\NormalFont\ShortTitle{ECCLESIASTES}
{\MTB This book contains the account of King Solomon observing what people do and of realizing that only reverencing God and obeying him is worthwhile. We call this book
\par }{\MT Ecclesiastes

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Everything is mysterious
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am
Solomon}},
the
son
of
{\ADD{
King}}
David.
{\ADD{
I
rule}}
in
Jerusalem
{\ADD{
and
people
call
me}} ‘The ◄Preacher/Religious
Teacher►’.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}I
say
that
everything
is
mysterious;
\par }{\QB everything
is
hard
for
me
to
understand;
\par }{\QB it
is
difficult
to
understand
why
everything
happens.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}◄What
do
people
gain
from
all
the
work
that
they
do
here
on
the
earth?/It
seems
that
people
gain
no
lasting
benefit
from
all
the
work
that
they
do
here
on
the
earth.► [RHQ]
\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
Each
year}}
old
people
die
and
babies
are
born,
\par }{\QB but
the
earth
never
changes.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
Each
morning}}
the
sun
rises,
and
{\ADD{
each
evening}}
it
sets,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
then}}
it
hurries
around
to
where
it
started
from.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
wind
blows
south,
\par }{\QB and
then
it
{\ADD{
turns
around
to
start
blowing towards}}
the
north.
\par }{\Q It
goes
around
and
around
in circles.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}All
the
streams
flow
into
the
sea,
\par }{\QB but
the
sea
is
never
full.
\par }{\Q The
water
returns
{\ADD{
to
the
sky}},
and
{\ADD{
when
it
rains}},
the
water
returns
to
the
rivers,
\par }{\QB and
it
flows
again
to
the
sea.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Everything
is boring,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
with
the
result
that}}
we
do
not
even
want
to
talk
about
it.
\par }{\Q We [SYN]
see
things,
\par }{\QB but
we
always
want
to
see
more.
\par }{\Q We [SYN]
hear
things,
\par }{\QB but
we
always
want
to
hear
more.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
Everything
continues
to
be
the
same
as
it
has
always
been}};
\par }{\QB things
that
happen
have
happened
previously,
and
they
will
happen
again.
\par }{\QB What
has
been
done
before
will
be
done
again.
\par }{\Q There
is
nothing
{\ADD{
really}}
new
in
this
world [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Sometimes
people
say, “Look
at
this!
This
is
something
new [RHQ]!”
\par }{\QB But
it
has
existed
previously;
\par }{\Q it
existed
before
we
were
born.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
People}}
do
not
remember
the
things
{\ADD{
that
happened}}
long
ago,
\par }{\QB and
in
the
future,
people
will
not
remember
what
we
are
doing
now.
\par }{\SH What
the religious
teacher
found
out
about
wisdom
\par }{\PP \VS{12}I,
the Religious
Teacher,
have
been
the
king
of
Israel
{\ADD{
for
many
years,
ruling}}
in
Jerusalem.
\VS{13}By
being
wise,
I concentrated
on
understanding
everything
that
was
being
done
on
the
earth [MTY].
{\ADD{
But
I
found
out
that}}
God
causes
{\ADD{
all
of}}
us
to
experience
things
that
cause
us
to
be unhappy/miserable.
\VS{14}It
seems
that
nothing
that
happens
on
the
earth
really enables
us
to
do
anything
useful.
It
is
{\ADD{
like}} [MET]
chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
Many}}
things
that
are
crooked
cannot
be
caused
to
become
straight;
\par }{\QB we
cannot
count
things
that
do
not exist.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}I
said
to
myself, “{\ADD{
Hey}},
I
am
wiser
than
any
of
the
kings
that
ruled
in
Jerusalem
before
I
{\ADD{
became
the
king}}.
I
am
wiser
and
I
know
more
than
any
of
them!”
\VS{17}{\ADD{
So}}
I
determined
to
learn
{\ADD{
more}}
about
being
wise
and
to
learn
about
knowing
about
many
things,
and
{\ADD{
also}}
to
learn
about
{\ADD{
doing
things
that
are}}
very
foolish [DOU].
{\ADD{
But}}
I
found
out
that
trying
to
understand
those
things
was
also
{\ADD{
useless,
like}}
chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}The
wiser
I
became,
the
more
disappointed
I
became.
\par }{\QB The
more
things
I
knew
about,
the sadder
I
became.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Pleasure does not bring happiness
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
Then}}
I
said
to
myself, “Okay,
I
will
try
to
do
everything
that
I
enjoy.
I
will
find
out
whether
doing
what
I
enjoy
can
truly
enable
me
to
be
happy.”
But
I
found
out
that
doing
that
was
also
useless/senseless.
\VS{2}{\ADD{
So}}
I
said
{\ADD{
to
myself}}, “It
is
foolish
to
laugh
{\ADD{
all
the
time}},
and
continually
doing
what
I
enjoy
does
not
seem
to
bring
any
lasting
benefit.”
\VS{3}{\ADD{
So}},
after
thinking
a
lot
about
it,
I
decided
to ◄cheer
myself/cause
myself
to
be
happy►
by
drinking
{\ADD{
a
lot
of}}
wine.
{\ADD{
So}}
while
I
was
still
trying
to
be
wise,
I
decided
to
do
things
that
{\ADD{
many}}
people
do
to
be
happy
during
the
short
time
that
they
are
alive
on
the
earth.
\VS{4}I
did
great
things:
I
{\ADD{
caused}}
houses
to
be
built
for
myself
and
vineyards
to
be
planted.
\VS{5}I
{\ADD{
told
my
workers}}
to
make
gardens
and
parks.
{\ADD{
Then}}
I
{\ADD{
told
them
to}}
fill
the
gardens
with
many
kinds
of
fruit
trees.
\VS{6}I
{\ADD{
told
them
to}}
build
reservoirs
to
store
water
to
irrigate
the
fruit
trees.
\VS{7}I
bought
male
and
female
slaves,
and
babies
{\ADD{
who
later
became
my
slaves}}
were
born
in
my
palace.
I
also
owned
more
livestock
than
any
of
the
previous
kings
in
Jerusalem
had
owned.
\VS{8}I
also
accumulated
large
amounts
of
silver
and
gold
{\ADD{
that
were
paid
to
me}}
from
the
treasures
of
kings
and
rulers
of
provinces.
{\ADD{
I
hired}}
men
and
women
to
sing
for
me,
and
I
had
many ◄concubines/slave
wives►
who
gave
me
{\ADD{
much}}
pleasure [EUP].
\VS{9}So,
I
became
greater
than
anyone
else
who
had
ever
lived
in
Jerusalem,
and
I
was
{\ADD{
very}}
wise.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}I
got
everything [LIT]
that
I [SYN]
saw
and
wanted.
\par }{\QB I
did
everything [LIT]
that
I
thought
would
enable
me
to
be
happy.
\par }{\Q All
those
things
that
I [SYN]
enjoyed
were
{\ADD{
like}}
a
reward
for
all
my
hard
work.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
But}}
then
I
thought
about
all
the
hard
work
that
I [SYN]
had
done
{\ADD{
to
get
all
those
things}},
\par }{\QB and
none
of
it
seems
to
bring
any
lasting
benefit [DOU].
\par }{\Q It
was
all
{\ADD{
like}}
chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\SH Being
wise
also
seemed
useless
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Then
I
started
to
think
about
being
wise,
and
{\ADD{
also
about}}
being
foolish [DOU].
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
I
said
to
myself, “I
certainly
do
not
think
that}} [RHQ]
the
next
king
will
be
able
to
do
anything
better
than
I
can.”
\par }{\Q \VS{13}And
I
thought, “Surely
it
is
better
to
be
wise
than
to
be
foolish,
\par }{\QB like
light
is
better
than
darkness,
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
because}}
wise
people
{\ADD{
walk
in
the
daylight
and}} [IDM]
can
see
where
they
are
going,
\par }{\QB but
foolish
people
walk
in
the
darkness
{\ADD{
and
cannot
see
where
they
are
going}}.”
\par }{\Q But
I
{\ADD{
also}}
realized
that
both
wise
people
and
foolish
people
eventually
die.
\par }{\PP \VS{15}So
I
said
to
myself,
\par }{\Q “I
am
very
wise,
but
I
will
{\ADD{
die
at
the
end
of
my
life}},
like
foolish
people
do.
\par }{\QB So ◄how
has
it
benefited
me
to
be
very
wise?/it
certainly
has
not
benefited
me
to
be
very
wise [RHQ]►.
\par }{\Q I
do
not
understand
why
{\ADD{
people
consider
that}}
it
is
valuable
to
be
wise.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}Wise
people
and
foolish
people
all
die.
\par }{\QB And
after
we
die,
we
will
all
eventually
be
forgotten [DOU].”
\par }{\PP \VS{17}So
I
hated
being
alive,
because
everything
that
we
do
here
on
the
earth [MTY]
distresses
me.
It
all
seems
to
be
useless
{\ADD{
like}}
chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\SH Working
hard
seemed
useless
\par }{\PP \VS{18}I
{\ADD{
also
began
to}}
hate
all
the
hard
work
that
I
had
done,
because
{\ADD{
when
I
die}},
everything
{\ADD{
that
I
have
acquired}}
will
belong
to
the
next
king.
\VS{19}And ◄who/no
one►
knows [RHQ]
whether
he
will
be
wise
or
whether
he
will
be
foolish.
But
even
if
he
is
foolish,
he
will
acquire
all
the
things
that
I
worked
very
hard
and
wisely
to
get.
\VS{20}I
thought
about
all
the
hard
work
that
I
had
done.
{\ADD{
It
seemed
useless}},
and
I
became
depressed/discouraged.
\VS{21}Some
people
work
wisely
and
skillfully,
using
the
things
that
they
have
learned.
But
{\ADD{
when
they
die}},
they
leave
everything,
and
someone
who
has
not
worked
hard
acquires
those
things.
And
that
also
{\ADD{
seemed
to}}
be
senseless
and
caused
me
to
be
discouraged.
\VS{22}So,
it
seems
that
people
do
not [RHQ]
get
much
for
all
the
hard
work
that
they
do
and
for
worrying.
\VS{23}Every
day
the
work
that
they
do
causes
them
to
experience
pain
and
to
be
worried.
And
during
the
night,
their
minds
are
not
able
to
rest.
That
also
is
very frustrating.
\par }{\PP \VS{24}{\ADD{
So
I
decided
that}}
the
best
thing
that
we
can
do
is
to
enjoy
what
we
eat
and
drink,
and
{\ADD{
also}}
enjoy
our
work.
And
I
realized
that
those
things
are
what
God
intends
for
us.
\VS{25}There
is
absolutely
no
one [RHQ]
who
is
able
to
enjoy
those
things
if
God
does
not
give
those
things
to
him.
\VS{26}God enables
those
who
please
him
to
be
wise,
to
know
{\ADD{
many
things}},
and
to
enjoy
{\ADD{
many
things}}.
But
if
sinful
people
work
hard
and
become
rich,
God
{\ADD{
can}}
take
their
money
away
from
them
and
give
it
to
those
who
please
him.
But
that
also
is
something
that
is
difficult
for
me
to
understand.
{\ADD{
Their
working
hard
seems}}
useless,
{\ADD{
like}}
chasing
the
wind.

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH There is a right time for everything
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}There
is
a
right/correct
time
for
everything,
\par }{\QB a
time
for
everything
that
we
do
in
this
world.
\par }{\BB \par }{\QB \VS{2}There
is
a
time
to
be
born,
and
there
is
a
time
to
die.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
plant
{\ADD{
seeds}},
and
there
is
a
time
to
harvest
crops.
\par }{\QB \VS{3}There
is
a
time
to
kill
{\ADD{
people}},
and
there
is
a
time
to
heal
{\ADD{
people}}.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
tear
things
down,
and
there
is
a
time
to
build
things.
\par }{\QB \VS{4}There
is
a
time
to
cry,
and
there
is
a
time
to
laugh.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
mourn,
and
there
is
a
time
to
dance
{\ADD{
joyfully}}.
\par }{\QB \VS{5}There
is
a
time
to
throw
away
stones
{\ADD{
from
a
field}},
and
there
is
a
time
to
gather
stones
{\ADD{
to
build
walls/houses}}.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
embrace
{\ADD{
people}},
and
there
is
a
time
to
not
embrace
{\ADD{
people}}.
\par }{\QB \VS{6}There
is
a
time
to
search
for
things,
and
there
is
a
time
to
stop
searching
for
things.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
keep/save
things,
and
there
is
a
time
to
throw
things
away.
\par }{\QB \VS{7}There
is
a
time
to
tear
{\ADD{
our
old
clothes}},
and
there
is
a
time
to
mend
{\ADD{
clothes}}.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
to
say
nothing,
and
there
is
a
time
when
we
should
speak.
\par }{\QB \VS{8}There
is
a
time
when
we
should
love
{\ADD{
things
that
people
do}},
and
there
is
a
time
when
we
should
hate
{\ADD{
things
that
people
do}}.
\par }{\QB There
is
a
time
for
war,
and
there
is
a
time
for
peace.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{9}◄What
do
people
gain
from
all
the
work
that
they
do?/It
seems
that
people
gain
very
little
from
all
the
work
that
they
do [RHQ]►.
\VS{10}I
have
seen
the
work
that
God
has
given
people
to
do.
\VS{11}God
has
appointed
a
time
that
is
right/correct
for
everything
to
happen.
He
has
{\ADD{
also}}
caused
people
to
realize
that
there
are
things
that
will
endure
forever.
But
in
spite
of
that,
no
one
can
completely
understand
everything
that
God
has
done,
from
the
time
that
he starts
doing
things
until
he
finishes
them.
\VS{12}I
know
that
the
best [LIT]
thing
for
us
people
to
do
is
to
rejoice
and
to
do
good
things
{\ADD{
all}}
during
the
time
that
we
are
alive.
\VS{13}And
I
also
know
that
everyone
should
eat
and
drink,
and
enjoy
the
work
that
they
do.
Those
are
things
that
God
gives
to
us.
\VS{14}I
{\ADD{
also}}
know
that
what
God
does
endures
forever.
No
one
can
add
to
what
God
does,
and
no
one
can
take
away
from
the
things
that
God
does.
God
does
those
things
in
order
that
people
would
revere
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}Things
that exist
now
have
already
existed
previously,
\par }{\QB and
things
that
will
happen
in
the
future
have
already
happened
previously;
\par }{\QB God
causes
the
same
things
to
happen
many
times.
\par }{\SH Injustices
in
the
world
\par }{\PP \VS{16}Furthermore,
I
saw
that
on
this
earth [MTY],
\par }{\Q even
in
the
courts
where
we
expect
judges
to
make
right
decisions
about
what
people
had
done,
\par }{\QB they
did
many
wicked [DOU]
things.
\par }{\PP \VS{17}{\ADD{
So}}
I
said
to
myself [SYN], “God
will
judge
{\ADD{
both}}
righteous
{\ADD{
people}}
and
wicked
{\ADD{
people}};
\par }{\Q there
is
a
time
{\ADD{
for
him
to
do
that}},
\par }{\Q because
there
is
a
time
for
him
to
do
everything.”
\par }{\PP \VS{18}And
regarding humans,
I
{\ADD{
also}}
said
to
myself, “God
is
testing
us,
to
show
us
that
{\ADD{
in
one
way}}
people
are
no
different
than
animals,
\VS{19}because
what
happens
to
people
happens
to
animals.
Animals
die,
and
people
die.
We
all
must
breathe
{\ADD{
to
remain
alive}}.
{\ADD{
With
regard
to
that}},
people
have
no
advantage
over
animals,
so
I
have
a
difficult
time
understanding
that.
\VS{20}{\ADD{
People
and
animals}}
all
die
and
are
buried.
We
are
all
made
of
soil,
and
{\ADD{
when
we
die}},
our
corpses
become
soil
again.
\VS{21}No
one
knows [RHQ]
for
sure
that
when
we
die,
our
souls/spirits
go
up
to
heaven
and
the
souls/spirits
of
animals
go
down
to
the
place
where
the
dead
are.”
\par }{\PP \VS{22}So
I
concluded
that
the
best
thing
for
{\ADD{
us}}
people
to
do
is
to
be
happy
about
the
work
that
we
do,
because
that
is
what
God
has
given
to
us.
I
say
that
because
no
one
of
us [RHQ]
knows
what
happens
to
us
after
we
die.

\par }\Chap{4}{\SH Other things that he found hard to understand/accept
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}I
thought
some
more
about
all
the
suffering
that
people
are
caused
to
experience
on
the
earth [MTY].
\par }{\Q I
saw
the
tears
of
people
who
were ◄oppressed/treated
cruelly►
\par }{\QB and
who
had
no
one
to
comfort/encourage
them.
\par }{\Q Those
who
oppressed
them
had
power,
\par }{\QB and
there
was
absolutely
no
one
who
was
able
to
comfort
those
who
were
being
oppressed.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
So}}
I
thought
that
those
who
are
already
dead
are
more
fortunate
\par }{\QB than
those
who
are
still
alive.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}And
those
who
have
not
been
born
yet
\par }{\QB are
more
fortunate
than
those
who
are
still
alive
and
those
who
have
died,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
because}}
those
who
have
not
been
born
have
not
seen
all
the
evil
things
that
are
done
on
the
earth.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}I
also
thought
about
all
the
hard
work
that
people
do
and
the skills
that
they
have.
And
I
thought
about
how
they
compete
with
each
other
because
they
are
envious
of
others,
{\ADD{
and
I
concluded
that}}
this
also
is
something
that
is
not
accomplishing
anything
useful,
{\ADD{
like}}
chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}Foolish
people
{\ADD{
refuse
to
work}};
\par }{\QB they
sit
idly,
with
their
hands
folded,
{\ADD{
and
do
not
work}}.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
So}}
they
ruin
themselves.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
So
I
say}}, “It
is
better
to
be
content
with
not
having
much
money,
\par }{\QB than
to
work
very
hard
and
try
to
get
a
lot
of
money,
\par }{\QB which
is
{\ADD{
as
useless
as}}
chasing
the
wind.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{7}I
thought
about
something
else
that
happens
on
the
earth [MTY]
that
seems
senseless.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}There
are
men
who
live
alone;
\par }{\QB they
do
not
have
a
wife
or
children
or
any
brothers
living
with
them;
\par }{\Q every
day
they
work
{\ADD{
very
hard}},
without
stopping,
to
get
a
lot
of
money,
\par }{\QB but
they
are
never
satisfied
with
the
things
that
they
have.
\par }{\Q They
never
ask
{\ADD{
themselves}},
\par }{\QB “Why
am
I
working
very
hard
to earn
more
money?
\par }{\Q Why
am
I
not
doing
things
that
would
cause
me
to
be
happy?”
\par }{\QB What
they
do
also
seems
senseless.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}Having
someone
{\ADD{
work}}
with
you
is
better
than
being
by
yourself
{\ADD{
all
the
time}}.
\par }{\QB If
you
have
a
friend,
he
can
help
you
to
do
your
work.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}If
you
fall
down,
he
can
help
you
get
up
again.
\par }{\QB But
if
you
fall
down
when
you
are
alone,
it
will
be
difficult
for
you,
\par }{\QB because
there
will
be
no
one
to
help
you
stand
up.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Similarly,
if
two
people
sleep
together,
\par }{\QB they
can
keep
each
other
warm.
\par }{\Q But
someone
who
sleeps
alone
will
certainly
not [RHQ]
be
warm.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Someone
who
is
alone
can
easily
be
attacked
and
defeated
by
another
person,
\par }{\QB but
two
people
can
help
each
other
and ◄resist/defend
themselves
against►
someone
who
attacks
them.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Three
people
can
defend
themselves
even
more
easily}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
like}}
a
rope
that
is
made
from
three
cords
is
harder
to
break
{\ADD{
than
a
rope
made
from
two
cords}}.
\par }{\SH When
a
poor
young
man
becomes
king
\par }{\PP \VS{13}A
young
man
who
is
poor
but
wise
is
a
better
person
than
a
foolish
old
king
who
refuses
to
pay
attention
when
people
try
to
give
him
good
advice.
\VS{14}It
is possible
for
a
young
man
like
that
to
succeed
and
some
day
become
king,
even
if
his
parents
were
poor
or
even
if
he
was
in
prison
some
of
the
time.
\VS{15}But
then
some
other
young
man
becomes
king,
and
everyone ◄starts
to
support/is
pleased
with►
him.
\VS{16}Large
crowds
of
people
crowd
around
him.
But
after
a
few
years,
they
will
reject
him,
{\ADD{
too}}.
So
it
is
all
senseless,
{\ADD{
like}}
chasing
after
the
wind.

\par }\Chap{5}{\SH Be careful about making promises
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}When
you
enter
God’s
temple,
you
should
be
sure
to
listen
carefully.
Doing
that
is
better
than
offering
sacrifices
to
God
{\ADD{
and
then
not
obeying
him}},
which
is
foolish.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{2}Think
carefully
before
you
speak [MTY]
\par }{\QB or
before
you
promise
God
that
you
will
do
something [IDM].
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Do
not
forget
that}}
God
is
in
heaven
{\ADD{
and
he
is all-powerful}}
\par }{\QB and
you
are
here
on
the
earth,
\par }{\QB so
think
carefully
before
you
{\ADD{
make
any
promises
to
God}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}If
you
are
continually
thinking
{\ADD{
and
worrying}}
about
things,
\par }{\QB you
will
have
bad
dreams
about
them
and
not
rest
{\ADD{
well}}.
\par }{\Q And
the
more
you
talk,
\par }{\QB the
more likely
it
will
be
that
you
will
say
things
that
are
foolish.
\par }{\PP \VS{4}When
you
solemnly
promise
God
that
you
will
do
something,
do
not
be
foolish
by
delaying
in
doing
it,
because
God
is
not
pleased
with
foolish
people.
Do
{\ADD{
all}}
the
things
that
you
promise
God
that
you
will
do.
\VS{5}It
is
better
to
not
promise
{\ADD{
anything}}
than
to
promise
to
do
something,
and
{\ADD{
then}}
not
doing
it.
\VS{6}Do
not
sin
by
promising
to
do
something
and
then
not
doing
it.
And
{\ADD{
when
you
promise
God
to
do
something
and
do
not
do
it}},
do
not
say
to
God’s
priest
that
it
was
a
mistake
for
you
to
promise
to
do
that.
If
you
do
that,
God
will
certainly [RHQ]
become
very
angry
with
you,
and
he
will
take
from
you
everything
that
you [SYN]
have
worked
to
acquire.
\VS{7}Promising
to
do
something
and
not
doing
it
is
like [SIM]
a
dream
that
has
no
value;
instead,
revere
God
{\ADD{
by
doing
what
you
promised
him
that
you
would
do}}.
\par }{\SH Officials
cheat
each
other
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Do
not
be
surprised
if
you
see
poor
{\ADD{
people}}
being ◄oppressed/treated
cruelly►
{\ADD{
by
powerful/influential
people}},
or
if
you
see
judges
making
unjust
decisions
throughout
the
land.
{\ADD{
That
happens}}
because
the
people
who
do
that
are
supervised
{\ADD{
and
cheated
by}}
more
important
officials [DOU],
\VS{9}and
even
the
king
forces
the
people
to
give
him
some
of
the
crops
that
they
harvest.
\par }{\SH The
futility
of
wealth
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Everyone
who
tries
to
{\ADD{
get
as
much}}
money
as
they
can
\par }{\QB will
never
think
that
they
have
enough.
\par }{\Q They
will
never
be
satisfied
with
the
money
that
they
have.
\par }{\QB That
also
is
senseless.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}The
more
money
that
we
have,
\par }{\QB the
more
people
want
us
to
spend
our
money
to
buy
things
for
them.
\par }{\Q So
people
who
have
a
lot
of
money
do
not [RHQ]
benefit
from
it;
\par }{\QB they
see [MTY]
it
when
they
get
it,
but
it
soon ◄disappears/is
completely
spent►.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Those
who
work
hard
sleep
peacefully
{\ADD{
at
night}},
\par }{\QB even
if
they
do
not
have
much
food
to
eat.
\par }{\Q But
rich
{\ADD{
people}}
do
not
sleep
well,
\par }{\QB because
{\ADD{
they
worry}}
about
their
money.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{13}I
have
seen
{\ADD{
another}}
terrible
thing
that
happens
here
on
the
earth [MTY]:
\par }{\Q People
save
{\ADD{
up
all}}
their
money
and
become
rich,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
but}}
they
are
not
helped
by
saving
a
lot
of
money,
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
because}}
something
happens
that
causes
their
money
to
be
gone,
\par }{\QB and
when
they
die,
\par }{\QB there
is
no
money
for
their
children
to
get/inherit.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}When
we
are
born,
\par }{\QB we
do
not
bring
anything
with
us,
\par }{\Q and
when
we
die,
\par }{\Q we
take
nothing
with
us
\par }{\QB from
all
that
we
have earned
by
our
working
hard.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}That
also
seems
senseless.
\par }{\Q People
bring
nothing
{\ADD{
into
the
world
when
they
are
born}},
\par }{\QB and
they
leave
{\ADD{
this
world}}
taking
nothing
with
them.
\par }{\Q They
have
worked
hard,
\par }{\QB but
they
receive
no
lasting
benefit [MET].
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
Furthermore,
rich
people}}
are
always
miserable [MET]
and
sad,
\par }{\QB and
depressed/discouraged
and
often
sick
and ◄resentful/thinking
that
what
has
happened
to
them
is
unfair►.
\par }{\PP \VS{18}So,
the
best
thing
for
people
to
do
here
on
the
earth
during
the
few
years
that
God
allows
them
to
be
alive
is
to
eat
and
drink
and
to
enjoy
their
work,
because
those
are
the
things
that
God
has
given
to
them.
\VS{19}If
people
are
rich
and
have
a
lot
of
possessions,
and
are
able
to ◄enjoy/be
happy
with►
the
things
that
they
have
and
to
enjoy
their
work,
those
things
are
{\ADD{
also}}
gifts
from
God.
\VS{20}Those
people
do
not
worry
much
about
{\ADD{
everything
that
has
happened}}
during
the
time
that
they
have
been
alive,
because
God enables
them
to
be
happy
doing
everything
that
they
do.

\par }\Chap{6}{\PP \VerseOne{1}I
have
seen
something
{\ADD{
else
here}}
on
this
earth
that
troubles
people.
\VS{2}God enables
some
people
to
get
a
lot
of
money
and
possessions
and
to
be
honored;
they
have
everything [LIT]
that
they
want.
But
God
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
does
not
allow
them
to
continue
to
enjoy
those
things.
Someone
else
gets
them
and
enjoys
them.
That
seems
senseless
and
unfair.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Someone
might
have 100
children
and
live
for
many
years.
But
if
he
is
not
able
to
enjoy
the
things
that
he
has
acquired,
and
if
he
is
not
buried
{\ADD{
properly
after
he
dies}},
{\ADD{
I
say
that}}
a
child
that
is
dead
when
it
is
born
is
more
fortunate.
\VS{4}That
dead baby’s
birth
is
meaningless;
it
does
not
even
have
a
name.
It
goes
directly
to
the
place
where
there
is
only
darkness.
\VS{5}It
does
not
{\ADD{
live
to}}
see
the
sun
or
know
anything.
But
it
finds
more
rest
than
rich
people
do
{\ADD{
who
are
alive}}.
\VS{6}Even
if
people
could
live
for 2,000
years,
if
they
do
not
enjoy
the
things
that
God
gives
to
them,
{\ADD{
it
would
have
been
better
for
them
never
to
have
been
born}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
All
people
who
live
a
long
time}}
certainly [RHQ]
all
go
to
the
same
place—
{\ADD{
to
the
grave}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}People
work
hard
to
{\ADD{earn
enough
money
to
buy}}
food
to
eat [MTY],
\par }{\QB but
{\ADD{
often}}
they
never
get
enough
to
eat.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}So
it
seems
that [RHQ]
wise
people
do
not
receive
more
lasting
benefits
\par }{\QB than
foolish
people
do.
\par }{\Q And
it
seems
that [RHQ]
poor
people
do
not
benefit
from
knowing
how
to
conduct
their
lives.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}It
is
better
to
enjoy
the
things
that
we
already
have [MTY]
\par }{\QB than
to
constantly
want
more
things;
\par }{\Q continually
wanting
more
things
is
{\ADD{
senseless}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
like
}}chasing
the
wind.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}All
the
things
that exist
{\ADD{
on
the
earth}}
have
been
given
names.
\par }{\QB And
everyone
knows
what
people
are
like,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
so}}
it
is
useless
to
argue
with
someone (OR,
with
God)
\par }{\QB who
is
stronger
than
we
are.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}The
more
{\ADD{
that
we}}
talk,
\par }{\QB the
more
{\ADD{
often
we
say
things
that
are}}
senseless,
\par }{\QB so
it
certainly
does
not [RHQ]
benefit
us
to
talk
a
lot.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}We
live
for
only
a
short
time;
we
disappear
like [SIM]
a
shadow
disappears
{\ADD{
in
the
sunlight}}.
No
one [RHQ]
knows
what
is
best
for
us
while
we
are
alive,
and
no
one [RHQ]
knows
what
will
happen
to
us
after
we
die [EUP].

\par }\Chap{7}{\SH The best things in life
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
Having}}
a
good
reputation [MTY]
is
better
than
fine
perfume,
\par }{\QB and
the
day
that
we
die
is
better
than
the
day
that
we
are
born.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}It
is
better
to
go
to
a
house
where
people
are
mourning
{\ADD{
about
someone
who
has
died}}
\par }{\QB than
to
go
to
a
house
where
people
are
feasting,
\par }{\Q because
everyone
will
die
some
day,
\par }{\QB and
people
who
are
alive
should
think
seriously [IDM]
about
that.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}It
is
better
to
be
sad
than
to
be
{\ADD{
always}}
laughing,
\par }{\QB because
being
sad
can
cause
us
to
think
more
about
how
we
should
conduct
our
lives [IDM].
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Wise
{\ADD{
people}}
who
go
to
where
others
are
mourning
think
about
{\ADD{
the
fact
that
some
day
they
also
will}}
die,
\par }{\QB but
foolish
people [PRS]
{\ADD{
do
not
think
about
that}};
they
are
always [MTY]
laughing.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}It
is
better
to
pay
attention
to
{\ADD{
someone
who
is
wise
}}rebuking
you
\par }{\QB than
to
listen
to
the
songs
of
a
foolish
person.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}By
{\ADD{
listening
to}}
foolish
people
laughing
\par }{\QB we
will
not
{\ADD{
learn
any
more
than
by
listening
to}}
the
crackling
of
thorns
{\ADD{
being
burned}}
under
a
pot.
\par }{\QB Listening
to
fools
is
senseless.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}When
wise
people
say
to
others, “You
must
pay
me
a
lot
of
money
for
me
to
protect
you,”
\par }{\QB that
causes
those
wise
people
to
become
foolish,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{accepting}}
bribes
causes
people
to
become
unable
to
do
what
is
fair/just.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}Finishing
something
is
better
than
starting
something,
\par }{\QB and
being
patient
is
better
than
being
proud.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}Do
not
quickly ◄lose
your
temper/react
to
things
angrily►,
\par }{\QB because
it
is
foolish
people [SYN]
who
become
very
angry.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}Do
not
say, “Things
were
a
lot
better [RHQ]
previously,”
\par }{\QB because
it
is
people
who
are
not
wise
who
say
that.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Being
wise
is
better
than inheriting
{\ADD{
valuable
things}};
\par }{\QB being
wise
provides
lasting
benefits
for
every
person
on
the
earth [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{12}We
are
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
protected
by
being
wise
\par }{\QB like
we
are
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
protected
by
having
a
lot
of
money,
\par }{\Q but
being
wise
is
better
{\ADD{
than
having
a
lot
of
money}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because}}
being
wise prevents
us
from
{\ADD{
doing
foolish
things
that
would}}
cause
us
to
die.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{13}Think
{\ADD{
carefully
about}}
what
God
has
done.
\par }{\Q Certainly
no
one
can [RHQ]
cause
to
become
straight
\par }{\QB the
things
that
God
has
caused
to
be
crooked.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}When
things
are
going
well
for
you,
be
happy,
\par }{\QB and
when
things
are
not
going
well
for
you,
\par }{\Q remember
that
God
is
the
one
who
causes
good
things
to
happen
\par }{\QB and
who
also
causes
disasters.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{15}During
all
the
time
that
I
have
been
alive
I
have
seen
a
lot
of [HYP]
things
that
seem
senseless.
\par }{\Q I
have
seen
righteous
people
die
{\ADD{
while
they
are
still
young}},
\par }{\QB and
I
have
seen
wicked
people
remain
alive
for
a
very
long
time
\par }{\QB in
{\ADD{
spite
of}}
their
continuing
to
be
wicked.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{
So}}
do
not
think
that
you
are
very
righteous
\par }{\QB and
do
not
think
that
you
are
very
wise,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because
if
you
think
those
things}},
you
will
destroy
yourself.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}If
you
do
what
is
evil
or
do
what
is
foolish,
\par }{\QB you
might
die
while
you
are
still
young.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Continue
to
avoid
doing
what
is
evil
and
doing
what
is
foolish;
\par }{\QB avoid
doing
both
of
those
things
by
continually revering
God.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}If
you
are
wise,
you
will
be
more
powerful/influential
\par }{\QB than
the
ten
most
powerful/influential
men
in
your
city.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}There
is
no
one
in
this
world
who
{\ADD{
always}}
does
what
is
right
\par }{\QB and
who
never
sins.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{21}Do
not
pay
attention [IDM]
to
everything
that
people
say,
\par }{\QB because
if
you
do
that,
you
might
hear
your
servant
cursing
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{22}You
know
that
you
have
also
cursed
other
people.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{23}I
said
{\ADD{
to
myself}}
that
I
would
use
my
wisdom
to
study
all
the
things
{\ADD{
that
I
have
written
about}},
\par }{\Q but
I
was
not
able
to
do
it
successfully.
\par }{\Q \VS{24}Wisdom
seems
to
be
far
from
me;
\par }{\QB there
is
no
one [RHQ]
who
can
truly
understand
everything.
\par }{\Q \VS{25}But
I
decided
to
investigate
things
and
\par }{\QB by
my
wisdom
try
to
understand
the
reason
for
everything.
\par }{\Q I
also
wanted
to
understand
why
people
act
wickedly
\par }{\QB and
why
they
act
very
foolishly.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{26}{\ADD{
One
thing
I
learned
was
that}} ◄allowing
a
woman
to
seduce
you/having
sex
with
a
woman
to
whom
you
are
not
married►
is
worse
than
dying.
\par }{\QB A
woman
who
tries
to
seduce
men
is
{\ADD{
as
dangerous
as}}
a
trap [MET].
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
If
you
allow
her
to
put}}
her
arms
{\ADD{
around
you,
it
will
be
as
though
she
will
be fastening
you
with}}
chains.
\par }{\Q Women
like
that
will
capture
sinful
men,
\par }{\QB but
men
who
please
God
will
escape
from
such
women.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{27}This
is
what
I
have
learned:
\par }{\Q I
tried
to
learn
more
and
more
about
things
\par }{\QB to
try
to
find
out
the
reason
for
everything,
\par }{\QB \VS{28}and
I
continued
to
try
to
learn
more,
\par }{\Q but
I
could
not
find
{\ADD{
all
that
I
was
searching
for}}.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
But}}
one
thing
that
I
found
out
was
that
among 1,000
{\ADD{
people}}
I
found
one
righteous
man,
\par }{\Q but
I
did
not
find
even
one
righteous
woman.
\par }{\Q \VS{29}{\ADD{
But}}
I
did
learn
one
thing:
\par }{\QB When
God
created
people,
they
were
righteous,
\par }{\QB but
they
have
found
many
ways
to
do
many
evil
things.

\par }\PoetryChap{8}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
will
tell
you
about}}
those
who
are
truly
wise [RHQ]
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
they
can
explain
why
everything
happens.
\par }{\Q Being
wise enables
people
to
be
happy [MTY]
\par }{\QB and enables
them
to
smile.
\par }{\SH Obey
the
king
\par }{\PP \VS{2}You
solemnly
promised
God
that
you
would
obey
what
the
king
commands,
so
do
that.
\VS{3}Do
not
quickly
disobey
the
king.
And
do
not
join
those
who
want
to
rebel
against
him,
because
the
king
will
do
what
he
wants
to
do.
\VS{4}We
need
to
obey
what
the
king
says
more
than
we
need
to
obey
what
anyone
else
says;
no
one
can
say
to
the
king, “◄Why
are
you
doing
that?/You
should
not
be
doing
that.► [RHQ]”
\par }{\Q \VS{5}If
you
obey
what
the
king
commands,
\par }{\QB he
will
not
harm
you.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
So}}
be
wise,
and
know
the
correct/right
time
to
do
things
and
the
right
way
to
do
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Although
people
experience
many
troubles/difficulties,
\par }{\QB there
is
a
right/correct
time
to
do
things,
and
there
is
a
right/correct
way
{\ADD{
to
do
them}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}No
one
knows
what
will
happen
in
the
future,
\par }{\QB so
there
is
no
one [RHQ]
who
can
tell
us
what
is
going
to
happen.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}We
cannot
control
the
wind,
\par }{\QB and
we
cannot
control
when
we
will
die.
\par }{\Q Soldiers
are
not
permitted
to
go
home
during
a
battle,
\par }{\QB and
evil
people
will
not
be
saved
by
{\ADD{
doing
what
is}}
evil.
\par }{\PP \VS{9}I
thought
about
all
those
things,
and
I
thought
about
all [HYP]
the
other
things
that
happen
on
this
earth.
I
saw
that
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
people
cause
those
whom
they
control
to
suffer.
\VS{10}I
also
saw
that
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
after
evil
{\ADD{
people}}
die,
they
are
highly
honored
at
their funerals
by
the
people
in
the
cities
where
they
had
done
{\ADD{
evil}}
deeds.
It
seemed
to
be
difficult
to
understand
why
that
happens.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}If
evil
people
are
not
immediately
punished,
it
causes
{\ADD{
other}}
people [SYN]
to
{\ADD{
also}}
want
to
do
evil
things.
\VS{12}But
even
if
sinful
people
commit 100
crimes,
and
{\ADD{
even
if
they}}
live
for
a
long
time,
I
know
that
things
will
go
better
for
those
who
greatly
respect
and
revere
God.
\VS{13}{\ADD{
I
also
know}}
that
things
will
not
go
well
go
for
those
who
are
evil,
because
they
do
not
revere
God.
Shadows
{\ADD{
do
not
last
a
long
time}}.
Similarly [SIM],
evil
people
will
not
live
a
long
time.
\par }{\PP \VS{14}Another
thing
that
{\ADD{
sometimes}}
happens
on
this
earth
is
that
bad
things
happen
to
righteous
people,
and
good
things
happen
to
evil
people.
It
is
difficult
to
understand
why
that
happens.
\VS{15}{\ADD{
So}}
I
decided
that
I
would
recommend
that
people
be
happy
while
they
are
alive,
because
the
best
thing
that
people
can
do
here
on
this
earth
is
to
eat
and
drink
and
be
happy. Enjoying
doing
those
things
will
help
people
while
they
do
their
work,
all
the
time
that
God
has
given
to
them
to
remain
alive
here
on
the
earth.
\par }{\PP \VS{16}I
thought
about
being
wise
and
about
people
who
work
very
hard,
working
day
and
night
and
not
taking
time
to
sleep.
\VS{17}Then
I
thought
about
everything [HYP]
that
God
has
done,
and
I
realized
that
no
one
can
understand
everything
that
happens
here
on
this
earth.
Truly,
people
are
not
able
to
fully
understand
everything
{\ADD{
that
God
understands}},
even
if
they
try
hard
to
do
that.
Even
if
wise
people
claim
that
they
understand
it
all,
they
cannot.

\par }\Chap{9}{\SH Everyone dies
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}I
thought
about
all
those
things,
and
I
concluded
that
God
controls
{\ADD{
what
happens
to}}
everyone,
even
those
who
are
wise
and
those
who
are
righteous.
No
one
knows
whether
{\ADD{
others}}
will
love
them
or
whether
they
will
hate
them.
\par }{\PP \VS{2}{\ADD{
But
we
know
that
some
time
in
the
future}}
we
will
all
die;
\par }{\Q it
does
not
matter
whether
we
act
righteously
or
wickedly,
\par }{\QB whether
we
are
good
or
whether
we
are
bad,
\par }{\Q whether
we
are
acceptable
for
{\ADD{
worshiping
God}}
\par }{\QB or
whether
{\ADD{
we
have
done
things
to
cause
us
to
be}}
unacceptable;
\par }{\Q it
does
not
matter
if
we
offer
sacrifices
{\ADD{
to
God}}
or
if
we
do
not;
\par }{\Q it
does
not
matter
if
we
do
what
we
have
promised
God
that
we
will
do
or
if
we
do
not;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
we
all
die}}.
\par }{\Q The
same
thing
will
happen
to
good
people
and
to
sinful
people,
\par }{\QB to
those
who
solemnly
promise
{\ADD{
to
do
things
for
God}}
and
to
those
who
are
afraid
to
make
such
promises.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}It
seems
wrong
that
the
same
thing
happens
to
everyone
on
this
earth:
Everyone
dies [EUP].
Furthermore,
people’s
inner
beings
are
full
of
evil.
People
do
foolish
things
while
they
are
alive,
and
then
they
die
and
join
those
who
are
already
dead.
\VS{4}While
we
are
alive,
we
confidently
expect
{\ADD{
that
good
things
will
happen
to
us}}.
{\ADD{
We
despise}}
dogs,
but
it
is
better
to
be
a
dog
that
is
alive
than
to
be
a
{\ADD{
majestic}}
lion
that
is
dead.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}We
who
are
alive
know
that
{\ADD{
some
day}}
we
will
die,
\par }{\QB but
dead
people
do
not
know
anything.
\par }{\Q Dead
people
do
not
receive
any
more
rewards,
\par }{\QB and
people
soon
forget
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
While
they
were
alive}},
they
loved
{\ADD{
some
people}},
they
hated
{\ADD{
some
people}},
they
envied
{\ADD{
some
people}},
\par }{\QB but
that
all
ends
when
they
die.
\par }{\Q They
will
never
again
be
a
part
of
anything
that
happens
here
on
the
earth.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}{\ADD{
So
I
say}},
be
joyful [DOU]
while
you
eat
your
food
and
drink
your
wine,
because
that
is
what
God
wants
you
to
do.
\VS{8}Wear
nice [MTY]
clothes
and
make
your
face
look
nice.
\VS{9}Enjoy
living
with
your
wife
whom
you
love,
all
during
the
time
that
God
has
given
to
you
to
be
alive
here
on
this
earth.
And
even
though
it
is
difficult
to
understand
why
many
things
happen,
enjoy
doing
the
work
that
you
do
here
on
this
earth.
\VS{10}Whatever
you
are
able
to
do,
do
it
with
all
your
energy,
because
{\ADD{
some
time
you
will
die}},
and
in
the
place
of
the
dead
where
you
are
going,
no
one
works
or
plans
to
do
anything
or
knows
anything
or
is
wise.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}I
have
seen
something
else
here
on
the
earth:
\par }{\Q The
person
who
runs fastest
does
not
{\ADD{
always}}
win
the
race,
\par }{\Q the
strongest
soldiers
do
not
{\ADD{
always}}
win
the
battle,
\par }{\Q the
wisest
people
do
not
{\ADD{
always}}
have
food,
\par }{\Q the smartest
people
do
not
{\ADD{
always}}
become
rich,
\par }{\Q and
people
who
have
studied
a
lot
are
not
{\ADD{
always}} ◄honored/treated
very specially►
by
others;
\par }{\Q we
cannot
{\ADD{
always}}
control
what
things
will
happen
to
us
and
where
they
will
happen.
\par }{\PP \VS{12}No
one
knows
when
he
will
die [EUP];
\par }{\Q fish
are
cruelly
caught
in
a
net,
\par }{\QB and
birds
are
caught
in
snares/traps;
\par }{\Q similarly [SIM],
people
experience
disasters
\par }{\QB at
times
when
they
do
not
expect
them
to
happen.
\par }{\SH Being
wise
is
better
than
being
foolish
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Once
I
saw
something
that
a
wise
man
did
that
impressed
me.
\VS{14}There
was
a
small
town,
where
only
a
few
people
lived.
The
army
of
a
great
king
came
to
that
town
and
surrounded
it.
They
built
dirt
ramps
up
against
the
walls
in
order
to
climb
up
and
attack
the
town.
\VS{15}In
that
town
there
was
a
man
who
was
poor
but
very
wise.
Because
of
doing
what
that
man
{\ADD{
suggested}},
the
town
was
saved;
but
people
{\ADD{
soon}}
forgot
about
him.
\VS{16}So
I
realized
that
although
being
wise
is
better
than
being
strong,
if
you
are
poor,
no
one
will appreciate
what
you
do,
and
people
will
soon
forget
what
you
said.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{17}Speaking
quietly
what
is
{\ADD{
very}}
wise
is
{\ADD{
much}}
more
sensible
\par }{\QB than
a
king
shouting
to
foolish
people.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}Being
wise
is
more
useful
\par }{\QB than
{\ADD{
a
lot
of}}
weapons;
\par }{\Q but
if
you
do
one
foolish
thing,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
is possible
that}}
because
of
doing
that,
you
will
ruin
all
the
good
things
that
you
have
done.

\par }\PoetryChap{10}{\Q \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
A
few}}
dead
flies
in
{\ADD{
a
bottle
of}}
perfume
cause
{\ADD{
all}}
the
perfume
to
stink.
\par }{\QB Similarly [SIM],
a
small
amount
of
acting
foolishly
can
have
a
greater
effect
than
acting
wisely.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}If
people
think sensibly,
it
will
lead
them
to
do
what
is
right;
\par }{\QB if
they
think
foolishly,
it
causes
them
to
do
what
is
wrong.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Even
while
foolish
people
walk
along
the
road,
\par }{\QB they
show
that
they
do
not
have
good
sense;
\par }{\QB they
show
everyone
that
they
are
not
wise.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Do
not
quit
working
for
a
ruler
when
he
is
angry
with
you;
\par }{\QB if
you
remain
calm,
he
will
{\ADD{probably}}
stop
being
angry.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}There
is
something
{\ADD{
else}}
that
I
have
seen
here
on
this
earth,
\par }{\QB something
that
rulers
sometimes
do
that
is
wrong/inappropriate:
\par }{\Q \VS{6}They
appoint
foolish
people
to
have
important
positions,
\par }{\QB while
they
appoint
rich
{\ADD{
people}}
to
have unimportant
positions.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}They
allow
slaves
{\ADD{
to
ride}}
on
horses
{\ADD{
like
rich
people
usually
do}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
but}}
they
force
officials
to
walk
{\ADD{
like
slaves
usually
do}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
It
is possible
that}}
those
who
dig
pits
\par }{\QB will
fall
into
one
of
those
pits.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
is possible
that}}
someone
who
tears
down
a
wall
\par }{\QB will
be
bitten
by
a
snake
{\ADD{
that
is
in
that
wall}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}If
you
work
in
a
quarry,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
is possible
that}}
a
stone
{\ADD{
will
fall
on
you
and}}
injure
you.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
is possible
that}}
men
who
split
logs
\par }{\QB will
be
injured
by
one
of
those
logs.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{10}If
your
axe
is
not
sharp [DOU],
\par }{\QB you
will
need
to
work
harder
{\ADD{
to
cut
down
a
tree}},
\par }{\Q but
by
being
wise,
you
will
succeed.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}If
a
snake
bites
a
man
before
he
charms/tames
it,
\par }{\QB his
ability
to
charm
snakes
will
not
benefit
him.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{12}Wise
people
say [MTY]
what
is
sensible,
and
because
of
that,
people
honor
them;
\par }{\QB but
foolish
people
are
destroyed
by
what
they
say [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{13}When
foolish
people
start
to
talk,
they
say
things
that
are
foolish,
\par }{\QB and
they
end
by
saying
things
that
are
both
wicked
and
foolish.
\par }{\QB \VS{14}They
talk ◄too
much/without
ceasing►.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q None
of
us
knows
what
will
happen
in
the
future,
\par }{\QB or
what
will
happen
after
we
die.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{15}Foolish
people
become
{\ADD{
so}}
exhausted
by
the
work
that
they
do
\par }{\QB that
they
are
unable
to
find
the
road
to
their
town/homes.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
the
people
of
a
nation
whose
ruler
is
a
foolish
young
man,
\par }{\QB and
whose
{\ADD{
other}}
leaders
continually
eat,
all
day
long,
every
day.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
But}}
a
nation
will
prosper
if
its
ruler
is
from
a ◄noble/well-educated►
family,
\par }{\QB and
if
its
{\ADD{
other}}
leaders
feast
{\ADD{
only}}
at
the
proper
times,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
if
they
eat
and
drink
only}}
to
be
strong,
not
to
become
drunk.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{18}Some
men
are
very
lazy
{\ADD{
and
do
not
repair
the
rafters}},
\par }{\QB with
the
result
that
the
rafters
sag
{\ADD{
and
collapse}};
\par }{\Q and
if
they
do
not
repair
the
roof,
\par }{\QB water
will leak
into
the
house
{\ADD{
when
it
rains}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{19}Eating
food
and
drinking
wine
causes
us
to
laugh
and
be
happy,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
but}}
we
are
able
to
enjoy
those
things
only
if
we
have
money
{\ADD{
to
buy
them}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{20}Do
not
even
think
about
cursing
the
king,
\par }{\QB or
cursing
rich
{\ADD{
people,
even}}
when
you
are
{\ADD{
alone}}
in
your
bedroom,
\par }{\Q because
{\ADD{
it
is possible
that}}
a
little
bird
will
hear
{\ADD{
what
you
are
saying}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and}}
tell
those
people
what
you
said
{\ADD{
about
them}}.

\par }\Chap{11}{\SH Advice from nature
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Give
generously
to
others
{\ADD{
some
of}}
the
money [MET]
that
you
have;
\par }{\QB if
you
do
that,
later
you
will
get
back
an
equal
amount.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}Share
some
of
what
you
have
with ◄seven
or
eight/several►
{\ADD{
others}},
\par }{\QB because
you
do
not
know
when
you
will
experience
a
disaster,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
and
if
you
give
some
of
what
you
have
to
others}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
when
you
experience
that
disaster,
they
will
kindly
help
you}}.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
It
is
always
true
that}}
when
clouds
are
full
of
water,
\par }{\QB they
pour
rain
on
the
earth.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Similarly}},
wherever
a
tree
falls
on
the
ground,
\par }{\QB that
is
where
it
will
remain.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}If
farmers
see
in
what
direction
the
wind
is
blowing,
\par }{\QB they
will
know
whether
it
is
wise
at
that
time
to
plant
things
or
not.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
is
also
true
that}}
if
farmers
look
at
the
clouds
{\ADD{
and
see
that
they
are
blowing
from
the
west,
which
means
that
it
will probably
rain,}}
\par }{\QB they
will
not
{\ADD{
try
to}}
harvest
their
crops
on
that
day.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{5}We
do
not
know
where
the
wind
comes
from
or
where
it
goes,
\par }{\QB and
we
do
not
know
how
bodies
are
formed
in
women’s
wombs.
\par }{\Q Similarly [SIM],
God
is
the
one
who
made
everything,
\par }{\QB and
we
cannot
{\ADD{
fully}}
understand
what
God
does.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
Start}}
planting
your
seeds
in
the
morning,
\par }{\QB and
do
not
stop
planting
them
until
the
evening,
\par }{\Q because
you
do
not
know
which
ones
will
grow
better,
\par }{\QB the
ones
you
plant
in
the
morning
or
the
ones
you
plant
later
in
the
day,
\par }{\QB or
whether
both
will
grow
well.
\par }{\SH Youth
and
old
age
\par }{\Q \VS{7}It
is
very
delightful
to
be
alive
\par }{\QB and
see [MTY]
the
sun
{\ADD{
rise
every
morning}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
Even}}
if
people
live
for
many
years,
\par }{\QB they
should
enjoy
all
of
them.
\par }{\Q But
they
should
not
forget
that
{\ADD{
some
day
they
will
die}}
\par }{\QB and
then
they
will
never
be
able
to
see
any
light
again,
\par }{\QB and
we
do
not
know
what
will
happen
to
us
after
we
die.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}You
young
people,
be
happy
while
you
are
still
young.
\par }{\QB Enjoy [IDM]
doing
the
things
that
you
want
to
do.
\par }{\Q But
do
not
forget
that
{\ADD{
some
day}}
God
will
judge
you
\par }{\QB concerning
all
the
things
that
you
do.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
So
when
you
are
young}} [MTY],
do
not
worry
about
anything,
\par }{\QB and
do
not
pay
attention
to
the
pains
that
you
have
in
your
body,
\par }{\Q because
we
will
not
remain
young
and
strong
forever.

\par }\PoetryChap{12}{\Q \VerseOne{1}While
you
are
still
young,
keep
thinking
about
{\ADD{
God}},
who
created
you.
\par }{\QB Do
that
before
{\ADD{
you
are
old}}
and
you
experience
many
troubles,
\par }{\Q during
the
years
when
you
say
\par }{\QB “I
no
{\ADD{
longer}}
enjoy
being
alive.”
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
When
you
become
old}},
the
light
from
the
sun
and
moon
and
stars
will
{\ADD{
seem}}
dim
{\ADD{
to
you}},
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
it
will
seem
that
the
rain}}
clouds
{\ADD{
always}}
return
{\ADD{
quickly}}
after
it
rains.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Then
your
{\ADD{
arms
that
you
use
to
protect}} [MET]
your
bodies
will
shake/tremble,
\par }{\QB and
your
{\ADD{
legs
that
support}} [MET]
your
bodies
will
become
weak.
\par }{\Q Many
of
your
{\ADD{
teeth
that
you
use
to}}
grind/chew
{\ADD{
your
food}}
will
fall
out,
\par }{\QB and
your
{\ADD{
eyes
that
you
use
to}}
look
out
of
windows
will
not
see
clearly.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Your
{\ADD{
ears}} [MET]
will
not
hear
the
noise
in
the
streets,
\par }{\QB and
you
will
not
be
able
to
hear
clearly
the
sound
of
people
grinding
grain
with
millstones.
\par }{\Q You
will
be
awakened
in
the
morning
by
hearing
the
birds
singing/chirping,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
but}}
you
will
not
be
able
to
hear
well
the
songs
that ◄the
birds/people►
sing.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}You
will
be
afraid
to
be
in
high
places
\par }{\QB and
afraid
of
dangers
on
the
roads
that
you
walk
on.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Your
hair}}
will
become
{\ADD{
white
like}} [MET]
the
flowers
of
almond
trees.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
When
you
try
to
walk}},
you
will
drag
yourself
along
like [MET]
grasshoppers,
\par }{\QB and
you
will
no
longer
desire
{\ADD{
to
have
sex}}.
\par }{\Q Then
you
will
{\ADD{
die
and}}
go
to
your
eternal
home,
\par }{\QB and
people
who
will
mourn
for
you
will
be
in
the
streets.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
Think
much
about
God
now,
because}}
soon
our
lives
will
end,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
like}} [MET]
silver
chains
or
golden
bowls
that
break
easily,
\par }{\Q or
like
pitchers/jugs
that
are
broken
at
the
water
fountain,
\par }{\QB or
like
broken pulleys
at
a
well.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Then
our
corpses
will
{\ADD{
decay
and}}
become
dirt
again,
\par }{\QB and
our
spirits
will
return
to
God,
the
one
who
gave
us
our
spirits.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
So}}
I
say
{\ADD{
again}}
that
it
is
difficult
to
understand
why
everything
happens;
\par }{\QB everything
is
mysterious.
\par }{\SH The
conclusion
\par }{\PP \VS{9}I
was
considered
to
be
a
very
wise
man,
and
I
taught
the
people
many
things.
I
assembled/collected
and
wrote
down
many
proverbs,
and
I
carefully
thought
about
and
studied
them.
\VS{10}I
searched
for
the
right
words,
and
what
I
have
written
is
reliable
and
true.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}The
things
that
{\ADD{
I
and
other}}
wise
people
say
{\ADD{
teach
people
what
they
should
do}};
they
are
like [SIM] ◄goads/sharp
sticks
that
people
use
to
strike
animals
to
direct
where
they
should
go►.
They
are
like [SIM]
nails
that
stick
out
of
pieces
of
wood.
They
are
given
to
us
by
{\ADD{
God,
who
is
like}} [MET]
our
shepherd.
\VS{12}{\ADD{
So}},
my
son,
pay
careful
attention
to
what
I
have
written,
and
choose
carefully
what
you
read
that
others
have
written,
{\ADD{
because}}
writing
proverbs/books
is
endless,
and
{\ADD{
trying
to}}
study
them
all
will
cause
you
to
become
exhausted.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}{\ADD{
Now}}
you
have
heard
all
{\ADD{
that
I
have
told
you}},
\par }{\QB and
here
is
the
conclusion:
\par }{\Q Revere
God,
and
obey
his
commandments,
\par }{\QB because
those
commandments summarize
everything
that
people
should
do.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}And
do
not
forget
that
God
will
judge
everything
that
we
do,
\par }{\QB good
things
and
bad
things,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
even}}
things
that
we
do
secretly.
\par }