8

I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother"s house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.

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 farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, 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 commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing 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.

There 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.

But 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.

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:

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.

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man"s heart discerneth both time and judgment.

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

I counsel thee to keep the king"s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man"s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.