II. Counsel for the Uncertainties of Life. ...... 10:1 - 12:8
Ecc 10:1
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.Ecc 10:2
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.Ecc 10:3
Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.Ecc 10:4
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.Ecc 10:5
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:Ecc 10:6
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.Ecc 10:7
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.Ecc 10:8
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.Ecc 10:9
Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.Ecc 10:10
If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.Ecc 10:11
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.Ecc 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.Ecc 10:13
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.Ecc 10:14
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?Ecc 10:15
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.Ecc 10:16
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!Ecc 10:17
Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!Ecc 10:18
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.Ecc 10:19
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.Ecc 10:20
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.Ecc 11:1
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.Ecc 11:2
Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.Ecc 11:3
If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.Ecc 11:4
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.Ecc 11:5
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.Ecc 11:6
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.Ecc 11:7
Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:Ecc 11:8
But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.Ecc 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.Ecc 11:10
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.Ecc 12:1
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;Ecc 12:2
While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:Ecc 12:3
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,Ecc 12:4
And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;Ecc 12:5
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:Ecc 12:6
Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.Ecc 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.Ecc 12:8
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.