Ecclesiastes

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This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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contact LibriVox dot org. Reading by Robert Garrison. For more
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The following is a book included in the Holy Scriptures,
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as translated in the American Standard Version. This translation is
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in the public domain. Ecclesiastes or the Preacher, Chapter one,
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The Words of the Preacher, the son of David King
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in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanity saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities?
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All is vanity? What profit hath man of all his labor?
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Wherein he laboreth under the sun? One generation goeth, and
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another generation cometh, But the earth abideth forever. The sun
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also ariseth, And the sun goeth down and hasteth to
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its place where it ariseth. The wind goeth toward the south,
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and turneth about unto the north. It turneth about continually
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in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.
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All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea
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is not full unto the place whither the rivers go.
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Thither they go again. All things are full of weariness.
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Man cannot utter it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
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nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been
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is that which shall be. And that which hath been
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done is that which shall be done. And there is
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no new thing under the sun. Is there a thing
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whereof it may be said, see this is new. It
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hath been long ago in the ages which were before us.
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There is no remembrance of the former generations. Neither shall
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there be any remembrance of the latter generations that are
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to come among those that shall come after. I the Preacher,
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was king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I applied my
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heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning
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all that is done under heaven. It is a sore
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travail that God hath given to the sons of men
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to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works
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that are done under the sun. And behold, all is
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vanity and a striving after wind. That which is crooked
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cannot be made straight, and that which is wanting cannot
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be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo,
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I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were
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before me. In Jerusalem. Yea, my heart hath had great
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experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I applied my heart
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to no wisdom, and to no madness and folly. I
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perceived that this also was a striving after wind. For
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in much wisdom is much grief. And he that increaseth
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knowledge increaseth sorrow. Chapter two. I said in my heart,
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come now, I will prove them with mirth. Therefore, enjoy pleasure,
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and behold, this also was vanity. I said, of laughter
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it is mad, and of mirth, what doeth it? I
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searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine,
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my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to
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lay hold on folly till I might see what it
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was good for the sons of men that they should
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do under heaven all the days of their life. I
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made me great works. I builded me houses. I planted
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me vineyards. I made me gardens and parks, and I
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planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. I
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made me pools of water to water therefrom the forest
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where trees were reared. I bought men servants and maid servants,
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and had servants born in my house. Also I had
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great possession of herds and flocks, above all that were
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before me in Jerusalem. I gathered me also silver and gold,
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and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I
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gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights
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of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of
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all sorts. So I was great and increased more than
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all that were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom
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remained with me, And whatsoever mine eyes desired, I kept
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not from them. I withheld not my heart from any joy,
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for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, And
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this was my portion from all my labor. Then I
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looked on all the works that my hands had wrought,
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and on the labor that I had labored to do,
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and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind,
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and there was no prophet under the sun. And I
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turned myself to behold wisdom and madness and folly. For
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what can the man do that cometh after the king,
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even that which hath been done long ago? Then I
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saw that wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excellth darkness.
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The wise man's eyes are in his head and the
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fool walketh in darkness. And yet I perceive that one
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event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart.
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As it happeneth to the fool, so would happen even
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to me. And why was I then? More wise? Then
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said I in my heart, that this also is vanity,
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For of the wise man, even as of the fool,
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there is no remembrance forever, seeing that in the days
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to come, all will have been long forgotten. And how
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doth the wise man die, even as the fool. So
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I hated life because the work that is wrought under
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the sun was grievous unto me. For all is vanity
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and a striving after wind. And I hated all my
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labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I
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must leave it unto the man that shall be after me,
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And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man
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or a fool. Yet will he have rule over all
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my labor? Wherein I have labored, and wherein I have
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showed myself wise unto the sun, this also is vanity.
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Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair
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concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun,
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For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom,
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and with knowledge, and with skillfulness. Yet to a man
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that hath not labored, therein shall he leave it for
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his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
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For what hath a man of all his labor and
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of the striving of his heart? Wherein he labereth under
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the sun? For all his days are but sorrows, and
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his travail is grief. Yea, even in the night his
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heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. There is
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nothing better for a man than that he should eat
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and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor.
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This also I saw that it is from the hand
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of God. For who can eat or who can have
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enjoyment more than I? For to the man that pleaseth him,
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God giveth wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the
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sinner he giveth travail to gather and to heap up,
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that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This
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also is vanity and a striving after wind, Chapter three.
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For everything there is a season and a time for
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every purpose under heaven. A time to be borne and
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a time to die, a time to plant and a
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time to pluck up that which is planted, a time
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to kill and a time to heal, a time to
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break down and a time to build up. A time
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to weep and a time to laugh, a time to
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mourn and a time to dance. A time to cast
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away stones and a time to gather stones together. A
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time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
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A time to seek and a time to lose. A
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time to keep and a time to cast away, a
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time to rend and a time to sow. A time
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to keep silence and a time to speak. A time
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to love and a time to hate. A time for
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war and a time for peace. What profit hath he
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that worketh in that wherein he labereth? I have seen
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the travail which God hath given to the sons of
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men to be exercised therewith he hath made everything beautiful
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in its time. Also he hath set eternity in their heart.
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Yet so that man cannot find out the work that
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God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
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I know that there is nothing better for them than
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to rejoice and to do good so long as they live.
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And also that every man should eat and drink and
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enjoy good in all his Lifeabor is the gift of God.
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I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.
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Nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it.
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And God hath done it that men should fear before him.
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That which is hath been long ago, and that which
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is to be hath long ago been. And God seeketh
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again that which has passed away. And moreover, I saw
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under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness
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was there, and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness
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was there. I said in my heart, God will judge
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the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time
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there for every purpose and for every work. I said
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in my heart, it is because of the sons of
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men that God may prove them, and that they may
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see that they themselves are but as beasts. For that
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which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts. Even one
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thing befalleth them. As the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea,
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they have all one breath, And man hath no pre
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eminence above the beasts. For all is vanity, all go
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unto one place, all are of the dust and all
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turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man,
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whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast,
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whether it goeth downward to the earth. Wherefore I saw
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that there is nothing better than that a man should
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rejoice in his works, for that is his portion, for
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who shall bring him back to see what shall be
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after him? Chapter four. Then I return learned and saw
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all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And
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behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they
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had no comforter. And on the side of their oppressors
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there was power, but they had no comforter. Wherefore I
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praise the dead that have been long dead, more than
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the living that are yet alive. Yea better than them.
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Both that I esteem him that hath not yet been,
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who hath not seen the evil work that is done
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under the sun. Then I saw all labor, in every
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skillful work, that for this a man is envied of
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his neighbor. This also is vanity, and a striving after wind.
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The fool foldeth his hands together and eateth his own flesh.
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Better is a handful with quietness than two handfuls with
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labor and striving after wind. Then I returned and saw
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vanity unto the sun. There is one that is alone,
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and he hath not a second. Yea, he hath neither
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son nor brother. Yet is there no end of all
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his labor, Neither are his eyes satisfied with riches? For
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whom then saith he do I labor and deprive my
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soul of good? This also is vanity. Yea, it is
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a sore travail. Two are better than one, because they
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have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall,
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the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to
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him that is alone, when he falleth, and hath not
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another to lift him up again. If two lie together,
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then they have warmth. But how can one be warm alone?
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And if a man prevail against him that is alone,
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two shall withstand him. And a threefold cord is not
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quickly broken. Better is a poor and wi youth than
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an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to
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receive admonition any more, For out of prison he came
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forth to be king. Yea, even in his kingdom he
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was born poor. I saw all the living that walk
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under the sun, that they were with the youth, the
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second that stood up in his stead. There was no
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end of all the people, even of all them over
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whom he was. Yet they that come after shall not
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rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity, and is
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striving after wind. Chapter five. Keep thy foot when thou
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goest to the House of God, For to draw nigh
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to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools,
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for they know not that they do evil. Be not
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rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be
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haste to utter anything before God. For God is in heaven,
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and thou upon earth. Therefore let thy words be few,
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for a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and
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a fool's voice with a multitude of words. When thou
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vow'st thou unto God, defer not to pay it, for
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he hath no pleasure in fools. Pay that which thou vow'st.
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Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that
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thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth
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to cause thy flesh to sind. Neither say thou before
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the Angel that it was an error. Wherefore should God
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be angry at thy voice and destroy the work of
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thy hands. For in the multitude of dreams, there are vanities,
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and in many words, But fear thou God, if thou
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seest the oppression of the poor and the violent taking
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away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not
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at the matter, For one higher than the high regardeth,
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and there are higher than they. Moreover, the profit of
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the earth is for all. The king himself is served
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by the field. He that loveth silver shall not be
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satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase.
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This also is vanity. When goods increase, they are increased
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that eat them. And what advantage is there to the
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owner thereof, save the beholding of them with his eyes.
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The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he
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eat little or much, but the fullness of the rich
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will not suffer him to sleep. There is a grievous
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evil which I have seen under the sun, namely riches
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kept by the owner thereof to his hurt. And those
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riches perish by evil adventure. And if he hath begotten
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a sun, there is nothing in his hand. As he
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came forth from his mother's womb naked, shall he go
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again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor,
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which he may carry away in his hand. And this
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also is a grievous evil, that in all points, as
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he came, so shall he go. And what profit hath
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he that he labereth for the wind all his days.
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Also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed,
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and hath sickness and wrath. Behold, that which I have
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seen to be good and to be comely, is for
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one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good
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in all his labor, wherein he labereth unto the sun
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all the days of his life, which God hath given him,
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For this is his portion. Every man also to whom
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God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him
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power to eat thereof and to take his portion, and
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to rejoice in his labor. This is the gift of God.
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For he shall not much remember the days of his life,
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because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
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Chapter six. There is an evil which I have seen
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under the sun, and it is heavy upon men. A
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man to whom God giveth riches, wealth and honor, so
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that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that
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he desireth Yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof,
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but an alien eateth it. This is vanity, and it
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is an evil disease. If a man begins yet a
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hundred children and live many years, so that the days
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of his years are many, but his soul be not
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filled with good, and moreover he have no burial. I
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say that an untimely birth is better than he, for
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it cometh in vanity and departeth in darkness, and the
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name thereof is covered with darkness. Moreover, it hath not
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seen the sun, nor known it. This hath rest rather
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than the other. Yea, though he live a thousand years
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twice told, and yet enjoy no good? Do not all
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go to one place. All the labor of man is
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for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
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For what advantage hath the wise man more than the fool?
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Or what hath the poor man who knoweth how to
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walk before the living? Better is the sight of the
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eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity,
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and a striving after wind. Whatsoever hath been? The name
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thereof was given long ago, and it is know what
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man is. Neither can he contend with him? That is
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mightier than he, Seeing there are many things that increase vanity.
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What is man the better? For who knoweth what is
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good for man in his life, all the days of
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his vain life, which he spendeth as a shadow. For
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who can tell a man what shall be after him?
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Under the sun? Chapter seven. A good name is better
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than precious oil, and the day of death than the
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day of one's birth. It is better to go to
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the house of mourning than to go to the house
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of feasting, for that is the end of all men,
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and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow
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is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance,
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the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise
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is in the house of mourning, but the heart of
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fools is in the house of mirth. It is better
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to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a
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man to hear the song of fools. For as the
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crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter
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of the fool. This also is vanity. Surely, extortion maketh
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the wise man foolish, and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.
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Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof,
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And the patient in spirit is better than the proud
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in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry,
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for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou,
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what is the cause that the former days were better
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than these? For thou dost not inquire why concerning this?
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Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yea more excellent
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is it for them that see the sun. For wisdom
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is a defense, even as money is a defense. But
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the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserveth the life
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of him that hath it. Consider the work of God,
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For who can make that strait which he hath made crooked?
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In the day of prosperity, be joyful, and in the
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day of adversity, consider yea, a god hath made the
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one side by side with the other, to the end
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that man should not find out anything that shall be
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after him. All this I have seen in my days
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of vanity. There is a righteous man that perisheth in
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his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth
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his life in his evil doing. Be not righteous over
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much needs make thyself over wise? Why shouldst thou destroy thyself?
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Be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish. Why
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shouldst thou die before thy time? It is good that
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thou shouldst take hold of this yea also from that,
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withdraw not thy hand, For he that feareth God shall
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come forth from them. All wisdom is a strength to
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the wise man more than ten rulers that are in
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a city. Surely there is not a righteous man upon
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earth that doeth good and sinneth not. Also take not
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heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear
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thy servant curse thee. For oftentimes also thine own heart
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knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast curse others. All this
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have I proved in wisdom, I said, I will be wise,
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But it was far from me. That which is is
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far off and exceeding deep. Who can find it out?
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I turned about, and my heart was set to know
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and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the
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reason of things, and to know that wickedness is folly,
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and that foolishness is madness. And I find more bitter
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than death. The woman whose heart is snares and nets,
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and whose hands are bands, whoso pleaseth God shall escape
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from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
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Behold this I have found, saith the preacher, laying one
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thing to another to find out the account which my
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soul still seeketh. But I have not found one man
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among a thousand have I found but a woman among
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all those have I not found? Behold this only have
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I found that God made man upright. But they have
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sought out many Invas Chapter eight. Who is as the
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wise man, and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing?
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A man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the
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hardness of his face is changed. I counsel thee keep
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the King's command, and that in regard of the oath
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of God, be not hasty to go out of His
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presence persists not in an evil thing, for he doeth
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whatsoever pleaseth him. For the King's word hath power. And
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who may say unto him what doest Thou? Whoso keepeth
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the commandment, shall know no evil thing. And a wise
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man's heart discerneth time and judgment, For to every purpose
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there is a time and judgment, Because the misery of
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man is great upon him. For he knoweth not that
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which shall be, For who can tell him how it
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shall be? There is no man that hath power over
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the spirit to retain the spirit. Neither hath he power
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over the day of death. And there is no discharge
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in war. Neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given
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to it. All this have I seen and applied my
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heart unto every work that is done, unto the sun.
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There is a time wherein one man hath power over
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another to his hurt. So I saw the wicked buried,
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and they came to the grave, And they that had
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done right went away from the holy place and were
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forgotten in the city. This also is vanity, because sentence
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against an evil work is not executed speedily. Therefore the
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heart of the sons of men is fully set in
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them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil a
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hundred times and prolong his days. Yet surely I know
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that it shall be well with them that fear God,
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that fear before Him. But it shall not be well
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with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which
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are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
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There is a vanity which is done upon the earth,
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that there are righteous men, unto whom it happeneth according
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to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked
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men to whom it happeneth according to the work of
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the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. Then
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I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing
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under the sun than to eat and to drink, and
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to be joyful, for that shall abide with him in
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his labor all the days of his life, which God
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hath given him under the sun. When I applied my
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heart to no wisdom and to see the business that
398
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is done upon on the earth. For also there is
399
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that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes.
400
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Then I beheld all the work of God. That man
401
00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:13.839
cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.
402
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Because however much a man labor to seek it out,
403
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yet he shall not find it. Yea moreover, though a
404
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wise man think to know it, yet shall he not
405
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be able to find it. Chapter nine. For all this
406
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I laid to my heart, even to explore all this,
407
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that the righteous and the wise, and their works are
408
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in the hands of God. Whether it be love or hatred,
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man knoweth it. Not all is before them. All things
410
00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:54.599
come alike to all. There is one event to the
411
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righteous and to the wicked, to the good, and to
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the clean, and unto the unclean. To him that sacrificeth,
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and to him that sacrificeth not, as is the good,
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so is the sinner, and he that sweareth, as he
415
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that feareth an oath. This is an evil in all
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that is done under the sun, that there is one
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event unto all. Yea, Also the heart of the sons
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of men is full of evil, and madness is in
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their heart while they live, and after that they go
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to the dead. For to him that is joined with
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all the living, there is hope. For a living dog
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is better than a dead lion. For the living know
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that they shall die, but the dead know not anything.
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Neither have they any more a reward, for the memory
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of them is forgotten, as well their love as their hatred,
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and their envy is perished long ago. Neither have they
427
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any more a portion for ever in anything that is
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done unto the sun. Go thy way, Eat thy bread
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with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart.
430
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For God hath already accepted thy works. Let thy garments
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be always white, and let not thy head lack oil.
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Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest, all the
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days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given
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thee unto the Sun, all thy days of vanity. For
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that is thy portion in life and in thy labor.
436
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Wherein thou laborest unto the Sun, whatsoever thy hand findeth
437
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to do, do it with thy might. For there is
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no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in shoal
439
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whither thou goest I returned and saw unto the Sun,
440
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that the race is not to the swift, nor the
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battle to the strong. Neither yet bread to the wise,
442
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nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor
443
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to men of skill. But time and chance happeneth to
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them all. For man also knoweth not his time, as
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the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and
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as the birds that are caught in the snare. Even
447
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so are the sons of men snared in an evil time,
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when it falleth suddenly upon them. I have also seen
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wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed
450
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great unto me. There was a little city and a
451
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few men within it, And there came a great king
452
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against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.
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Now there was found in it a poor wise man,
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and he, by his wisdom, delivered the city. Yet no
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man remembered. That same poor man then said, I wisdom
456
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is better than strength. Nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised,
457
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and his words are not heard. The words of the wise,
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hurting quiet, are better than the cry of him that
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ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
460
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But one sinner destroyeth much good. Chapter ten. Dead flies
461
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cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an
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evil odour. So doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
463
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A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but
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a fool's heart at his left. Yea Also when the
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fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and
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he saith to everyone that he is a fool. If
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the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave
468
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not thy place for gentleness allayeth great offenses. There is
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an evil which I have seen under the sun, as
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it were, an error which proceedeth from the ruler. Folly
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is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in
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a low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and
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princes walking like servants upon the earth. He that diggth
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a pit shall fall into it. And whoso breaketh through
475
00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:25.559
a wall, a serpent shall bite him. Whoso heweth out
476
00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:30.239
stones shall be hurt therewith, and he that cleaveth wood
477
00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:35.000
is endangered. Thereby. If the iron be blunt, and one
478
00:34:35.039 --> 00:34:37.880
do not wet the edge, then must he put to
479
00:34:37.960 --> 00:34:42.440
more strength. But wisdom is profitable to direct. If the
480
00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.679
serpent bite before it is charmed, then there is no
481
00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:49.559
advantage in the charmer. The words of a wise man's
482
00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:52.840
mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will
483
00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:56.800
swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his
484
00:34:56.960 --> 00:35:00.199
mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is
485
00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:06.679
mischievous madness. A fool also multiplieth words. Yet man knoweth
486
00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:09.679
not what shall be and that which shall be after
487
00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:14.440
him who can tell him? The labor of fools worrieth
488
00:35:14.679 --> 00:35:17.480
every one of them, for he knoweth not how to
489
00:35:17.559 --> 00:35:22.360
go to the city. Woe to thee o land. When
490
00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:25.800
thy king is a child and thy princes eat in
491
00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:30.480
the morning, Happy art thou o land, When thy king
492
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:33.760
is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in
493
00:35:33.880 --> 00:35:39.760
due season for strength and not for drunkenness. By slothfulness,
494
00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:43.159
the roof sinketh in, and through idleness of the hands
495
00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:48.079
the house leaketh. A feast is made for laughter, and
496
00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:53.159
wine maketh glad. The life and money answereth all things
497
00:35:54.239 --> 00:35:58.280
revile not the king, no not in thy thought, and
498
00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:02.039
revile not the rich in thy bedchamber. For a bird
499
00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:05.119
of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which
500
00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:16.559
hath wings shall tell the matter. Chapter eleven. Cast thy
501
00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:20.559
bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after
502
00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:25.599
many days, give a portion to seven, yea even unto eight.
503
00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:29.920
For thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
504
00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:34.760
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves
505
00:36:34.880 --> 00:36:38.199
upon the earth. And if a tree shall fall toward
506
00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:41.800
the south or toward the north, in the place where
507
00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:46.599
the tree falleth, there shall it be. He that observeth
508
00:36:46.639 --> 00:36:50.159
the wind shall not sow. And he that regardeth the
509
00:36:50.159 --> 00:36:55.360
clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is
510
00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:58.079
the way of the wind, nor how the bones do
511
00:36:58.199 --> 00:37:01.559
grow in the womb of her that is child. Even
512
00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:05.079
so thou knowest not the work of God, who doeth all.
513
00:37:07.159 --> 00:37:10.559
In the morning, sow thy seed, and in the evening,
514
00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:15.480
withhold not thy hand, for thou knowest not which shall prosper,
515
00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:19.880
whether this or that, or whether they both shall be
516
00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:25.320
alike good. Truly, the light is sweet and a pleasant thing.
517
00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:29.320
It is for the eyes to behold the sun. Yea.
518
00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:32.639
If a man live many years, let him rejoice in
519
00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:36.280
them all, but let him remember the days of darkness,
520
00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:43.199
for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. Rejoice, o,
521
00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:47.000
young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer
522
00:37:47.039 --> 00:37:50.119
THEE in the days of thy youth, and walk in
523
00:37:50.199 --> 00:37:52.719
the ways of thy heart and in the sight of
524
00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:56.800
thine eyes. But know thou that for all these things
525
00:37:56.840 --> 00:38:01.599
God will bring THEE into judgment. Therefore, remove sorrow from
526
00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:05.639
thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh. For
527
00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:14.360
youth and the dawn of life are vanity. Chapter twelve.
528
00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:20.519
Remember also thy creator in the days of thy youth,
529
00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:24.159
before the evil days come and the years draw nigh,
530
00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:28.360
when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them,
531
00:38:28.760 --> 00:38:31.400
Before the sun and the light, and the moon and
532
00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:35.199
the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
533
00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:39.119
in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,
534
00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:43.199
and the strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders
535
00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:46.760
cease because they are few, And those that look out
536
00:38:46.800 --> 00:38:49.960
of the windows shall be darkened, and the doors shall
537
00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:52.400
be shut in the street when the sound of the
538
00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:55.639
grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the
539
00:38:55.719 --> 00:38:58.920
voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music
540
00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:03.400
shall be brought low. Yea, they shall be afraid of
541
00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:06.639
that which is high, and terror shall be in the way,
542
00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:10.599
and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall
543
00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:15.480
be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man goeth
544
00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:19.039
to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the
545
00:39:19.079 --> 00:39:23.679
streets before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden
546
00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:27.320
bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain,
547
00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:31.440
or the wheel broken at the cistern, And the dust
548
00:39:31.480 --> 00:39:34.679
returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit
549
00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:40.320
returneth unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith
550
00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:45.480
the preacher. All is vanity. And further, because the preacher
551
00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:49.880
was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yea, he
552
00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:53.360
pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.
553
00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:58.119
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that
554
00:39:58.199 --> 00:40:03.360
which was written uprightly, even words of truth, the words
555
00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:06.440
of the wise are as gods, and as nails well
556
00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:10.039
fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which
557
00:40:10.079 --> 00:40:14.039
are given from one shepherd. And furthermore, my son be
558
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:18.400
admonished of making many books. There is no end, and
559
00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:22.679
much study is a weariness of the flesh. This is
560
00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:27.119
the end of the matter. All hath been heard. Fear
561
00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:30.800
God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole
562
00:40:30.920 --> 00:40:35.679
duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment,
563
00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:39.920
with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether
564
00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:47.519
it be evil. End of the book Ecclesiastes