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AUGUST 28
13 Better a poor and wise youth
AUGUST 28 Than an old and foolish king who will
be admonished no more.
For he comes out of prison to be king,
14
Although he was born poor in his
Ecclesiastes 4:1–6:12
kingdom.
Then I returned and considered all the op- 15 I saw all the living who walk under the
4 pression that is done under the sun: sun;
They were with the second youth who
And look! The tears of the oppressed, stands in his place.
But they have no comforter—
16 There was no end of all the people over
On the side of their oppressors there is
power, whom he was made king;
But they have no comforter. Yet those who come afterward will not
2 Therefore I praised the dead who were rejoice in him.
already dead, Surely this also is vanity and grasping
More than the living who are still alive. for the wind.
Yet, better than both is he who has Walk prudently when you go to the house
3
never existed, 5 of God; and draw near to hear rather than
Who has not seen the evil work that is to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not
done under the sun. know that they do evil.
4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skill- 2 Do not be rash with your mouth,
ful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This And let not your heart utter anything
also is vanity and grasping for the wind. hastily before God.
For God is in heaven, and you on earth;
The fool folds his hands Therefore let your words be few.
5
And consumes his own flesh. 3
6 Better a handful with quietness For a dream comes through much
Than both hands full, together with toil activity,
and grasping for the wind. And a fool’s voice is known by his many
words.
7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the
4 When you make a vow to God, do not
sun:
delay to pay it;
8 There is one alone, without companion: For He has no pleasure in fools.
He has neither son nor brother. Pay what you have vowed—
Yet there is no end to all his labors, 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.
Nor is his eye satisfied with riches.
6 Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin,
But he never asks,
“For whom do I toil and deprive myself nor say before the messenger of God that it
was an error. Why should God be angry at
of good?”
This also is vanity and a grave your excuse and destroy the work of your
7
misfortune. hands? For in the multitude of dreams and
many words there is also vanity. But fear God.
Two are better than one, If you see the oppression of the poor, and
9 8
Because they have a good reward for the violent perversion of justice and righ-
their labor. teousness in a province, do not marvel at the
For if they fall, one will lift up his matter; for high official watches over high offi-
10
companion. cial, and higher officials are over them.
But woe to him who is alone when he 9 Moreover the profit of the land is for all;
falls, even the king is served from the field.
For he has no one to help him up.
10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied
11 Again, if two lie down together, they
will keep warm; with silver;
But how can one be warm alone? Nor he who loves abundance, with
12 Though one may be overpowered by increase.
another, two can withstand him. This also is vanity.
And a threefold cord is not quickly 11 When goods increase,
broken. They increase who eat them;
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