Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 883

ECCLESIASTES.

3..4

4--10 IO II I2 16 18 20 2I A time to pull down, and a time to build; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance! A time to pick stones, and a. time to cast out ; A time to fold hands, and 2. time to unfold ; A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to hoard, and a time to spend, A time to tear, and a time to mend: A time to be dumb, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace! Yet what remains as the product,

for which they are done? I have examined the endeavours that GOD has appointed for the children of Adam by which to develop them- selves.-- He has made everything beautiful in its season. He has also placed Eternity in their minds, with the intention that man should never discover, from beginning to end, the complete Creation which GOD has made.——I consequently learnt that there is nothing better for them, than to be glad, and do good in their lives; and also for all men to eat and drink and experience pleasure in all the labours Gon has given to them. I have learnt, that whatever GOD

has made, that will endure for ever. There is no adding to it,——-—and there is no taking from it,—and that GOD'S Creation is wonderful, next to Him- self. What was produced formerly exists, and what was formerly will come again; for GOD attends to its course. And, further, I observed under the

sun, that on the Seat of JUSTICB there was VILLAINY, and on the seat of Rro1·1raousNEss,—\’V1cxED- NESS! But I said to my heart, GOD will judge both Righteousness and Wickedness,—for there is a time for every purpose under the sun, and for all that is created there. I reflected in my mind about the

aH`airs of the sons of Adam ;—···which are that Goo intends to try them, to show they are, by themselves, mere animals. For one event is for the sons of Adam, and one event for the animals ;··-and the one event that is to them is :-—as these die, so those die; and the same breath is to all; and man dies the same as the

cattle! Is not the whole vanity? The whole go to one place; the whole come from dust; and the whole return to the dust. Who knows that the breath of the sons of Adam when it goes, ascends? and that the breath of the cattle, when it goes ?—— down, departs to the earth Then I perceived there is nothing

better than that a man should rejoice in his works,——for that is his reward; for who can bring him to examine as to what may be after him? Lscrunn 4. ®:t @i¤g¤h2mmznt. 21 I have applied myself and examined 4 into all the wrongs that are done under the sun ; and I have seen the tears of the oppressed, and they had no consolation ;—-for Power was in the hands of their ()ppressors!—so they had no consolation, Therefore 2 I congratulated the Dead, who died in the past, more than the living who are still alive.——But, better than 3 either is he who has not come to sensation;—who has not seen in Creation the su fferin g that is produced under the sun ! I also turned and examined all

toil, and all the success produced by it;—-that a man is envied for it by his neighbour. So it is also vanity and vexation of spirit! Yet the idler folds his hands and eatshis own flesh l Yet a handful, with quietness is

better than both hands full with anxiety and vexation of spirit! Then I turned to examine this

vanity under the sun.~·~—'1`here may be a solitary without a companion; who possesses neither a son nor brother, yet there is no end to all his anxiety; nor are his eyes satiated For whom do I toil and deprive my life This also is vanity and ia grievous trouble ! Two are better than one,·——for there

is a better reward to them for work. And if the one falls his companion can lift him up; but alas! for one 882 IO