I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Preacher Names His Question
1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1These are the words of the Preacher, David's son, who was king in Jerusalem.
2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
2"Empty, utterly empty," says the Preacher. "Utterly empty! Everything is empty."
3What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
3What does a person really gain from all the hard work he does under the sun?
The World Goes in Circles
4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
4One generation passes away and another comes along, but the earth stays put forever.
5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
5The sun rises and the sun sets, and then it hurries back to the place where it rose.
6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
6The wind blows toward the south and swings around to the north; round and round it goes, always circling, and the wind comes back to the same paths again.
7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
7All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea never fills up; the rivers go back to the place they came from, only to flow again.
8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
8Everything is wearisome, more than anyone can put into words. The eye never has enough of seeing, and the ear is never filled with hearing.
Nothing New, and Nothing Remembered
9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
9Whatever has happened is what will happen again, and whatever has been done is what will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun.
10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
10Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look, this is new"? It was already here long ago, in the ages before us.
11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
11No one remembers the people of earlier times, and the people still to come will not be remembered either by those who come after them.
The King Sets Out to Search
12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
12I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
13I set my heart on studying and exploring by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has given the children of men to keep them busy!
14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
14I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and look, all of it is empty and like chasing the wind.
15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
15What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is missing cannot be counted.
Wisdom Brings Grief
16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
16I said to myself, "Look, I have grown great and have gained more wisdom than everyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. Yes, my heart has taken in a great deal of wisdom and knowledge."
17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
17So I set my heart on understanding wisdom, and on understanding madness and foolishness too. I learned that this also is chasing the wind.
18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
18For with much wisdom comes much grief, and the more a person knows, the more he has to grieve over.
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Test of Pleasure
1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
1I said to myself, "Come on, let me try you out with fun; go ahead and enjoy pleasure." But look, that too turned out to be empty.
2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
2I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of fun, "What good does it do?"
3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
3I searched my heart for a way to cheer my body with wine, while my mind still guided me with wisdom, and to take hold of foolishness, until I could see what was good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
The Great Works of the King
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
4I took on great projects. I built myself houses; I planted myself vineyards.
5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
5I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted in them every kind of fruit tree.
6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
6I made myself pools of water, to irrigate the groves where the trees grew.
7I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
7I bought male and female servants, and I had servants who were born in my household. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
8I also piled up silver and gold for myself, the special treasure of kings and provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of men: musical instruments, and every kind of them.
9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
9So I became great, greater than everyone who was in Jerusalem before me, and through it all my wisdom stayed with me.
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
10Whatever my eyes wanted, I did not keep from them. I did not hold my heart back from any pleasure, because my heart took delight in all my work, and that delight was my reward for all my labor.
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
11Then I looked at everything my hands had done and at the hard work I had put into it, and look, it was all empty and like chasing the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.
One End for the Wise and the Fool
12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
12Then I turned my attention to wisdom, and to madness and foolishness. After all, what can the man who comes after the king do? Only what has already been done.
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
13Then I saw that wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.
14The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
14The wise man has his eyes in his head, while the fool walks around in the dark. Yet I also realized that the very same thing happens to both of them.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
15So I said to myself, "What happens to the fool will happen to me too. So why have I been so much wiser?" And I said to myself that this too is empty.
16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
16For the wise man is no more remembered than the fool, not for long, because in the days to come everything will be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
17So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was painful to me. Everything is empty and like chasing the wind.
Leaving It to the Man Who Comes After
18Yea, 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.
18Yes, I hated all the work I had worked so hard at under the sun, because I would have to leave it to the man who comes after me.
19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
19And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will have control over everything I worked for and used my wisdom to get under the sun. This too is empty.
20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
20So I turned around and let my heart despair over all the hard work I had done under the sun.
21For 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. This also is vanity and a great evil.
21For here is a man who works with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he has to hand it all over as an inheritance to someone who never worked for it. This too is empty, and a great wrong.
22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
22What does a person get for all the hard work and all the worry of heart he has spent laboring under the sun?
23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
23All his days are painful and his work is a grief; even at night his heart gets no rest. This too is empty.
Eating, Drinking, and the Hand of God
24There 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.
24There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and let himself enjoy what is good in his work. I saw that this too comes from the hand of God.
25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
25For who can eat, or who can find any enjoyment, apart from him?
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
26To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives the job of gathering and piling up, only to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is empty and like chasing the wind.
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Time for Everything
1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
1There is a season for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
2a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pull up what was planted;
3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
3a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up;
4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
4a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;
5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
5a time to throw stones away and a time to gather stones up; a time to embrace and a time to hold back from embracing;
6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
6a time to gain and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to throw away;
7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
7a time to tear and a time to sew; a time to stay silent and a time to speak;
8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
8a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.
Eternity in the Heart
9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
9What does the worker gain from all the labor he puts in?
10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
10I have seen the burden God has given people to keep them occupied.
11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
11He has made everything beautiful in its own time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, yet no one can figure out the work God does from beginning to end.
The Gift and the Work That Stands
12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live,
13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
13and also that everyone should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his hard work; this is God's gift.
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, 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.
14I know that whatever God does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it and nothing taken away from it. God does it so that people will stand in awe of him.
15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
15Whatever is has already been, and whatever will be has been before; and God calls back what has passed.
Wickedness in the Place of Judgment
16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
16I also saw something else under the sun: in the place of justice there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there was wrong.
17I 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.
17I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked alike, for there is a time for every activity and for every deed."
Men and Beasts Have One Breath
18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.
18I said to myself about the condition of people, "God is testing them, so they can see that in themselves they are like animals."
19For that which befalleth the sons of men 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 hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
19For what happens to people also happens to animals; the same thing happens to both. As one dies, so does the other. They all have the same breath, so a person has no advantage over an animal. Everything is empty.
20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
20All go to the same place. All come from the dust, and all return to the dust.
21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
21Who knows whether the spirit of a person goes upward and the spirit of an animal goes down into the earth?
22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
22So I saw that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his work, because that is his share. For who can bring him back to see what will happen after he is gone?
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Tears of the Oppressed
1So 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.
1Then I looked again and saw all the oppression that goes on under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them. Power was on the side of their oppressors, and they had no one to comfort them.
2Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.
2So I declared that the dead, who have already died, are better off than the living, who are still alive.
3Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
3But better off than both is the one who has never been born, who has never seen the evil that is done under the sun.
Envy, Idle Hands, and a Handful of Quiet
4Again, 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.
4Then I saw that all hard work and every skillful achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is empty and like chasing the wind.
5The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.
5The fool folds his hands and eats away at his own flesh.
6Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
6Better one handful with peace and quiet than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.
The Man Who Has No One
7Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
7Then I looked again and saw something else empty under the sun.
8There 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.
8There is a man all alone, with no companion, no son and no brother. Yet there is no end to all his work, and his eyes are never satisfied with wealth. He never asks, "Who am I working for, and why am I depriving myself of what is good?" This too is empty; it is a miserable business.
Two Are Better Than One
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
9Two are better than one, because together they get a good return for their work.
10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
10If one of them falls, the other can lift his friend up. But pity the person who is alone when he falls, because he has no one to help him up.
11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
11Again, if two lie down together they keep each other warm, but how can one stay warm alone?
12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
12And though one person may be overpowered, two can stand their ground; and a rope of three strands is not quickly snapped.
The Poor Wise Youth and the Old King
13Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.
13Better a poor but wise young man than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.
14For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.
14For the young man may come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in that kingdom.
15I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
15I watched all the living who walk under the sun, and they were following the young man, the second one, who was to take the king's place.
16There 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.
16There was no end to all the people he ruled, and yet those who came later were not happy with him either. Surely this too is empty and like chasing the wind.
V
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Guard Your Steps at the House of God
1Keep thy foot 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.
1Watch your step when you go to the house of God. Go there ready to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice fools give, for they do not even know that they are doing wrong.
2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.
2Do not be quick with your mouth, and do not let your heart rush to say anything in front of God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so keep your words few.
3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
3Just as a dream comes with too much on your mind, so the voice of a fool comes with too many words.
Pay What You Vow
4When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.
4When you make a vow to God, do not put off keeping it, for he takes no pleasure in fools. Do what you promised.
5Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
5It is better not to make a vow at all than to make one and not keep it.
6Suffer 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?
6Do not let your mouth lead your body into sin, and do not tell the messenger, "It was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?
7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
7For in a crowd of dreams and a pile of words there is plenty that is empty. Instead, fear God.
Oppression in the Province
8If 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; and there be higher than they.
8If you see the poor being oppressed and justice and fairness being twisted in a province, do not be shocked at it. One official is watched by a higher one, and there are others higher still.
9Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
9Besides, what the land produces is for everyone; even the king himself depends on the fields.
Money Never Satisfies
10He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
10Whoever loves money never has enough money, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with what it brings in. This too is empty.
11When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
11When goods increase, so do the people who eat them up. What good are they to the owner, except to look at with his eyes?
12The 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.
12The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats a little or a lot, but the rich man's plenty will not let him sleep.
Riches Kept to Their Owner's Hurt
13There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
13There is a terrible wrong I have seen under the sun: wealth stored up by its owner to his own harm.
14But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
14That wealth is lost through some bad venture, and when he has a son, there is nothing left in his hand to give him.
15As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
15Naked he came from his mother's womb, and naked he will go back the way he came. He can take nothing from his labor that he could carry away in his hand.
16And 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?
16This too is a terrible wrong: just as he came, so he will go. And what does he gain, since he has worked for the wind?
17All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
17All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, sickness and anger.
The Portion God Gives
18Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.
18Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting for a person to eat and drink and enjoy the good of all the work he does under the sun during the few days of life God has given him, for this is his share.
19Every 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.
19And when God gives anyone wealth and possessions, and lets him enjoy them, accept his share and be happy in his work, this is a gift from God.
20For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
20He will not dwell much on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy in his heart.
VI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Wealth a Stranger Eats
1There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
1There is a wrong I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on people:
2A 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.
2God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart could want, yet God does not let him enjoy them; instead a stranger enjoys them. This is empty, and a painful sickness.
3If 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.
3A man might have a hundred children and live many years, however long his life may be; but if he cannot enjoy what is good, and does not even get a proper burial, I say a stillborn child is better off than he is.
4For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.
4For it arrives in emptiness and departs in darkness, and its name is buried in darkness.
5Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.
5It never saw the sun and never knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man does.
6Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?
6Even if he lived a thousand years twice over and never enjoyed anything good, do not both of them go to the same place?
The Appetite Is Never Filled
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
7All a person's work is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is never filled.
8For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?
8What advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What does the poor man gain by knowing how to conduct himself in front of others?
9Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
9Better what the eyes can see than what the desire goes wandering after. This too is empty and like chasing the wind.
What Man Cannot Contend With
10That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.
10Whatever exists has already been given its name, and what a person is has already been known; he cannot argue with the one who is stronger than he is.
11Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?
11The more words, the more emptiness; and how is anyone better off?
12For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
12For who knows what is good for a person in this life, during the few empty days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell a person what will happen after him under the sun?
VII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Better the House of Mourning
1A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
1A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.
2It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because death is the end of every person, and the living should take that to heart.
3Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
3Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face can make the heart better.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
4The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of fun.
5It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
5It is better to listen to a wise person's rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.
6For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
6For like the crackling of thorns burning under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is empty.
Patience, Anger, and the Old Days
7Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.
7Surely oppression can drive a wise person mad, and a bribe ruins the heart.
8Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
8The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
9Do not be quick to get angry, because anger settles down in the lap of fools.
10Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.
10Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" It is not wise to ask that question.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.
11Wisdom is good when it comes with an inheritance; it benefits those who see the sun.
12For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
12For wisdom is a shelter, and money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: wisdom keeps alive those who have it.
What God Has Made Crooked
13Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
13Think about the work of God: who can straighten what he has made crooked?
14In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
14When times are good, be happy; when times are bad, think it over. God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything about what comes after him.
Be Not Righteous Over Much
15All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.
15I have seen everything during my empty days: a righteous person who dies in spite of his righteousness, and a wicked person who lives a long life in spite of his wickedness.
16Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?
16Do not be too righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why destroy yourself?
17Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
17Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool. Why die before your time?
18It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
18It is good to take hold of the one and not let go of the other, for the person who fears God will come through both of them.
No One Is Without Sin
19Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
19Wisdom makes a wise person stronger than ten mighty men in a city.
20For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
20For there is no righteous person on earth who does good and never sins.
21Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
21Also, do not pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your own servant cursing you,
22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
22for your own heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Wisdom Beyond His Reach
23All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
23I tested all this by wisdom. I said, "I am going to be wise," but it was far beyond me.
24That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
24Whatever exists is far off and very deep; who can find it out?
25I 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:
25I turned my heart to learn, to explore and to search out wisdom and the reason behind things, and to understand the wickedness of foolishness and the madness of folly.
One Man Among a Thousand
26And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
26And I found something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is a trap and a net, and whose hands are chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be caught by her.
27Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:
27"Look, this is what I have found," says the Preacher, "adding one thing to another to work out the sum,
28Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
28which I kept searching for but did not find: one upright man among a thousand I found, but among all those I did not find one woman.
29Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
29Only this have I found: God made people upright, but they have gone looking for many schemes."
VIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Keeping the King's Command
1Who 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.
1Who is like the wise person? Who knows how to explain things? A person's wisdom lights up his face and softens the hardness of his look.
2I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
2I say: keep the king's command, because of the oath you made before God.
3Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.
3Do not be in a hurry to leave his presence, and do not take a stand in a bad cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
4Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
4The king's word carries authority, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
5Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.
5Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart knows the right time and the right way.
No Power Over the Day of Death
6Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
6For there is a right time and a right way for every matter, even though a person's trouble weighs heavily on him.
7For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
7Since no one knows what is going to happen, who can tell him when it will come?
8There 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.
8No one has power over the wind to hold it back, and no one has power over the day of his death. No one is discharged from that war, and wickedness will not rescue those who practice it.
9All 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.
9All this I saw as I set my heart on every deed that is done under the sun: there is a time when one person rules over another to his own harm.
When Justice Is Slow
10And 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.
10Then I saw the wicked buried; they used to come and go from the holy place, and they were forgotten in the very city where they had done such things. This too is empty.
11Because 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.
11Because the sentence against an evil deed is not carried out quickly, people's hearts are filled with plans to do evil.
12Though 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:
12Even though a sinner does wrong a hundred times and lives a long life, still I know for certain that it will go well for those who fear God, who stand in awe of him.
13But 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.
13But it will not go well for the wicked, and he will not lengthen his days, which pass like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
14There 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.
14Here is something empty that happens on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said that this too is empty.
Eat, Drink, and Be Glad
15Then 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.
15So I recommended enjoyment, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. That joy will stay with him through his work all the days of the life God gives him under the sun.
16When 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:)
16When I set my heart on understanding wisdom and on watching the busy activity that goes on over the earth (for there are people whose eyes never see sleep, day or night),
17Then 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.
17then I looked at all the work of God, and I saw that no one can figure out what is done under the sun. However hard a person works to search it out, he will not find it; and even if a wise person claims to know it, he cannot really find it.
IX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
One Event Comes to All
1For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
1I thought all of this over carefully and set my heart on explaining it: the righteous, the wise, and everything they do are in God's hand. No one can tell from what lies in front of him whether love or hatred is waiting.
2All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
2The same things happen to everyone. One fate comes to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and the clean and to the unclean; to the person who offers sacrifices and to the one who does not. The good person and the sinner fare alike, and so do the one who swears an oath and the one who is afraid to.
3This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
3This is a sad thing about everything that happens under the sun: the same fate comes to all. Worse still, people's hearts are full of evil, and madness fills their hearts as long as they live, and after that they join the dead.
A Living Dog and a Dead Lion
4For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
4But anyone who is still counted among the living has hope, because a living dog is better off than a dead lion.
5For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
5The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing at all. They have no further reward, and even the memory of them fades away.
6Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
6Their love, their hatred, and their envy have all died with them, and they will never again have any share in anything that happens under the sun.
Eat Your Bread With Joy
7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.
7So go on your way. Eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a glad heart, because God has already accepted what you do.
8Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
8Wear white clothes at all times, and never let your head go without oil.
9Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.
9Enjoy life with the wife you love through all the fleeting days God has given you under the sun, all your empty days, because that is your share in this life and in the hard work you do under the sun.
10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength, because there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom in the grave, and that is where you are going.
Time and Chance
11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
11I looked again and saw under the sun that the race does not go to the fast, nor the battle to the strong. The wise do not always get bread, the clever do not always get riches, and the skilled do not always win favor. Time and chance come to them all.
12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
12No one knows when his time will come. Like fish caught in a cruel net, or birds taken in a trap, people are snared by a cruel moment when it falls on them without warning.
The Poor Wise Man Who Saved a City
13This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
13I also saw this example of wisdom under the sun, and it made a deep impression on me.
14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
14There was a little city with only a few people in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built huge siege works around it.
15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
15Now in that city there lived a poor but wise man, and by his wisdom he saved the city. Yet nobody remembered that poor man afterward.
16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
16So I said to myself, "Wisdom is better than strength." And yet the poor man's wisdom is looked down on, and nobody listens to what he says.
17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
17The quiet words of the wise are heard better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy a great deal of good.
X
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Dead Flies in the Ointment
1Dead 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.
1Dead flies make the perfume maker's ointment give off a foul stink. In the same way a little foolishness outweighs a reputation for wisdom and honor.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
2A wise person's heart leads him to the right; a fool's heart leads him to the left.
3Yea 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.
3Even when a fool simply walks down the road, his good sense deserts him, and he shows everyone he meets that he is a fool.
Servants on Horses
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
4If a ruler's temper flares up against you, do not abandon your post, because a calm response can settle great offenses.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
5There is something wrong that I have seen under the sun, the kind of mistake a ruler makes:
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
6foolishness is placed in high positions, while the rich are seated down low.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
7I have seen servants riding on horses while princes walk on foot like servants.
The Risks of the Work
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
9Whoever quarries stones may be hurt by them, and whoever splits logs may be put in danger by them.
10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
10If the axe is dull and its edge is not sharpened, more muscle is needed; but wisdom helps a person succeed.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer gains nothing, and a person who cannot stop talking is no better off.
The Fool's Own Words
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
12The words from a wise person's mouth win favor, but a fool's own lips swallow him up.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13His talk begins with foolishness and ends in harmful madness.
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
14A fool keeps on talking, though no one knows what is going to happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15The work of fools wears them out, because they do not even know the way to town.
Woe to the Land Whose King Is a Child
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
16How sad for you, O land, when your king is a child and your princes start feasting in the morning!
17Blessed 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!
17How happy you are, O land, when your king comes from a noble family and your princes eat at the proper time, for strength and not for drunkenness!
18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
18Through laziness the roof beams sag, and through idle hands the house starts to leak.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer to everything.
20Curse 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.
20Do not curse the king, not even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich even in your own bedroom, because a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and some winged creature may report what you said.
XI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Cast Your Bread Upon the Waters
1Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
1Send your bread out over the waters, and after many days you will find it again.
2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
2Give a share to seven people, or even to eight, because you do not know what disaster may come upon the earth.
3If 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.
3When the clouds are full of rain, they pour it out on the earth. Whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever it falls, there it will lie.
4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
4Whoever keeps watching the wind will never plant, and whoever keeps staring at the clouds will never harvest.
5As 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.
5Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.
6In 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.
6Plant your seed in the morning, and do not let your hand rest in the evening, because you do not know which will do well, this one or that one, or whether both will turn out equally good.
Light Is Sweet
7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
7Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasure for the eyes to see the sun.
8But 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.
8But if a person lives many years and enjoys them all, let him still remember the days of darkness, because there will be many of them. Everything that is coming is empty.
Rejoice, O Young Man
9Rejoice, 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.
9Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know this: for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
10So put worry out of your heart and keep trouble away from your body, because childhood and youth are fleeting.
XII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Remember Thy Creator
1Remember 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;
1Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the hard days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them."
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
2Remember him before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars go dark, and before the clouds come back after the rain.
The House That Trembles
3In 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,
3That is the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, and the grinders stop because they are few, and those who look out the windows grow dim.
4And 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;
4The doors to the street are shut when the sound of the grinding fades. A person wakes at the chirp of a bird, and all the daughters of song fall silent.
5Also 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:
5People are afraid of heights, and terrors wait along the road. The almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because a person is going to his long home, and the mourners walk the streets.
The Silver Cord and the Broken Pitcher
6Or 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.
6Remember him before the silver cord snaps, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel is broken at the well.
7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
7Then the dust goes back to the earth it came from, and the spirit goes back to God, who gave it.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
8"Emptiness of emptiness," says the Preacher. "Everything is empty."
The Words of the Wise Are Goads
9And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
9Beyond all this, because the Preacher was wise, he kept on teaching the people what he knew. He weighed things carefully, searched them out, and arranged many proverbs.
10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
10The Preacher searched for pleasing words, and what he wrote was honest, words of truth.
11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
11The words of the wise are like goads, and the collected sayings are like nails driven in firmly; they are given by one Shepherd.
12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
12And one thing more, my son: be warned. There is no end to the making of books, and too much study wears out the body.
Fear God and Keep His Commandments
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
13Now that everything has been heard, here is the conclusion: fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of every person.
14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
14For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.