 訓:1.(eccl) [訓道篇]   [Ecclesiastes]   [共 12 章]    [思高聖經]
  
 訓:1.1      達味之子耶路撒冷的君王「訓道者」的語錄：
 訓:1.2      [萬事皆虛]  虛而又虛，訓道者說：虛而又虛，萬事皆虛。
 訓:1.3      人在太陽下辛勤勞作，為人究有何益﹖
 訓:1.4      一代過去，一代又來，大地仍然常在。
 訓:1.5      太陽升起，太陽落下，匆匆趕回原處，從新再升。
 訓:1.6      風吹向南，又轉向北，旋轉不息，循環周行。
 訓:1.7      江河流入大海，大海總不滿溢；江河仍向所往之處，川流不息。
 訓:1.8      萬事皆辛勞，無人能盡言：眼看，看不夠；耳聽，聽不飽。
 訓:1.9      往昔所有的，將來會再有；昔日所行的，將來會再行；太陽之下決無新事。
 訓:1.10     若有人指著某事說：「看，這是新事。」豈不知在我們以前早就有過。
 訓:1.11     只是對往者，沒有人去追憶；同樣，對來者，也不會為後輩所記念。
 訓:1.12     [智慧空虛]  我訓道者，曾在耶路撒冷作過以色列的君王。
 訓:1.13     我曾專心用智慧考察研究過天下所發生的一切；──這實在是天主賜與人類的一項艱辛的工作。
 訓:1.14     我觀察了在太陽下所發生的一切：看，都是空虛，都是追風。
 訓:1.15     彎曲的，不能使之正直，虧缺的，實在不可勝數。
 訓:1.16     我心裏自語說：「看，我獲得了又大又多的智慧，勝過了所有在我以前住在耶路撒冷的人，我的心獲得了許多智慧和學問。」
 訓:1.17     我再專心研究智慧和學問，愚昧和狂妄，我纔發覺：連這項工作也是追風。
 訓:1.18     因為，智慧愈多，煩惱愈多；學問越廣，憂慮越深。
  
 訓:2.1      [樂事亦皆虛]  我心下自語：「來，試一試快樂，享受一下福樂! 」看，這也是空虛。
 訓:2.2      我稱歡笑為「瘋狂」，我對喜樂說：「這有何用﹖」
 訓:2.3      我遂決意喝酒以使我的肉身暢快，──但我的心仍為智慧所引導，並決意迷於狂妄的事，直到我看清，世人在天下一生有限的歲月中所做的事，有什麼好處為止。
 訓:2.4      我於是擴大我的工程：為自己建造宮室，栽植葡萄園，
 訓:2.5      開闢園囿，在其中栽植各種果樹，
 訓:2.6      挖掘水池，以澆灌在生長中的樹木。
 訓:2.7      買了奴婢，還有在家中出世的僮僕，又有許多牛羊，多過我以前住在耶路撒冷的人。
 訓:2.8      我還聚斂了大批金銀，及各王候各省份的財寶；擁有許多歌唱的男女，無數的嬪妃，以及人間所有的享受。
 訓:2.9      我雖如此富有，超過以往住在耶路撒冷的人，但我仍沒有喪失智慧。
 訓:2.10     凡我眼所希求的，我決不加以拒絕；凡我心所願享受的快樂，我決不加以阻止；因為我的心對我的一切勞苦工作，實在滿意；其實，這也是我由勞苦工作應得的報酬。
 訓:2.11     但當我回顧我所作的一切工作，以及工作時所受的勞苦，看，一切都是空虛，都是追風；在太陽之下，毫無裨益。
 訓:2.12     [智愚相比]  我又回顧觀察智慧、瘋狂和昏愚；那繼位作君王的人能做什麼﹖只能做已做過的事。
 訓:2.13     我看透智慧勝於昏愚，像光明勝於黑暗。
 訓:2.14     「智者高瞻遠矚，愚者卻在黑暗中摸索。」但我也知道：二者都要遭遇同樣的命運。
 訓:2.15     我心中自問：「愚人的命運，我也會遇到，為什麼我要更明智﹖」我遂下結論說：「這也是空虛。」
 訓:2.16     因為智者和愚者，同樣不為人常久記念，早晚有一天都要被人遺忘。可惜，智者和愚者同樣死去 !
 訓:2.17     於是我惱恨生命，因為太陽之下所發生的事，無非使我煩惱，因為全是空虛，都是追風。
 訓:2.18     [勤勞的空虛]  我憎恨我在太陽下所受的勞苦，因為我要將勞苦所得，留給我的後人。
 訓:2.19     他是智是愚，有誰知道；但他一定要主管我在太陽下，以智慧所辛苦經營的一切工作：這也是空虛。
 訓:2.20     我回顧我在太陽下所受的一切勞苦，就灰心失望。
 訓:2.21     因為有人以智慧、學問和才幹勞作得來的，卻應留給那未曾勞作的人，作為產業：這也是空虛和大不幸。
 訓:2.22     人在太陽下所受的一切勞苦，以及痛心的事，究竟有什麼裨益﹖
 訓:2.23     其實，人天天所有的事務，無非是悲苦和煩惱；而且夜裏，心也得不到安息：這也是空虛。
 訓:2.24     人除了吃喝和享受自己勞作之所得以外，別無更好的事。我也看透了：這是從天主手裏來的。
 訓:2.25     因為離了天主，誰能有吃的，誰能有所享受﹖
 訓:2.26     天主原把智慧、學問和歡樂，賜給他所喜愛的人。至於罪人，天主將積蓄貯藏財物的勞苦加於他身上，好將一切財物留給天主所喜愛的人：這也是空虛，也是追風。
  
 訓:3.1      [事事有定時]  事事有時節，天下任何事皆有定時：
 訓:3.2      生有時，死有時，栽種有時，拔除栽種的亦有時；
 訓:3.3      殺戮有時，治療有時，拆毀有時，建築有時；
 訓:3.4      哭有時，笑有時，哀悼有時，舞蹈有時；
 訓:3.5      拋石有時，堆石有時；擁抱有時，戒避擁抱亦有時；
 訓:3.6      尋找有時，遺失有時；保存有時，捨棄有時；
 訓:3.7      撕裂有時，縫綴有時；緘默有時，言談有時，
 訓:3.8      愛慕有時，憎恨有時；作戰有時，和睦有時。
 訓:3.9      [事事有天主安排]  工作的人，從勞苦中得了什麼利益﹖
 訓:3.10     我觀察了天主交予人類所應從事的事務，得知：
 訓:3.11     天主所行的一切事宜，都很適時，並賜給人認識時事的經歷，但人仍不能明瞭，天主自始至終所做的工作。
 訓:3.12     於是我明瞭：人類的幸福，只有在此生歡樂享受；
 訓:3.13     但人人有吃有喝，享受自己一切勞苦之所得，也是天主的恩賜。
 訓:3.14     我知道：凡天主所行的事，永恒不變，無一可增，無一可減。天主這樣作，是為叫人敬畏他。
 訓:3.15     現今所有的，早已有過；將來所有的，先前已有過；因為天主必追尋已往的事。
 訓:3.16     [不公現象]  我在太陽下還看見：正義之處有不義，公平之處有不平。
 訓:3.17     我心裏想天主必要審判義人和惡人，因為各種事情和行為，在天主那裏都有其定時。
 訓:3.18     我想，天主藉此是為使世人認清自己是誰，看清自己與走獸無異。
 訓:3.19     的確，世人的命運，同走獸的命運，都是一樣：前者怎樣死，後者也怎樣死；氣息都一樣，人並不優於走獸：因為都是虛無。
 訓:3.20     都同歸於一處；既都出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。
 訓:3.21     人的氣息是否向上高升，走獸的氣息是否下降地下，有誰知道﹖
 訓:3.22     因此，我看出：人最好還是享受自己勞苦之所得，因為這是他的命運；有誰能領他去看自己身後的事呢﹖
  
 訓:4.1      我又轉目注視在太陽下所行的一切暴行：看，受壓迫者眼淚汪流，卻無人安慰；壓迫人者手中只有權勢，卻無人加以援助。
 訓:4.2      於是我聲稱那已死去的人，比現今還活著的人更為有福。
 訓:4.3      那還沒有出世的人，比這兩等人更為有福，因為他還沒有見到太陽下所行的惡事。
 訓:4.4      我也看出各種勞苦和一切工作的技巧，都是出於人彼此間的競爭：這也是空虛，也是追風。
 訓:4.5      愚人交臂叉手，是自食己肉。
 訓:4.6      捧一把安逸，勝過兩把勞苦和追風。
 訓:4.7      我又轉睛，看見在太陽下有件空虛的事：
 訓:4.8      有個孤獨無伴的人，既沒有兒子，又沒有兄弟，卻時常勞苦不息，他的眼總是貪得無厭，從來不問：「我辛辛苦苦，節制享樂，究竟是為誰﹖」這也是空虛和大不幸。
 訓:4.9      [合群之益]  兩人勝過一人，因為兩人工作，酬報優厚：
 訓:4.10     若一個跌倒了，另一個可扶起自己的同伴。哀哉孤獨者! 他若跌倒了，沒有另一人扶起他來。
 訓:4.11     又如兩人同眠，都感溫暖；若孤獨一人，怎能暖和﹖
 訓:4.12     若一人抵不住一人，兩人就能抵住。──三股繩，不易斷。
 訓:4.13     [人心無常]  一個貧寒而明智的青年，勝過一個年老昏愚，而總不採納忠言的君王。
 訓:4.14     這青年雖在國中出身貧寒，但由獄中出來，執政為王；
 訓:4.15     我看見一切在太陽下行走的活人，都擁護青年人，新繼位者，來代替老王。
 訓:4.16     擁護他為領袖的人民，多得無數；但日後，那些後來的人卻不喜歡他：這也是空虛，也是追風。
 訓:4.17     [敬畏天主]  你往天主的殿裏去時，要小心邁步；你前去聽道，勝過愚人獻祭，因為他們只知作惡。
  
 訓:5.1      你不要在天主前冒然開口，你的心也不要急於發言應許，因為天主在天上，你在地下，為此你說話應當簡單。
 訓:5.2      因為夜夢由於事務繁雜，亂語出於多言。
 訓:5.3      你一向天主許願，就不可拖延償還，因為他不喜歡人怠慢；你許了願，就應速還；
 訓:5.4      不許願好過許而不還。
 訓:5.5      不要放任你的口，使你陷於罪過，免得你在使者前說是「錯許了。」為何要天主因你這句話而發怒，破壞你手中的工作﹖
 訓:5.6      多夢多虛幻，多言多糊塗；你要敬畏天主。
 訓:5.7      你若在某省看見欺壓窮人，違犯公道和正義的事，不必對此驚奇，因為高者之上還有更高者在上鑒察，而他們之上還有更高者。
 訓:5.8      國家全面的利益，在乎有一位關心農業的君王。
 訓:5.9      [錢財空虛]  愛錢的，錢不能使他滿足；愛財的，進益不能使他滿足：這也是空虛。
 訓:5.10     錢財增多，消費的人也隨之增多；財主除飽享眼福外，能有什麼益處﹖
 訓:5.11     工人不論吃多吃少，總睡得甘甜；飽食的富人，卻難於安眠。
 訓:5.12     我看見在太陽下有一件慘痛的事：財主積蓄財富，反而害了自己。
 訓:5.13     生意一次失敗，財產盡失：生了個兒子，手中一無所有。
 訓:5.14     他赤身出離母胎，也照樣赤身歸去；他勞力之所得，絲毫不能帶去。
 訓:5.15     這也是一件慘痛的事：他怎樣來，也怎樣去；他操勞追風，究有什麼益處；
 訓:5.16     況且他一生在黑暗中生活，遭受許多煩惱、疾病和悲憤的事。
 訓:5.17     我所認為幸福美滿的事，是人在天主所賞的少數歲月內，有吃有喝，且享受他在太陽下一切勞碌所得的福樂，這原是他應得的一分。
 訓:5.18     的確，天主賞賜人財產和富裕，叫他能享用；能取得應有的一分，能享受勞碌所得的快樂，實是天主的恩賜。
 訓:5.19     那麼，人就不甚顧慮人生歲月的短促，因為天主以喜樂充滿了他的心。
  
 訓:6.1      [三多亦空虛]  我看見在太陽下，另有一種不幸，重壓在人身上：
 訓:6.2      有一人，天主賜他富裕、錢財、光榮；凡他心中所願意的，一件也不缺；但天主沒有讓他享用這一切，卻讓外人享用了：這也是空虛，是一件很悲慘的事。
 訓:6.3      有一人生有百子，活了很大歲數，他年紀雖高，卻沒有隨心享受福樂，且未得安葬，照我看來，他還不如流產的胎兒。
 訓:6.4      流產的胎兒徒然而來，悄然而去，他的名字也湮沒無聞；
 訓:6.5      他沒有見過天日，也沒有任何知覺，但他總比那人更享安寧。
 訓:6.6      那人即便活了兩千歲，如未享受福樂，他們二人豈不是同歸一處﹖
 訓:6.7      [慾望無厭]  人的一切勞碌都是為了口腹，但他的慾望卻總不知滿足。
 訓:6.8      智者較愚者究有什麼利益﹖知道如何與人往來的窮人，能得什麼好處﹖
 訓:6.9      眼看見過的總勝過心所想望的：這也是空虛，也是追風。
 訓:6.10     已往所有的，都已有名可稱；人為何物，都已知道；人決不能與強於自己的抗辯。
 訓:6.11     說話多，必多空談：這對人能有什麼益處﹖
 訓:6.12     在空虛，消逝如影的人生少數歲月內，有誰知道什麼事對人有益﹖又有誰能指給人指示，他身後在太陽下要發生什麼事﹖
  
 訓:7.1      [智愚之別]  良好的聲譽勝於名貴的香液；死日勝於生日。
 訓:7.2      往居喪的家去，勝於往宴會的家去，因為喪事是人人的結局，活人應將此事放在心上。
 訓:7.3      悲哀勝於歡笑，因為愁容能使心靈舒暢。
 訓:7.4      智者的心是在居喪的家中，愚人的心是在歡笑的家中。
 訓:7.5      聽智者斥責，勝過聽愚人歌唱。
 訓:7.6      愚人的歡笑，就像斧底荊棘的爆炸聲，但這也是空虛。
 訓:7.7      實在，壓榨使智者昏愚，賄賂能敗壞人心。
 訓:7.8      事情的結局勝過事情的開端；居心寬容，勝過存心傲慢。
 訓:7.9      你心裏不要輕易動怒，因為憤怒只停留在愚人胸中。
 訓:7.10     你不要問：「為什麼昔日勝於今日﹖」因為這樣的詰問，不是出於智慧。
 訓:7.11     智慧與家產都好，對看見天日的人都有益，
 訓:7.12     因為受智慧的蔭庇與受金錢的蔭庇無異；但認識智慧的好處，是在於智慧賦與有智慧者生命。
 訓:7.13     [中庸之道]  你應觀察天主的作為：他所彎曲的，誰能使之正直﹖
 訓:7.14     幸福之日，你應歡樂，不幸之日，你應思慮：幸與不幸，都是天主所為；其目的是叫人不能察覺自己將來的事。
 訓:7.15     在我虛度的歲月內，我見了許多事：義人在正義中夭亡，惡人在邪惡中反而長壽。
 訓:7.16     不要過於正義，也不要自作聰明，免得自趨滅亡。
 訓:7.17     不要作惡無度，也不要糊塗太甚，免得你死非其時。
 訓:7.18     你的手最好把持這個，也不要放棄那個，因為敬畏天主的人，二者兼顧並重。
 訓:7.19     智慧使智者的權勢，勝過本城十個有權勢的人。
 訓:7.20     世上沒有一個只行善，而不犯罪的義人。
 訓:7.21     你不要傾心去聽人說的一切閒話，免得你聽到你的僕人詛咒你；
 訓:7.22     因為你心裏知道，你許多次也詛咒過別人。
 訓:7.23     這一切我都用智慧追究過；我宣稱我將成個智者，然而智慧仍離我很遠。
 訓:7.24     所有的事，既深遠，又玄奧，誰能窮究﹖
 訓:7.25     [色是陷阱]  我又專心致力於認識、考察事物，尋求智慧和事理，得知邪惡就是昏愚，昏愚就是狂妄。
 訓:7.26     我發覺女人比死亡還苦，她一身是羅網：她的心是陷阱，她的手是鎖鍊；凡博天主歡心的，必逃避她；但罪人卻被她纏住。
 訓:7.27     訓道者說：看，這是我所發現的，一一加以比較，好探知事物的原理，
 訓:7.28     對此我的心還在追求，但尚未找到：在一千男人中，我發現了一個；在所有的女人中，卻沒有發現一個。
 訓:7.29     我發現的只有這一件事：天主造人原很正直，但人卻發明了許多詭計。
  
 訓:8.1      [智慧與實際]  有誰相似智者，有誰會解釋事理﹖智慧使人的面容煥發，使嚴肅的容貌變為溫和。
 訓:8.2      為了向天主起的誓，你應遵守君王的命令；
 訓:8.3      你不可由他面前倉猝離去，也不可行惡，因為凡他喜歡的事，都可隨意執行。
 訓:8.4      原來君王的話具有威力，誰敢向他說：「你做什麼﹖」
 訓:8.5      遵守誡命的，不會遇到災禍；智者的心能辨識時機和審斷。
 訓:8.6      的確，事事都有定時和定案；但重大的負擔仍壓在人身上，
 訓:8.7      因為人不知道將來要發生什麼事，有誰能告訴他，何時要發生﹖
 訓:8.8      沒有人有權將生氣保留不失，也沒有人能支配死期，戰場上沒有人能退役，邪惡救不了作惡的人。
 訓:8.9      [善人惡人命運不同]  我看見了這一切，專心研究在太陽下所行的一切事：有時統治人的人，自受其害；
 訓:8.10     有時我看見惡人被抬去安葬，而行義的人卻離開聖處，而在城中被人遺忘：這也是虛幻。
 訓:8.11     因為懲惡的定案未有迅速執行，世人因此充滿了行惡的偏向。
 訓:8.12     惡人雖百次行惡，仍享長壽，姑且不論；我確實知道，那敬畏天主的人，因他們在天主前起敬起畏，必得幸福；
 訓:8.13     而惡人必得不到幸福，他的時日如影，決不能久長，因為他不敬畏天主。
 訓:8.14     在世上還有一件虛幻的事：就是義人所遭遇的，反如惡人所應得的；而惡人所遭遇的，反如義人所應得的；我遂說：這也是虛幻。
 訓:8.15     為此，我稱讚快樂，因為在太陽下，人除了吃喝行樂外，別無幸福；因為這是人在天主賞他在太陽下的一生歲月內，從他的勞苦中，所獲得的幸福。
 訓:8.16     當我專心追求智慧，觀察人在世上，連黑夜白日都不能閉目安眠，所行的工作時，
 訓:8.17     我面對天主的一切作為，發覺人決不能知道在太陽下所發生的一切事。人雖然努力研究，終歸無法得知；縱然有智者以為知道了，仍是一無所知。
  
 訓:9.1      [智愚善惡命運則一]  我留心考察這一切，終於看出：義人、智者和他們的行為，都在天主手裏；是愛是恨，人不知道；二者都能來到他們身上。
 訓:9.2      無論是義人，是惡人，是好人，是壞人，是潔淨的人，是不潔淨的人，是獻祭的人，是不獻祭的人，都有同樣的命運；好人與罪人一樣，妄發誓的與怕發誓的也一樣。
 訓:9.3      太陽之下所發生的一切事中，最不幸的是眾人都有同樣的命運；更有甚者，世人的心都充滿邪惡，有生之日，心懷狂妄，以後與死者相聚。
 訓:9.4      的確，誰尚與活人有聯繫，還懷有希望，因為一隻活狗勝過一隻死獅。
 訓:9.5      活著的人至少自知必死，而死了的人卻一無所知；他們再得不到報酬，因為連他們的記念也被人遺忘了。
 訓:9.6      他們的愛好，他們的憎恨，他們的熱誠，皆已消失；在太陽下所發生的一切事，永遠再沒有他們的分。
 訓:9.7      [及時行樂]  你倒不如去快樂地吃你的飯，開懷暢飲你的酒，因為天主早已嘉納你所作的工作。
 訓:9.8      你的衣服常要潔白，你頭上不要缺少香液。
 訓:9.9      在天主賜你在太陽下的一生虛幻歲月中，同你的愛妻共享人生之樂：這原是你在太陽下，一生從勞苦中所應得的一分。
 訓:9.10     你手能做什麼，就努力去做，因為在你所要去的陰府內，沒有工作，沒有計劃，沒有學問，沒有智慧。
 訓:9.11     [命運不濟]  我又在太陽下看見：善跑的不得競賽，勇將不得參戰，智者得不到食物，明白人得不到財富，博學者得不到寵幸，因為他們都遭遇了不幸的時運。
 訓:9.12     因為人不知道自己的時期，當凶險猝然而至的時候，人子為不幸的時運所獲，就像魚被網捕住，又像鳥被圈套套住。
 訓:9.13     在太陽下我又得了一個智慧的經驗，依我看來，大有意義：
 訓:9.14     有座小城，裏面居民不多；有位大王來攻打此城，把城圍住，周圍築了高壘。
 訓:9.15     那時，城中有個貧賤卻具有智慧的人，他用自己的智慧，救了本城：可是人們卻忘了這貧賤的人。
 訓:9.16     於是我說：智慧遠勝過武力；然而貧賤人的智慧卻被人輕忽，他的話卻沒有人聽。
 訓:9.17     智者溫和的言語，比王者在愚人中的吶喊，更受歡迎。
 訓:9.18     智慧勝於武器；一個錯誤能破壞許多好事。
  
 訓:10.1     [昏愚之害]  一個死蒼蠅能敗壞一碗製香膏者的香膏；一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
 訓:10.2     智慧人的心傾向右，愚人的心偏向左。
 訓:10.3     愚人連在走路時，也是無知，並稱眾人皆糊塗。
 訓:10.4     若當權者向你生氣，你不可離棄崗位，因為心平氣和能避免大錯。
 訓:10.5     我在太陽下見了一件不幸的事，似乎是出於掌權者的錯誤：
 訓:10.6     愚人佔居高位，貴人屈居下位。
 訓:10.7     我看見僕人騎馬，而王侯反像僕人一樣步行。
 訓:10.8     挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷；
 訓:10.9     開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷，砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。
 訓:10.10    鐵器鈍了，如不將刃磨快，必費許多氣力；成功是智慧的效能。
 訓:10.11    行法術之前，就已被蛇咬傷，法術於行法術的人，就沒有好處。
 訓:10.12    智者口中的語言，為人有益；愚人的口舌卻自招滅亡：
 訓:10.13    他口中的語言，開始是愚昧，最後卻是殘忍的狂語。
 訓:10.14    愚人只知多言：「將來的事怎樣，人不知道，人身後的事，有誰來告訴他﹖」
 訓:10.15    愚人以勞碌為煩惱，因為連怎樣進城，他也不知道。
 訓:10.16    [節制與明智]  邦國，你的君王若是一個幼童，你的長官若清晨宴飲，你就有禍了!
 訓:10.17    邦國，你的君王若出身顯貴，你的長官若宴飲有時，只求養身，不為快樂，那你就有福了。
 訓:10.18    屋頂坍塌，由於怠惰；房屋滴漏，由於手懶。
 訓:10.19    設宴是為歡樂，酒可使生活愉快；錢能應付一切。
 訓:10.20    在床塌上，不要詛咒君王；在臥室內，不要咒罵長官，因為空中的飛鳥能傳音，有翅翼的能傳話。
  
 訓:11.1     [信賴與明智]  把你的糧食拋到水面，多日後你必有所獲。
 訓:11.2     將你的家產分作七分八分，因為你不知道世上要發生什麼災禍。
 訓:11.3     雲一滿了，雨就傾住於地。樹倒向南或倒向北，一倒在那裏，就躺在那裏。
 訓:11.4     觀察風向的，必不撒種；研究雲象的，必不收割，
 訓:11.5     就如你不知道生氣如何進入孕婦胎中的骨骼裏，同樣你也不知道天主所創造的一切化工。
 訓:11.6     你早上撒種，晚上也不要住手，因為你不知道：是早上撒的，或是晚上撒的長的好，或是兩種都同樣好。
 訓:11.7     [莫負青春]  光明實在可愛，看見太陽實在令眼舒暢。
 訓:11.8     人無論活了多大年紀，儘可享受各種福樂；但他應想到黑暗的日子還多，所發生的事，盡屬虛幻。
 訓:11.9     少年人，在你青春時應歡樂；在你少壯的時日，應心神愉快；隨你心所欲，你眼所悅的去行，但應知道：天主必要就你所行的一切審判你。
 訓:11.10    掃除你心中的煩惱，驅除你身上的痛苦，因為青春和少年都是虛幻。

 訓:12.1     [及早紀念造主]  在你年輕的時日，在災禍的日子來到之前，即在你說的那些「沒有歡樂」的日子來到之前，你應記念你的造主；
 訓:12.2     不要等到太陽、光體、月亮、星辰失光，雨後雲彩再來；
 訓:12.3     因為那時，看門者戰慄，大力士屈伏，推磨的婦女因為少而停工，眺望窗外的女人面目昏黑，
 訓:12.4     兩扇街門將要關閉，磨聲低微，雀鳥息聲，歌女低吟，
 訓:12.5     怕上高處，行路危險，杏子被棄，蚱蜢被嫌，續隨子失去效力，因為人要回永久的家鄉，哀悼的人徘徊街頭；
 訓:12.6     那時銀鍊將斷，金燈將碎，水罐將破於泉旁，輪子將爛於井邊，
 訓:12.7     灰塵將歸於原來的土中，生氣將歸於天主，因為原是天主之所賜。
 訓:12.8     訓道者說：虛而又虛，萬事皆虛。
 訓:12.9     [結論]  訓道者不但是智者，並且教人獲得知識，在沉思推究之後，編撰了許多格言。
 訓:12.10    訓道者費神尋找適當的語句，忠誠地寫下了真理之言。
 訓:12.11    智者的話好似錐子，收集起的言論集，好像釘牢的釘子：二者都是一位牧者所賜。
 訓:12.12    除此之外，我兒，不必再找別的書籍，書不論寫多少，總沒有止境；用功過度，必使身體疲倦。
 訓:12.13    總而言之：「你應敬畏天主，遵守他的誡命，因為這是眾人的義務。」
 訓:12.14    因為天主對一切行為，連最隱秘的，不論好壞，都要一一審判。   [訓道篇完篇]

 ecc1.      [Ecclesiastes]   12 chapters     [訓道篇]   [英文版]

 eccl:1.1     The words of David's son, Qoheleth, king in Jerusalem:
 eccl:1.2     Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
 eccl:1.3     What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?
 eccl:1.4     One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays.
 eccl:1.5     The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises.
 eccl:1.6     Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.
 eccl:1.7     All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going.
 eccl:1.8     All speech is labored; there is nothing man can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear filled with hearing.
 eccl:1.9     What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun.
 eccl:1.10    Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!" has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
 eccl:1.11    There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them.
 eccl:1.12    I, Qoheleth, was king over Israel in Jerusalem,
 eccl:1.13    and I applied my mind to search and investigate in wisdom all things that are done under the sun. A thankless task God has appointed for men to be busied about.
 eccl:1.14    I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a chase after wind.
 eccl:1.15    What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is missing cannot be supplied.
 eccl:1.16    Though I said to myself, "Behold, I have become great and stored up wisdom beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my mind has broad experience of wisdom and knowledge";
 eccl:1.17    yet when I applied my mind to know wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly, I learned that this also is a chase after wind.
 eccl:1.18    For in much wisdom there is much sorrow, and he who stores up knowledge stores up grief.
   
 eccl:2.1     I said to myself, "Come, now, let me try you with pleasure and the enjoyment of good things." But behold, this too was vanity.
 eccl:2.2     Of laughter I said: "Mad!" and of mirth: "What good does this do?"
 eccl:2.3     I thought of beguiling my senses with wine, though my mind was concerned with wisdom, and of taking up folly, until I should understand what is best for men to do under the heavens during the limited days of their life.
 eccl:2.4     I undertook great works; I built myself houses and planted vineyards;
 eccl:2.5     I made gardens and parks, and set out in them fruit trees of all sorts.
 eccl:2.6     And I constructed for myself reservoirs to water a flourishing woodland.
 eccl:2.7     I acquired male and female slaves, and slaves were born in my house. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than all who had been before me in Jerusalem.
 eccl:2.8     I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings and provinces. I got for myself male and female singers and all human luxuries.
 eccl:2.9     I became great, and I stored up more than all others before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom, too, stayed with me.
 eccl:2.10    Nothing that my eyes desired did I deny them, nor did I deprive myself of any joy, but my heart rejoiced in the fruit of all my toil. This was my share for all my toil.
 eccl:2.11    But when I turned to all the works that my hands had wrought, and to the toil at which I had taken such pains, behold! all was vanity and a chase after wind, with nothing gained under the sun.
 eccl:2.12    For what will the man do who is to come after the king? What men have already done! I went on to the consideration of wisdom, madness and folly.
 eccl:2.13    And I saw that wisdom has the advantage over folly as much as light has the advantage over darkness.
 eccl:2.14    The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.Yet I knew that one lot befalls both of them.
 eccl:2.15    So I said to myself, if the fool's lot is to befall me also, why then should I be wise? Where is the profit for me? And I concluded in my heart that this too is vanity.
 eccl:2.16    Neither of the wise man nor of the fool will there be an abiding remembrance, for in days to come both will have been forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies as well as the fool!
 eccl:2.17    Therefore I loathed life, since for me the work that is done under the sun is evil; for all is vanity and a chase after wind.
 eccl:2.18    And I detested all the fruits of my labor under the sun, because I must leave them to a man who is to come after me.
 eccl:2.19    And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruits of my wise labor under the sun. This also is vanity.
 eccl:2.20    So my feelings turned to despair of all the fruits of my labor under the sun.
 eccl:2.21    For here is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and to another, who has not labored over it, he must leave his property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune.
 eccl:2.22    For what profit comes to a man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?
 eccl:2.23    All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.
 eccl:2.24    There is nothing better for man than to eat and drink and provide himself with good things by his labors. Even this, I realized, is from the hand of God.
 eccl:2.25    For who can eat or drink apart from him?
 eccl:2.26    For to whatever man he sees fit he gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering possessions to be given to whatever man God sees fit. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.
   
 eccl:3.1     There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.
 eccl:3.2     A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
 eccl:3.3     A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
 eccl:3.4     A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
 eccl:3.5     A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
 eccl:3.6     A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
 eccl:3.7     A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
 eccl:3.8     A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
 eccl:3.9     What advantage has the worker from his toil?
 eccl:3.10    I have considered the task which God has appointed for men to be busied about.
 eccl:3.11    He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
 eccl:3.12    I recognized that there is nothing better than to be glad and to do well during life.
 eccl:3.13    For every man, moreover, to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all his labor is a gift of God.
 eccl:3.14    I recognized that whatever God does will endure forever; there is no adding to it, or taking from it. Thus has God done that he may be revered.
 eccl:3.15    What now is has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.
 eccl:3.16    And still under the sun in the judgment place I saw wickedness, and in the seat of justice, iniquity.
 eccl:3.17    And I said to myself, both the just and the wicked God will judge, since there is a time for every affair and on every work a judgment.
 eccl:3.18    I said to myself: As for the children of men, it is God's way of testing them and of showing that they are in themselves like beasts.
 eccl:3.19    For the lot of man and of beast is one lot; the one dies as well as the other. Both have the same life-breath, and man has no advantage over the beast; but all is vanity.
 eccl:3.20    Both go to the same place; both were made from the dust, and to the dust they both return.
 eccl:3.21    Who knows if the life-breath of the children of men goes upward and the life-breath of beasts goes earthward?
 eccl:3.22    And I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to rejoice in his work; for this is his lot. Who will let him see what is to come after him?
   
 eccl:4.1     Again I considered all the oppressions that take place under the sun: the tears of the victims with none to comfort them! From the hand of their oppressors comes violence, and there is none to comfort them!
 eccl:4.2     And those now dead, I declared more fortunate in death than are the living to be still alive.
 eccl:4.3     And better off than both is the yet unborn, who has not seen the wicked work that is done under the sun.
 eccl:4.4     Then I saw that all toil and skillful work is the rivalry of one man for another. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.
 eccl:4.5     "The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh"--
 eccl:4.6     Better is one handful with tranquility than two with toil and a chase after wind!
 eccl:4.7     Again I found this vanity under the sun:
 eccl:4.8     a solitary man with no companion; with neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and riches do not satisfy his greed. "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things?" This also is vanity and a worthless task.
 eccl:4.9     Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor.
 eccl:4.10    If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up.
 eccl:4.11    So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm?
 eccl:4.12    Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken.
 eccl:4.13    Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows caution;
 eccl:4.14    for from a prison house one comes forth to rule, since even in his royalty he was poor at birth.
 eccl:4.15    Then I saw all those who are to live and move about under the sun with the heir apparent who will succeed to his place.
 eccl:4.16    There is no end to all these people, to all over whom he takes precedence; yet the later generations will not applaud him. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.
 eccl:4.17    Guard your step when you go to the house of God. Let your approach be obedience, rather than the fools' offering of sacrifice; for they know not how to keep from doing evil.
   
 eccl:5.1     Be not hasty in your utterance and let not your heart be quick to make a promise in God's presence. God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.
 eccl:5.2     For nightmares come with many cares, and a fool's utterance with many words.
 eccl:5.3     When you make a vow to God, delay not its fulfillment. For God has no pleasure in fools; fulfill what you have vowed.
 eccl:5.4     You had better not make a vow than make it and not fulfill it.
 eccl:5.5     Let not your utterances make you guilty, and say not before his representative, "It was a mistake," lest God be angered by such words and destroy the works of your hands.
 eccl:5.6     Rather, fear God!
 eccl:5.7     If you see oppression of the poor, and violation of rights and justice in the realm, do not be shocked by the fact, for the high official has another higher than he watching him and above these are others higher still--.
 eccl:5.8     Yet an advantage for a country in every respect is a king for the arable land.
 eccl:5.9     The covetous man is never satisfied with money, and the lover of wealth reaps no fruit from it; so this too is vanity.
 eccl:5.10    Where there are great riches, there are also many to devour them. Of what use are they to the owner except to feast his eyes upon?
 eccl:5.11    Sleep is sweet to the laboring man, whether he eats little or much, but the rich man's abundance allows him no sleep.
 eccl:5.12    This is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept by their owner to his hurt.
 eccl:5.13    Should the riches be lost through some misfortune, he may have a son when he is without means.
 eccl:5.14    As he came forth from his mother's womb, so again shall he depart, naked as he came, having nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.
 eccl:5.15    This too is a grievous evil, that he goes just as he came. What then does it profit him to toil for wind?
 eccl:5.16    All the days of his life are passed in gloom and sorrow, under great vexation, sickness and wrath.
 eccl:5.17    Here is what I recognize as good: it is well for a man to eat and drink and enjoy all the fruits of his labor under the sun during the limited days of the life which God gives him; for this is his lot.
 eccl:5.18    Any man to whom God gives riches and property, and grants power to partake of them, so that he receives his lot and finds joy in the fruits of his toil, has a gift from God.
 eccl:5.19    For he will hardly dwell on the shortness of his life, because God lets him busy himself with the joy of his heart.
   
 eccl:6.1     There is another evil which I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon man:
 eccl:6.2     there is the man to whom God gives riches and property and honor, so that he lacks none of all the things he craves; yet God does not grant him power to partake of them, but a stranger devours them. This is vanity and a dire plague.
 eccl:6.3     Should a man have a hundred children and live many years, no matter to what great age, still if he has not the full benefit of his goods, or if he is deprived of burial, of this man I proclaim that the child born dead is more fortunate than he.
 eccl:6.4     Though it came in vain and goes into darkness and its name is enveloped in darkness;
 eccl:6.5     though it has not seen or known the sun, yet the dead child is at rest rather than such a man.
 eccl:6.6     Should he live twice a thousand years and not enjoy his goods, do not both go to the same place?
 eccl:6.7     All man's toil is for his mouth, yet his desire is not fulfilled.
 eccl:6.8     For what advantage has the wise man over the fool, or what advantage has the poor man in knowing how to conduct himself in life?
 eccl:6.9     "What the eyes see is better than what the desires wander after." This also is vanity and a chase after wind.
 eccl:6.10    Whatever is, was long ago given its name, and the nature of man is known, and that he cannot contend in judgment with one who is stronger than he.
 eccl:6.11    For though there are many sayings that multiply vanity, what profit is there for a man?
 eccl:6.12    For who knows what is good for a man in life, the limited days of his vain life (which God has made like a shadow)? Because-who is there to tell a man what will come after him under the sun?
   
 eccl:7.1     A good name is better than good ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
 eccl:7.2     It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, For that is the end of every man, and the living should take it to heart.
 eccl:7.3     Sorrow is better than laughter, because when the face is sad the heart grows wiser.
 eccl:7.4     The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
 eccl:7.5     It is better to hearken to the wise man's rebuke than to hearken to the song of fools;
 eccl:7.6     For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the fool's laughter.
 eccl:7.7     For oppression can make a fool of a wise man, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
 eccl:7.8     Better is the end of speech than its beginning; better is the patient spirit than the lofty spirit.
 eccl:7.9     Do not in spirit become quickly discontented, for discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.
 eccl:7.10    Do not say: How is it that former times were better than these? For it is not in wisdom that you ask about this.
 eccl:7.11    Wisdom and an inheritance are good, and an advantage to those that see the sun.
 eccl:7.12    For the protection of wisdom is as the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.
 eccl:7.13    Consider the work of God. Who can make straight what he has made crooked?
 eccl:7.14    On a good day enjoy good things, and on an evil day consider: Both the one and the other God has made, so that man cannot find fault with him in anything.
 eccl:7.15    I have seen all manner of things in my vain days: a just man perishing in his justice, and a wicked one surviving in his wickedness.
 eccl:7.16    "Be not just to excess, and be not overwise, lest you be ruined.
 eccl:7.17    Be not wicked to excess, and be not foolish. Why should you die before your time?"
 eccl:7.18    It is good to hold to this rule, and not to let that one go; but he who fears God will win through at all events.
 eccl:7.19    Wisdom is a better defense for the wise man than would be ten princes in the city,
 eccl:7.20    yet there is no man on earth so just as to do good and never sin.
 eccl:7.21    Do not give heed to every word that is spoken lest you hear your servant speaking ill of you,
 eccl:7.22    for you know in your heart that you have many times spoken ill of others.
 eccl:7.23    All these things I probed in wisdom. I said, "I will acquire wisdom"; but it was beyond me.
 eccl:7.24    What exists is far-reaching; it is deep, very deep: who can find it out?
 eccl:7.25    I turned my thoughts toward knowledge; I sought and pursued wisdom and reason, and I recognized that wickedness is foolish and folly is madness.
 eccl:7.26    More bitter than death I find the woman who is a hunter's trap, whose heart is a snare and whose hands are prison bonds. He who is pleasing to God will escape her, but the sinner will be entrapped by her.
 eccl:7.27    Behold, this have I found, says Qoheleth, adding one thing to another that I might discover the answer
 eccl:7.28    which my soul still seeks and has not found: One man out of a thousand have I come upon, but a woman among them all I have not found.
 eccl:7.29    Behold, only this have I found out: God made mankind straight, but men have had recourse to many calculations.
   
 eccl:8.1     Who is like the wise man, and who knows the explanation of things? A man's wisdom illumines his face, but an impudent look is resented.
 eccl:8.2     Observe the precept of the king, and in view of your oath to God,
 eccl:8.3     be not hasty to withdraw from the king; do not join in with a base plot, for he does whatever he pleases,
 eccl:8.4     because his word is sovereign, and who can say to him, "What are you doing?"
 eccl:8.5     "He who keeps the commandment experiences no evil, and the wise man's heart knows times and judgments;
 eccl:8.6     for there is a time and a judgment for everything."--Yet it is a great affliction for man
 eccl:8.7     that he is ignorant of what is to come; for who will make known to him how it will be?
 eccl:8.8     There is no man who is master of the breath of life so as to retain it, and none has mastery of the day of death. There is no exemption from the struggle, nor are the wicked saved by their wickedness.
 eccl:8.9     All these things I considered and I applied my mind to every work that is done under the sun, while one man tyrannizes over another to his hurt.
 eccl:8.10    Meanwhile I saw wicked men approach and enter; and as they left the sacred place, they were praised in the city for what they had done. This also is vanity.
 eccl:8.11    Because the sentence against evildoers is not promptly executed, therefore the hearts of men are filled with the desire to commit evil--
 eccl:8.12    because the sinner does evil a hundred times and survives. Though indeed I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, for their reverence toward him;
 eccl:8.13    and that it shall not be well with the wicked man, and he shall not prolong his shadowy days, for his lack of reverence toward God.
 eccl:8.14    This is a vanity which occurs on earth: there are just men treated as though they had done evil and wicked men treated as though they had done justly. This, too, I say is vanity.
 eccl:8.15    Therefore I commend mirth, because there is nothing good for man under the sun except eating and drinking and mirth: for this is the accompaniment of his toil during the limited days of the life which God gives him under the sun.
 eccl:8.16    When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to observe what is done on earth,
 eccl:8.17    I recognized that man is unable to find out all God's work that is done under the sun, even though neither by day nor by night do his eyes find rest in sleep. However much man toils in searching, he does not find it out; and even if the wise man says that he knows, he is unable to find it out.
   
 eccl:9.1     All this I have kept in mind and recognized: the just, the wise, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Love from hatred man cannot tell; both appear equally vain,
 eccl:9.2     in that there is the same lot for all, for the just and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for him who offers sacrifice and him who does not. As it is for the good man, so it is for the sinner; as it is for him who swears rashly, so it is for him who fears an oath.
 eccl:9.3     Among all the things that happen under the sun, this is the worst, that things turn out the same for all. Hence the minds of men are filled with evil, and madness is in their hearts during life; and afterward they go to the dead.
 eccl:9.4     Indeed, for any among the living there is hope; a live dog is better off than a dead lion.
 eccl:9.5     For the living know that they are to die, but the dead no longer know anything. There is no further recompense for them, because all memory of them is lost.
 eccl:9.6     For them, love and hatred and rivalry have long since perished. They will never again have part in anything that is done under the sun.
 eccl:9.7     Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works.
 eccl:9.8     At all times let your garments be white, and spare not the perfume for your head.
 eccl:9.9     Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of the fleeting life that is granted you under the sun. This is your lot in life, for the toil of your labors under the sun.
 eccl:9.10    Anything you can turn your hand to, do with what power you have; for there will be no work, nor reason, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the nether world where you are going....
 eccl:9.11    Again I saw under the sun that the race is not won by the swift, nor the battle by the valiant, nor a livelihood by the wise, nor riches by the shrewd, nor favor by the experts; for a time of calamity comes to all alike.
 eccl:9.12    Man no more knows his own time than fish taken in the fatal net, or birds trapped in the snare; like these the children of men are caught when the evil time falls suddenly upon them.
 eccl:9.13    On the other hand I saw this wise deed under the sun, which I thought sublime.
 eccl:9.14    Against a small city with few men in it advanced a mighty king, who surrounded it and threw up great siegeworks about it.
 eccl:9.15    But in the city lived a man who, though poor, was wise, and he delivered it through his wisdom. Yet no one remembered this poor man.
 eccl:9.16    Though I had said, "Wisdom is better than force," yet the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words go unheeded.
 eccl:9.17    "The quiet words of the wise are better heeded than the shout of a ruler of fools"--!
 eccl:9.18    "A fly that dies can spoil the perfumer's ointment, and a single slip can ruin much that is good."
   
 eccl:10.1    More weighty than wisdom or wealth is a little folly!
 eccl:10.2    The wise man's understanding turns him to his right; the fool's understanding turns him to his left.
 eccl:10.3    When the fool walks through the street, in his lack of understanding he calls everything foolish.
 eccl:10.4    Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses.
 eccl:10.5    I have seen under the sun another evil, like a mistake that proceeds from the ruler:
 eccl:10.6    a fool put in lofty position while the rich sit in lowly places.
 eccl:10.7    I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes walked on the ground like slaves.
 eccl:10.8    He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
 eccl:10.9    He who moves stones may be hurt by them, and he who chops wood is in danger from it.
 eccl:10.10   If the iron becomes dull, though at first he made easy progress, he must increase his efforts; but the craftsman has the advantage of his skill.
 eccl:10.11   If the serpent bites because it has not been charmed, then there is no advantage for the charmer.
 eccl:10.12   Words from the wise man's mouth win favor, but the fool's lips consume him.
 eccl:10.13   The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is utter madness;
 eccl:10.14   yet the fool multiplies words. Man knows not what is to come, for who can tell him what is to come after him?
 eccl:10.15   When will the fool be weary of his labor, he who knows not the way to the city?
 eccl:10.16   Woe to you, O land, whose king was a servant, and whose princes dine in the morning!
 eccl:10.17   Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of noble birth, and whose princes dine at the right time (for vigor and not in drinking bouts).
 eccl:10.18   When hands are lazy, the rafters sag; when hands are slack, the house leaks.
 eccl:10.19   Bread and oil call forth merriment and wine makes the living glad, but money answers for everything.
 eccl:10.20   Even in your thoughts do not make light of the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom revile the rich. Because the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say.
   
 eccl:11.1    Cast your bread upon the waters; after a long time you may find it again.
 eccl:11.2    Make seven or eight portions; you know not what misfortune may come upon the earth.
 eccl:11.3    When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, wherever it falls, there shall it lie.
 eccl:11.4    One who pays heed to the wind will not sow, and one who watches the clouds will never reap.
 eccl:11.5    Just as you know not how the breath of life fashions the human frame in the mother's womb, So you know not the work of God which he is accomplishing in the universe.
 eccl:11.6    In the morning sow your seed, and at evening let not your hand be idle: For you know not which of the two will be successful, or whether both alike will turn out well.
 eccl:11.7    Light is sweet! and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
 eccl:11.8    However many years a man may live, let him, as he enjoys them all, remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that is to come is vanity.
 eccl:11.9    Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment.
 eccl:11.10.  Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting.

 eccl:12.1    Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them;
 eccl:12.2    Before the sun is darkened. and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain;
 eccl:12.3    When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind;
 eccl:12.4    When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed;
 eccl:12.5    And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets;
 eccl:12.6    Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well,
 eccl:12.7    And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it.
 eccl:12.8    Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!
 eccl:12.9    Besides being wise, Qoheleth taught the people knowledge, and weighed, scrutinized and arranged many proverbs.
 eccl:12.10   Qoheleth sought to find pleasing sayings, and to write down true sayings with precision.
 eccl:12.11   The sayings of the wise are like goads; like fixed spikes are the topics given by one collector.
 eccl:12.12   As to more than these, my son, beware. Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.
 eccl:12.13   The last word, when all is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all;
 eccl:12.14   because God will bring to judgment every work, with all its hidden qualities, whether good or bad. [end of Ecclesiastes]

