Category: Ecclesiastes

1 Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.

2 Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.

3 If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.

4 Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.

5 In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.

6 In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.

7 Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.

8 If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.

9 So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.

10 Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the time of affliction arrives and the years draw near, about which you will say, “These do not please me.”

2 Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,

3 when the guardians of the house will tremble, and the strongest men will waver, and those who grind grain will be idle, except for a small number, and those who look through the keyholes will be darkened.

4 And they will close the doors to the street, when the voice of he who grinds the grain will be humbled, and they will be disturbed at the sound of a flying thing, and all the daughters of song shall become deaf.

5 Likewise, they will fear the things above them, and they will dread the way. The almond tree will flourish; the locust will be fattened; and the caper plant will scattered, because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall wander around in the street.

6 Before the silver cord is broken, and the golden band pulls away, and the pitcher is crushed over the fountain, and the wheel is broken above the cistern,

7 and the dust returns to its earth, from which it was, and the spirit returns to God, who granted it.

8 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all is vanity!

9 And since Ecclesiastes was very wise, he taught the people, and he described what he had accomplished. And while searching, he composed many parables.

10 He sought useful words, and he wrote most righteous words, which were full of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like a goad, and like nails deeply fastened, which, through the counsel of teachers, are set forth by one pastor.

12 You should require no more than this, my son. For there is no end to the making of many books. And excessive study is an affliction to the flesh.

13 Let us all listen together to the end of the discourse. Fear God, and observe his commandments. This is everything for man.

14 And so, for all that is done and for each error, God will bring judgment: whether it was good or evil.