Ecclesiastes 1 Cross References - NSB

¹ The words of the Preacher (assembler) (lecturer), the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ² »Vanity of vanities,« said the Preacher, »vanity of vanities; all is vanity.« ³ What profit does a man have of all his labor that he works under the sun? ⁴ One generation goes and another generation comes, but the earth remains forever (without end). ⁵ The sun rises and the sun goes down, and it quickly goes back to the place where it began. ⁶ The wind blows toward the south, and it turns around to the north. It whirls around continually and the wind returns on its circuits. ⁷ All the rivers run into the sea yet the sea is not full. The rivers return to the place where they began. ⁸ All things are wearisome; man is not able to tell. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. ⁹ That which has been is that which will be. That which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun! ¹⁰ Is there anything of which it may be said: »See, this is new?« It has already existed in days of old, which were before us. ¹¹ There is no memory of former things. Those who follow will not remember those who are yet to come. ¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I devoted myself to study and explored wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. Behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. ¹⁵ What is crooked cannot be made straight. What is lacking cannot be numbered. ¹⁶ I said to my heart, »I have become great and have acquired more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has seen an abundance of wisdom and knowledge.« ¹⁷ I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind. ¹⁸ In much wisdom there is much grief for he who increases knowledge increases pain.

¹⁹ »You will eat your food by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground. You came from the ground. For dust you are and to dust you will return.«

³ When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. ⁴ After Seth was born, Adam lived eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters. ⁵ Altogether, Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years, and then he died. ⁶ Seth lived one hundred and five years when he became the father of Enosh. ⁷ After he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years and had other sons and daughters. ⁸ Altogether, Seth lived nine hundred and twelve years, and then he died. ⁹ Enosh lived ninety years. He became the father of Kenan. ¹⁰ After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years and had other sons and daughters. ¹¹ Enosh lived a total of nine hundred and five years, and then he died. ¹² Kenan lived seventy years. He became the father of Mahalalel. ¹³ After that Kenan lived eight hundred and forty years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁴ Altogether, Kenan lived nine hundred and ten years, and then he died. ¹⁵ When Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared. ¹⁶ After he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years and had other sons and daughters. ¹⁷ Mahalalel lived a total of eight hundred and ninety-five years, and then he died. ¹⁸ When Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, he became the father of Enoch. ¹⁹ After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁰ Jared lived a total of nine hundred and sixty-two years, and then he died. ²¹ When Enoch lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. ²² After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Altogether, Enoch lived three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God. Then he was no more, because God took (moved) him away. ²⁵ When Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech. ²⁶ After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred eighty-two years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁷ Altogether, Methuselah lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years, and then he died. ²⁸ When Lamech had lived one hundred and eighty-two years, he had a son. ²⁹ He named him Noah. He said: »He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground Jehovah has cursed.« ³⁰ After Noah was born, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five years and had other sons and daughters. ³¹ Lamech lived a total of seven hundred seventy-seven years, and then he died.

²² »As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.«

²⁰ When Reu lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug. ²¹ After he became the father of Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years and had other sons and daughters. ²² When Serug lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor. ²³ After he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁴ Nahor lived twenty-nine years; he became the father of Terah. ²⁵ After he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years and had other sons and daughters. ²⁶ Terah lived seventy years. He became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. ²⁷ This is the genealogy of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. ²⁸ While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. ²⁹ Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. ³⁰ Now Sarai was barren. She had no children. ³¹ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. ³² Terah lived two hundred and five years. He died in Haran.

⁹ This is the genealogy of Esau the father of the Edomites in Mount Seir. ¹⁰ These were the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah, the wife of Esau, and Reuel the son of Basemath, the wife of Esau. ¹¹ The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. ¹² Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. ¹³ These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. ¹⁴ These were the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah, and the daughter of Zibeon. And she bore to Esau: Jeush, Jaalam, and Korah. ¹⁵ These were the sheiks (chiefs) of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz, the firstborn son of Esau, were Chief Teman, Chief Omar, Chief Zepho, Chief Kenaz, ¹⁶ Chief Korah, Chief Gatam, and Chief Amalek. These were the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the sons of Adah. ¹⁷ These were the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: Chief Nahath, Chief Zerah, Chief Shammah, and Chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom. These were the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. ¹⁸ These were the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: Chief Jeush, Chief Jaalam, and Chief Korah. These were the chiefs who descended from Oholibamah, Esau’s wife, the daughter of Anah. ¹⁹ These were the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these were their chiefs.

⁹ Jacob answered: »My life of wandering has lasted a hundred and thirty years. Those years have been few and difficult, unlike the long years of my ancestors in their wanderings.«

⁶ Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. ⁷ The children of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.

¹⁶ These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. Levi lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. ¹⁷ The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram and Izhar and Hebron and Uzziel. Kohath lived one hundred and thirty-three years. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations. ²⁰ Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived one hundred and thirty-seven years. ²¹ The sons of Izhar: Korah and Nepheg and Zichri. ²² The sons of Uzziel: Mishael and Elzaphan and Sithri. ²³ Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ²⁴ The sons of Korah: Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. ²⁵ Aaron’s son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ households of the Levites according to their families. ²⁶ It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom Jehovah said: »Bring out the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.« ²⁷ They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the sons of Israel from Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron.

¹³ The sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not go down for a whole day. ¹⁴ There was no day like that before or after it, that Jehovah listened to the voice of a man: for Jehovah fought for Israel.

¹² »I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had. There has never been nor will ever be anyone like you. ¹³ »I will also give you what you did not ask for. All your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king.

¹ Solomon was king over all Israel. ² His high officials were as follows: The priest: Azariah son of Zadok, ³ the court secretaries: Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha In charge of the records: Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud. ⁴ Commander of the army: Benaiah son of Jehoiada. Priests: Zadok and Abiathar. ⁵ Chief of the district governors: Azariah son of Nathan Royal Adviser: the priest Zabud son of Nathan. ⁶ In charge of the palace servants: Ahishar In charge of the forced labor: Adoniram son of Abda. ⁷ Solomon appointed twelve men as district governors in Israel. They provided food from their districts for the king and his household, each man being responsible for one month out of the year. ⁸ The following are the names of these twelve officers and the districts they were in charge of: Benhur: the mountains of Ephraim, ⁹ Bendeker: the cities of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, Elon, and Beth Hanan, ¹⁰ Benhesed: the cities of Arubboth and Socoh and all the territory of Hepher, ¹¹ Benabinadab, who was married to Solomon's daughter Taphath: the whole region of Dor. ¹² Baana son of Ahilud: the cities of Taanach, Megiddo, and all the region near Beth Shan, near the town of Zarethan, south of the town of Jezreel, as far as the city of Abel Meholah and the city of Jokmeam. ¹³ Bengeber: the city of Ramoth in Gilead, and the villages in Gilead belonging to the clan of Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, and the region of Argob in Bashan, sixty large towns in all, fortified with walls and with bronze bars on the gates. ¹⁴ Ahinadab son of Iddo: the district of Mahanaim. ¹⁵ Ahimaaz, who was married to Basemath, another of Solomon's daughters: the territory of Naphtali. ¹⁶ Baana son of Hushai: the region of Asher and the town of Bealoth. ¹⁷ Jehoshaphat son of Paruah: the territory of Issachar. ¹⁸ Shimei son of Ela: the territory of Benjamin. ¹⁹ Geber son of Uri: the region of Gilead, which had been ruled by King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Besides these twelve, there was one governor over all the land.

³⁰ Solomon was wiser than the wise men of the East or the wise men of Egypt.

³⁰ Solomon was wiser than the wise men of the East or the wise men of Egypt. ³¹ He was the wisest of all men. He was wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, and the sons of Mahol. His fame spread throughout all the neighboring countries. ³² He wrote three thousand proverbs and more than a thousand songs.

⁷ »But I had no faith in what was said about you, till I came and saw for myself. Now I see that what I was told was not the half of it! Your wisdom and your wealth are much greater than they said.

²³ King Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth in wealth and in wisdom. ²⁴ They came from all over the earth to see Solomon and to listen to his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

⁴² He was king in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. ⁴³ He died and was buried in David's City. His son Rehoboam succeeded him as king.

²⁰ when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: »My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him.«

¹⁰ »Please give me the wisdom and knowledge I need to rule over them. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?« ¹¹ God replied to Solomon: »You have made the right choice. Instead of asking for wealth, treasure, fame or the death of your enemies or even for long life for yourself, you have asked for wisdom and knowledge so that you can rule my people, over whom I have made you king. ¹² »For this reason I will give you wisdom and knowledge. And in addition, I will give you more wealth, treasure, and fame than any king has ever had before or will ever have again.«

¹² »Praise Jehovah the God of Israel, Creator of heaven and earth! He has given King David a wise son, full of understanding and skill. He now plans to build a Temple for Jehovah and a palace for himself.

²² King Solomon was greater in wealth and wisdom than all the other kings of the world. ²³ All the kings of the world wanted to listen to the wisdom that God gave Solomon.

³⁰ Solomon ruled in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years.

¹⁷ Rehoboam ruled the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah. ¹⁸ King Rehoboam sent Hadoram to the Israelites. He was in charge of forced labor, but they stoned him to death. So King Rehoboam got on his chariot as fast as he could and fled to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Israel has rebelled against David’s dynasty to this day.

⁷ »And that you have prophets preaching about you in Jerusalem, and saying: ‘There is a king in Judah.’ Now an account of these things will be sent to the king. So come now, and let us have a discussion.«

⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

⁹ »Out of the south come the storm, and out of the north the cold.

¹⁷ »You whose garments are hot, when the land is still because of the south wind?

⁶ The enemy is finished-in ruins forever. You have uprooted their cities. Even the memory of them has faded.

²⁸ »To man he said: ‘Respect for Jehovah is wisdom! To stay away from evil is understanding.’«

²⁹ »If God decided to do nothing at all, no one could criticize him. If he hid his face (refused to assist), we would be helpless.

¹⁰ when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, ¹¹ when I said: ‘This far you may come and no farther’; here is where your proud waves halt?

⁴ Tremble, stand in awe and do not sin! Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and keep silent.

⁴ Yet, their measuring line (rule) has gone out into the entire world, their message to the ends of the earth. He has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun. ⁵ It comes out of its chamber like a bridegroom. Like a champion, it is eager to run its course. ⁶ It rises from one end of the heavens. It circles around to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

¹ ([Sons of Korah]) As the deer desires the water brooks, so I desire you, O God.

⁵ »Indeed, you have made the length of my days very short. My life span is nothing compared to yours. Certainly, everyone alive is like a whisper in the wind. ⁶ »Every man walks about like a vain illusion. He makes a lot of noise over nothing. He hoards riches and does not know who will receive them.

⁹ »I announced the good news of righteousness in the great congregation. I will not close my lips. You know that, O Jehovah.

⁹ Common people are only a vapor in the wind. Important people are only a delusion. When all of them are weighed on a scale, they amount to nothing. They are less than a vapor in the wind. ¹⁰ Do not count on extortion to make you rich. Do not hope to gain anything through robbery. When riches increase, do not depend on them.

⁵ You satisfy me with the richest foods. My mouth will sing your praise with joyful lips.

⁶ I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:

³⁶ His descendants will last forever. His throne will be in my presence like the sun. ³⁷ It shall be established forever like the moon. It will be like a faithful witness in heaven.

⁴⁷ Remember how short my life span is! Have you created the sons of men for no reason? ⁴⁸ Can man go on living and never see death? Who can set himself free from the power of the grave?

⁹ Indeed, all our days slip away because of your fury. We live out our years like one long sigh. ¹⁰ The days of our lives are seventy or eighty years if we are in good health. But the best of them bring trouble and misery. Indeed, they are soon gone, and we fly away.

²⁴ I say: »O my God, do not take me away in the middle of my days, your years are throughout all generations. ²⁵ »You founded the earth of old. The heavens are the work of your hands. ²⁶ »They will perish, but you endure. All of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing you will renew them and they will be renewed. ²⁷ »But you are the same. Your years will not come to an end. ²⁸ »The children of your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before you.«

⁵ You established the earth upon its foundations, so that it will not be unstable forever. ⁶ You covered it with the deep like a garment. The waters stood above the mountains. ⁷ They fled at your rebuke. At the sound of your thunder they hurried away. ⁸ The mountains rose and the valleys sank down to the place you appointed for them. ⁹ You set a boundary that they may not go beyond. They will not return to cover the earth.

¹⁹ You made the moon for the seasons. The sun knows the place of its setting. ²⁰ You appoint darkness and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about. ²¹ The young lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God. ²² They withdraw at sunrise and lie down in their dens. ²³ Man goes to his work and to his labor until evening.

²⁵ He spoke, and a storm began to blow, and it made the waves rise high.

²⁹ He made the storm calm down, and the waves became still.

² Jehovah’s deeds are spectacular. They are studied by all who enjoy them.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness is throughout all generations. You established the earth, and it stands. ⁹¹ They stand this day according to your ordinances, for all things are your servants.

⁴ Man is like a mere breath. His days are like a passing shadow.

² Pay close attention to wisdom, and let your [mind and] heart (inner being) reach for discernment. ³ Call out for insight. Lift up your voice for understanding. ⁴ Search for wisdom as if it were silver. Hunt for it as if it were hidden treasure!

⁷ »Wisdom is the most important thing. So gain wisdom! And by all means arrive at understanding.

¹ A man of solitude (who keeps to himself) (isolates himself) seeks his own (selfish) desire. He objects to sound wisdom.

¹⁵ The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge. The ear of the wise one searches for knowledge.

⁴ Do not exhaust yourself to get rich. Be wise and show restraint. ⁵ Will you look for things that do not exist? Riches grow wings and fly away like a bird.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep my ways.

²⁰ The grave and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

¹⁵ The leach has two daughters. Each cry: »Give,« »Give!« There are three things that are never satisfied, yes; even four things never say: »It is enough!« ¹⁶ The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that does not say: »It is enough.«

¹ The words of the Preacher (assembler) (lecturer), the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ I devoted myself to study and explored wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun. Behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

¹⁷ I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind.

¹⁷ I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I know that this also is a striving after wind. ¹⁸ In much wisdom there is much grief for he who increases knowledge increases pain.

³ I searched in my mind how to stimulate my flesh with wine. My mind guided my heart with wisdom. I possessed foolishness until I could see what was good for the sons of men. I saw what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

⁹ I became great and increased more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem and my wisdom remained with me. ¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold joy from my heart. My heart took pleasure in all my work and this was my reward. ¹¹ I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun.

¹¹ I looked at all the works my hands accomplished. I saw everything I had worked to do. I saw that all was vanity and grasping for the wind. It was to no purpose for there was no profit under the sun. ¹² I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What can the man do that comes after the king? Only what he has already done.

¹² I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What can the man do that comes after the king? Only what he has already done.

¹⁵ Then I said in my heart: »As it happens to the fool, so it will happen to me. Why have I been so wise?« Then I said in my heart: »This also is vanity.« ¹⁶ Neither the wise man nor the foolish man will be remembered for long. All that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. Death comes to both the wise and the foolish. ¹⁷ I hated life. Everything under the sun was evil to me. All is vanity and grasping for the wind.

¹⁹ Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? But he will have power over all the work that I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This too is vanity.

²¹ Because there is a man whose work has been done with wisdom, with knowledge, and with an expert hand. But one who has done nothing for it will have it for his heritage. This also is vanity and a great evil. ²² What does a man get for all his work, and for the desire of his heart with which he has done his work under the sun? ²³ All his days are sorrow, and his work is full of grief. Even in the night his heart has no rest. This again is vanity.

²⁶ To the man who is good, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

⁹ What profit is there to the worker in his work? ¹⁰ I have seen the task that God has given with which the sons of men are occupied.

¹⁴ I know that whatever God does it will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it. God does it in order that men should reverence (respect) him. ¹⁵ That which is has already been and that which is to be has already been. God seeks what has passed by.

¹⁹ What happens to the sons of men also happens to animals. As the one dies so the other dies. Yes, they all have one breath so that a man has no advantage over animals. For all is vanity.

¹ I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed for they had no one to comfort them. The oppressors had power but they had no one to comfort them. ² I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive. ³ Better off then both of them is the one who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

³ Better off then both of them is the one who has not ever been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. ⁴ I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind.

⁴ I have learned why people work so hard to succeed. It is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But it is vanity! It is like chasing the wind.

⁷ Then I came back and saw vanity under the sun. ⁸ There is a man who is by himself, without a companion. He is without son or brother. There is no end to all his work. He never has enough wealth. Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. He never asks: »For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?« This too is vanity and a terrible problem.

¹⁶ There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them. Those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with gain. This too is vanity.

¹⁰ He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with gain. This too is vanity. ¹¹ When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to see them?

¹⁶ This also is a serious evil. Just as we came we will go. Whatever profit or gain we earned we loose as if we labored for the wind.

¹⁸ This is what I have seen. It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink and enjoy the good of his labor. He labors under the sun all the days of his life. For God gives this to him as his allotment (inheritance).

⁹ Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering after the desire. This is also vanity and a striving after wind. ¹⁰ That which exists is named already. It is known and he cannot dispute with the one that is mightier than he. ¹¹ Seeing there is much that increases futility, what outcome is there for man? ¹² Who knows what is good for man in this life? Are all the days of his vain life that he spends like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after his existence under the sun?

¹⁰ Do not ask: »Why were the old days better then these?« You do not inquire wisely about this. ¹¹ Wisdom is good as an inheritance: It is an advantage to those who see the sun. ¹² Wisdom is a shelter just as money is a shelter. The advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives lift to those who have it. ¹³ Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?

¹⁶ Do not be righteous over much and do not be wise over much. Why should you destroy yourself?

²³ I have tried and proved all this by wisdom. I said: »I will be wise« but it was far from me. ²⁴ That which is far off, and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?

²⁴ That which is far off, and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? ²⁵ I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom. I looked for the explanation, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.

²⁵ I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom. I looked for the explanation, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.

²⁵ I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom. I looked for the explanation, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. ²⁶ I find what was worse than death is the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands are chains. He who pleases God will escape from her. But she will capture the sinner. ²⁷ »Behold, this I have found,« says the preacher, »counting one by one to find out the account:«

⁹ I have seen all this and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time when one man rules over another to his own misery and harm.

¹⁵ Then I commended enjoyment (pleasure), because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry. That will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun. ¹⁶ When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes) ¹⁷ I saw all the work of God. A man cannot discover the work that is done under the sun. Though a man labor to seek it out, yet he will not find it. Though a wise man thinks to know it, yet he will not be able to find it.

³ This evil is in all things that are done under the sun. There is one event that comes to all. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Madness is in their heart while they live. After that they go to the dead (die).

⁵ The living know that they will die! The dead do not know anything. They do not have any more reward. Their memory is forgotten. ⁶ Their love, their hatred, and their envy, is now gone, perished! They do not share anything that is done under the sun.

¹³ I have seen this wisdom under the sun, and it seemed important to me.

⁵ You do not know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of a pregnant woman. Even so you do not know the works of God who creates all.

⁸ If a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness for they will be many. All that comes is vanity.

¹⁰ Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.

⁸ »Vanity of vanities,« says the preacher; »all is vanity.«

⁸ »Vanity of vanities,« says the preacher; »all is vanity.« ⁹ Moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. He gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰ The preacher sought to find out acceptable words. That which was written was upright, even words of truth.

¹² By these, my son, be admonished! There is no end to publishing many books. Also much study is a weariness of the flesh.

¹² By these, my son, be admonished! There is no end to publishing many books. Also much study is a weariness of the flesh. ¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Respect God, and obey his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.

⁷ »But the Assyrian emperor has his own violent plans in mind. He is determined to destroy many nations. ⁸ »He boasts: ‘Every one of my commanders is a king! ⁹ »‘Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? ¹⁰ »‘As my hand took hold of the kingdoms of the idols, kingdoms whose carved images were greater then those of Jerusalem and Samaria, ¹¹ »‘As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?’ ¹² »It will happen when Jehovah has performed all his work on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem. He will say: I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty appearance. ¹³ »‘The king of Assyria says: By the strength of my hand I have done it. By my wisdom and understanding I have done it! I am prudent! Also I have removed the boundaries of the nations. I have robbed their treasuries. I have brought down people like a mighty man! ¹⁴ »‘I found the riches of nations as one finds a nest. I gathered the whole world as one gathers abandoned eggs. Not one of them flapped a wing, opened its mouth, or peeped.’«

⁴ »Every valley will be raised up! Every mountain and hill made low. The rough ground will become level and the rugged places a plain.

¹⁹ »I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Do you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.

² Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

²² »Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come. ²³ »Tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be shocked and filled with fear. ²⁴ »You are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless! He who chooses you is detestable. ²⁵ »I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes! One from the rising sun calls on my name. He treads on rulers as if they were mortar, as if he were a potter treading the clay. ²⁶ »Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could say: He was right? No one told of this, no one foretold it. No one heard any words from you!«

⁹ »The things I predicted have now come true. Now I will tell you of new things even before they begin to happen.«

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to announce good news to the lowly and meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.

²² »How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For Jehovah has created a new thing in the earth. A woman will protect a man.«

²⁰ »If you break my covenant of the day and my covenant of the night, so that day and night will not be at their appointed time,

¹⁴ »‘Woe to him who says: ‘I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows. I will panel it with cedar and paint it bright red (vermilion).’

³⁷ Who is able to say something should occur if Jehovah has not ordered it.

¹⁰ »The Lord Jehovah says: ‘It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan. ¹¹ »»You will say: »I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are securely at rest. They live without walls and have no bars or gates.«

³⁰ The king spoke: »Is this not great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?«

³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing. He does according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth. None can stop him, or say to him: ‘What do you do?’

⁴ Jehovah sent out a great windstorm upon the sea and the ship was about to break up.

² »Arise and go to the great city, Nineveh. Proclaim to it the proclamation I give you.«

¹³ »Is it for Jehovah of Hosts that the peoples labor for the fire? Do the nations weary themselves for vanity?

¹⁸ »What is an idol worth after the carver is done? It is merely a false god. Why trust a speechless image made by human hands from wood or metal?

¹¹ The sun and moon stood still in their habitation. They went away at the light of your arrows and the shining of your glittering spear.

⁵ »’Your fathers, where are they?’ The prophets, do they live forever?

²⁷ »Can you live longer by worrying about it?

²⁴ »Everyone who hears my words, and does them is like a wise man that builds his house on a rock.

²⁷ »The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and battered the house and it fell with a great crash.«

⁶ »Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

¹² »Rejoice, and be filled with joy, for great is your reward in heaven. The prophets, who came before you, were also persecuted.

²⁸ »Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.

³⁰ »You claim that you would not have been involved with your fathers when they spilled the blood of the prophets. ³¹ »You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³² »Fill up the (guilt) measure of your fathers.

³⁵ »Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

²⁶ »What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life?

³⁶ »What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ »What should a man give in exchange for his life?

²⁶ »The days of the Son of man will be like the days of Noah. ²⁷ »They ate, they drank and they got married until Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came, and destroyed them all. ²⁸ »The days of Lot were similar. They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted and they built. ²⁹ »But when Lot left Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. ³⁰ »It will be similar in the day that the Son of man is revealed.

⁸ »The wind blows where it will. You hear the sound of it. Yet you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. It is like this with every one who is born from the Spirit.«

²⁷ »Do not work for food that perishes but for food that offers everlasting life. The Son of man will give you this food. The Father, even God, has set his seal upon him.«

⁵¹ »You obstinate men who are uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did.

¹³ A gentle wind from the south began to blow. The men thought they could accomplish their plan. So they pulled up the anchor and sailed as close as possible along the coast of Crete. ¹⁴ Soon a very strong northeast wind blew down from the island. ¹⁵ It hit the ship and it was impossible to keep the ship headed into the wind. We gave up trying and let it be carried along by the wind.

²⁰ For the creation was subject to corruption, not by it’s own will but by reason of the one who subjected it on the basis of hope.

²² For we know that the whole creation groans and is in pain together until now. ²³ We also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption and the release from our bodies by ransom.

¹⁸ Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. It is written: »He catches the wise in their own craftiness (deception).« (Job 5:13) ²⁰ And again: »Jehovah knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain (useless) (empty).« (Psalm 94:11)

¹⁴ You brothers became imitators of the congregations of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. You also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews. ¹⁵ They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men. ¹⁶ They hindered us from speaking to the nations so that they may be saved. The result was that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

²¹ Prove all things; hold fast to what is good.

¹⁵ Be diligent and think about these things. Give yourself wholly to them. That way your progress may be apparent to all.

⁸ And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, rejected concerning the faith,

¹⁴ But solid food belongs to mature people. It belongs to those who by reason of use have their senses trained to know the difference between good and evil.

¹ There arose false prophets among the people. There will be false teachers among you! They will privately bring in destructive heresies (contrary doctrines), denying even the Master who bought them. They bring swift destruction on themselves.

⁵ He did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly!

¹⁰ The day of Jehovah will come as a thief. The heavens will pass away with a great noise. The elements shall be dissolved with intense heat. And the earth and the works in it will be burned up (destroyed). (Joel 2:31) (Zephaniah 1:14) ¹¹ Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved (destroyed), what manner of persons should you be in all holy living and godliness? ¹² Look for and earnestly desire the coming presence of the »Day of Jehovah.« (Zephaniah 1:14) The heavens being on fire will be dissolved (destroyed), and the elements will melt with intense heat! ¹³ We look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. This is according to his promise.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his works are from meekness because of wisdom. ¹⁴ If you have bitter jealousy (envy) and greedy ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not a wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfishness are, there is confusion and every evil deed. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable (yielding), full of mercy and good fruits, without discord (partiality), without hypocrisy.

¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. There was no more sea.

⁵ He who sat on the throne said: »Behold, I make all things new. Then he told me to write: for these words are faithful and true.«

¹⁶ »They will hunger no more, nor thirst any more; neither shall the sunlight beat down on them, nor any heat. ¹⁷ »The Lamb who is in the middle of the throne will feed them and lead them to living fountains of water. God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.«