁷Behold, I know your thoughts, and the deuices which yee wrongfully imagine against me.

²⁸For ye say, where is the house of the prince? and where are ^†the dwelling places of the wicked?

²⁹Haue ye not asked them that goe by the way? and doe ye not know their tokens?

^30*That the wicked is reserued to the day of destruction; they shall bee brought foorth to ^†the day of wrath.

³¹Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

³²Yet shall hee be brought to the ^†graue, & shall ^†remaine in the tombe.

³³The cloudes of the valley shalbe sweete vnto him, and euery man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

³⁴How then comfort ye me in vaine, seeing in your answeres there remaineth ^†falshood?

²¹He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

²²He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.

²³Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.

²⁴They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

²⁵And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

²¹He euill intreateth the barren, that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

²²He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth vp, ^‖and no man is sure of life.

²³ Though it be giuen him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are vpon their wayes.

²⁴They are exalted for a litle while, but ^†are gone and brought low, they are ^†taken out of the way as al other, and cut off as the tops of the eares of corne.

²⁵And if it be not so now, who will make mee a liar, and make my speach nothing worth?

²²This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

²³If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

²²This is one thing, therefore I said it; he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

²³If the scourge slay suddenly, hee will laugh at the triall of the innocent.

²⁴The earth is giuen into the hand of the wicked: he couereth the faces of the Iudges thereof; if not, where, and who is hee?