RS

A.(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. (5) The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. (6) Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

B.(7) Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. (8) There 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.

C.(9) Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

D.(10) For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:

E. but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

D’.(11) Again, if lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

C’.(12) And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

B’.(13)  Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. (14) For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. (15) I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

A’.(16) There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

A. 17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

B. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

C. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool?

D. yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun.

E. This is also vanity.

F. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

G. 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion.

H. This also is vanity and a great evil.

G’. 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

F. 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night.

E’. This is also vanity.

D’. 24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

C’. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy:

B’. but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God.

A’. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

A (12) I know that there is no good <02896> in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good <02896> in his life.

B (13) And also that every man should eat and drink,

C (13) and enjoy the good of all his labour<05999>, it is the gift of God.

D (14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth <06213>, 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.

E (15) That which hath been is now <03528>; and that which is to be hath already <03528> been; and God requireth that which is past.

F (16) And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

G (17) I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

H (18) I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men,

I (18) that God might manifest them, and that they might see <07200> that they themselves are beasts.

J (19) For that which befalleth the sons <01121> of men <0120> befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man <0120> hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

K (20) All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

J1 (21) Who knoweth the spirit of man <01121> <0120> that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

I1 (22) Wherefore I perceive <07200>that there is nothing better,

H1 (22)than that a man should rejoice

G1 (22) in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

F1 (1) So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

E1 (2) Wherefore I praised the dead which are already <03528> dead more than the living which are yet alive.

D1 (3) Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done <06213> under the sun.

C1 (4) Again, I considered all travail <05999>, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

B1 (5) The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

A1 (4:6) Better <02896> is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

A (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;

B (2) While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

C (3) In the day when the keepers of the house <01004> 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,

D (4) And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound <06963> of the grinding is low,

D (4) and he shall rise up at the voice <06963> of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

C1 (5,6) 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 <01004>, and the mourners go about the streets: 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.

B1 (7) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

A1 (8) Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

A (11,12) Because 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. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged,

B (12) yet surely I know

C (12,13) that it shall be well <02896> with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well <02896> with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

D (14) There is a vanity which is done upon the earth;

E (14) that there be just <06662> men,

F (14) unto whom it happeneth according to the work

G (14) of the wicked;

G (14) again, there be wicked men,

F1 (14) to whom it happeneth according to the work

E1 (14) of the righteous <06662>:

D1 (14) I said that this also is vanity.

C1 (15) Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing <02896> under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

B1 (16) When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,

A1 (16,17) and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

A (20) For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good <02896>, and sinneth not.

B (21) Also take no heed <03820> unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

C (22,23) For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. All this have I proved by wisdom:

D (23) I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

D (24) That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

C1 (25) I 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:

B1 (26) And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart <03820> is snares and nets, and her hands as bands:

A1 (26) whoso pleaseth <02896> God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.

A  (12)  The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

B  (13-14)  There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

C  (15a)  As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go <03212> as he came,

D  (15b)  and shall take nothing of his labour,

C’  (15c)  which he may carry away <03212> in his hand.

B’  (16)  And 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?

A’  (17)  All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

A  (1a)  Keep <08104> thy foot

B  (1b-2)  when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing < 01697> before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words < 01697> be few.

C  (3a)  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business;

D  (3b)  and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

E  (4a)  When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it;

F  (4b)  for he hath no pleasure in fools:

E’  (5)  pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

D’  (6)  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?

C’  (7a)  For in the multitude of dreams

B’  (7b)  and many words < 01697> there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

A’  (8)  If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth <08104>; and there be higher than they.

A  (5:16)  And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came <0935>, so shall he go <03212>: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

B  (17)  All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness <02483>.

C  (18a)  Behold that which I have seen <07200>: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy <07200> the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun

D  (18b)  all the days of his life,

E  (18c)  which God giveth him:

F (18d) for it is his portion.

E’  (19)  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

D’  (20)  For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

C’  (6:1)  There is an evil which I have seen <07200> under the sun, and it is common among men:

B’  (2)  A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease <02483>.

A’  (3-4)  If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. For he cometh <0935> in with vanity, and departeth <03212> in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.