Ecclesiastes 9:2–3

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.

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.

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.

¹⁶For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

^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.

^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.

¹⁶For there is no remembrance of the wise, more then of the foole for euer; seeing that which now is, in the dayes to come shall be forgotten; and how dieth the wise man? as the foole.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

⁶¶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

⁶¶ Yea though he liue a thousand yeeres twice told, yet hath he seene no good: Doe not all goe to one place?

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.

²¶ It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

²¶ It is better to goe to the house of mourning, then to goe to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the liuing will lay it to his heart.

¹²¶ Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

¹³But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

¹⁴There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

¹²¶ ^*Though a sinner doe euill an hundred times, and his dayes be prolonged; yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that feare God, which feare before him.

¹³But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall hee prolong his dayes which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

^14*There is a vanitie which is done vpon the earth, that there be iust men vnto whom it happeneth according to the worke of the wicked: againe, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the worke of the righteous: I said, that this also is vanitie.

¹⁸Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

¹⁸Seeing hee despised the oath by breaking the couenant (when loe, he had giuen his hand) and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹Therefore thus saith the LORD God, As I liue, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my Couenant that he hath broken, euen it will I recompense vpon his owne head.

³And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

³And I will make thee sweare by the LORD the God of heauen, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife vnto my sonne of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell.

⁸And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

⁹And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

⁸And if the woman wil not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt bee cleare from this my othe: onely bring not my sonne thither againe.

⁹And the seruant put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

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

⁸Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

¹⁰Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

¹¹They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

¹²They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

¹³They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

¹⁴Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

¹⁵What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

¹⁶Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

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?

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

⁸Their seede is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

⁹Their houses are ^†safe from feare, neither is the rod of God vpon them.

¹⁰Their bull gendreth and faileth not, their cow calueth, and casteth not her calfe.

¹¹They send foorth their little ones like a flocke, and their children dance.

¹²They take the timbrell and harpe, and reioyce at the sound of the organe.

¹³They spend their daies ^‖in wealth, and in a moment goe downe to the graue.

^14*Therefore they say vnto God, Depart from vs: for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes.

¹⁵What is the Almightie, that wee should serue him? and what profite should we haue, if we pray vnto him?

¹⁶Loe, their good is not in their hand, the counsell of the wicked is farre from me.

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?

¹⁷And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

¹⁸Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.

¹⁹And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

²⁰And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

¹⁷And the men said vnto her, Wee will bee blamelesse of this thine oath which thou hast made vs sweare:

¹⁸Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt binde this line of scarlet threed in the window which thou didst let vs downe by: and thou shalt ^†bring thy father and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy fathers houshold home vnto thee.

¹⁹And it shall bee, that whosoeuer shall goe out of the doores of thy house into the street, his blood shalbe vpon his head, and wee will bee guiltlesse: and whosoeuer shall bee with thee in the house, his blood shalbe on our head, if any hand be vpon him.

²⁰And if thou vtter this our businesse, then we wilbe quit of thine oath which thou hast made vs to sweare.

³Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.

⁴I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

³Then said hee vnto mee; This is the curse, that goeth forth ouer the face of the whole earth: for ^‖euery one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side, according to it; and euery one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side, according to it.

⁴I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hostes, and it shall enter into the house of the theefe, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remaine in the midst of his house, and shall consume it, with the timber thereof, and the stones thereof.

²⁶And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

²⁶And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honie dropped, but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

⁹¶ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

⁹¶ The heart is deceitfull aboue all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?

¹¹Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

¹¹Because sentence against an euill worke is not executed speedily; therefore the heart of the sonnes of men is fully set in them to doe euill.

¹⁷And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

^17*And I gaue my heart to know wisedome, and to know madnesse and folly: I perceiued that this also is vexation of spirit.

¹⁶How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

¹⁶How much more abominable and filthie is man, which drinketh iniquitie like water?

⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

^5†Behold, I was shapen in iniquitie: and in sinne did my mother conceiue me.

²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

²⁹Being filled with all vnrighteousnes, fornication, wickednesse, couetousnes, maliciousnes, full of enuie, murther, debate, deceit, malignitie, whisperers,

³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despitefull, proude, boasters, inuenters of euill things, disobedient to parents;

³¹Without vnderstanding, couenant breakers, without ^‖naturall affection, implacable, vnmercifull;

³For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

³For we our selues also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceiued, seruing diuers lusts and pleasures, liuing in malice and enuy, hatefull, and hating one another.

¹⁶But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

¹⁶But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumbe asse speaking with mais voice, forbade the madnesse of the Prophet.

²³And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

²³And immediatly the Angel of the Lord smote him, because hee gaue not God the glory, and hee was eaten of wormes, and gaue vp the ghost.

²⁴And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

²⁴And as hee thus spake for himselfe, Festus saide with a lowd voyce, Paul, thou art beside thy selfe, much learning doeth make thee mad.

⁷Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

^7*Then shall the dust returne to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall returne vnto God who gaue it.

²⁵I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

^25†I applyed mine heart to know, and to search, and to seeke out wisdome, and the reason of things, aud to know the wickednes of folly, euen of foolishnesse and madnesse.

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.

^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.

²¹And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

²¹And the LORD smelled a ^†sweete sauour, and the LORD said in his heart, I will not againe curse the ground any more for mans sake; for the ^*imagination of mans heart is euil from his youth: neither will I againe smite any more euery thing liuing, as I haue done.

¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

¹⁷And when he came to himselfe, he said, How many hired seruants of my fathers haue bread inough and to spare, and I perish with hunger?

¹¹And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

¹¹And they were filled with madnesse, and communed one with another what they might doe to Iesus.

²¹For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

²²Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

²³All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

^21*For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed euill thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

^22*Thefts, couetousnesse, wickednesse, deceit, lasciuiousnesse, an euill eye, blasphemie, pride, foolishnesse:

²³All these euill things come from within, and defile the man.

³²The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

³²The wicked is driuen away in his wickednes: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

¹¹And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

¹¹And I punished them oft in euery Synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme, and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them euen vnto strange cities.

⁵¶ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

⁵¶ And God saw, that the wickednes of man was great in the earth, and that ^‖euery imagination of the thoughts of his ^*heart was onely euill ^†continually.

¹⁹For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

²⁰These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

^19*For out of the heart proceed euill thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnes, blasphemies.

²⁰These are the things which defile a man: But to eate with vnwashen hands, defileth not a man.