Ecclesiastes, or The Preacher - Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation page 886

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over good, or make yourself over iezmxed ;—-why should you overwhelm yourself? Do not be very bad, arid do not befoolish ;——why should you kill yourself before your time? It is well that you should lay hold of this, and also not withdraw your hand from that ;-——but whoever reverences GOD will escape from all. Science helps the educated, more

than ten strong men who may be in a. fortress; for there is not a clever man on earth who always does well, and never mistakes; so do not give your attention to all the things that are spoken, or perhaps you may hear your servant curse you, for your heart knows how often you yourself have cursed others. I have ascertained all this scientifi-

cally. I declared I would become scientifica-# But it was far from me. Where does extent go`? and who can explore space? I turned back, and decided to

learn, and investigate and seek knowledge and skill, and to learn the wickedness of Folly, and Per- versity, and Recklessness;—and I discovered that a woman who has craft and vices in her heart, and snares in her hands, is worse than death! May the Good before Gob escape from her; but the Offensive be captured by her! I have discovered these, says- the

Preacher, by comparing one with another, to discover motives, with my mind continually thinking. I have discovered one man's motive in a thousand. But in all these I have not discovered a woman’sI I have only discovered this ;—that GOD made Mankind right, but they have sought out many villainies! Lncruim ro. @1: ibn wlyarmzizriziicz nf ibn bilusuplgiz Minh in a Mounts};. 8 Who is philosophic? and who knows how to explain a thing? The education of a man brightens his face, and greatly changes his expression. I commend a King to take care,

because of the promises he swore to GOD. Be not in haste to go from before Him, nor persist in a wrong thing, for He does all He pleases. Although a King’s word is powerful, What are —regard The Law ;—— 5 and learn not bad practices,—but with an intelligent heart learn oppor- tunity, and justice. For there is an opportunity for every purpose, and decision, since many miseries are upon mankind. For none of us know what will be; and as to what may happen, who can inform us? No man has power over the breath,

to retain the breath, and none are powerful in the day of death. And there is no discharge from that war; and villainy cannot deliver its possessor. I observed all this when I applied

my mind to all the things that are done under the sun, during the period that man has power over man, to injure him. And I examined the tombs of the wicked carefully, who had come to, and departed from the Holy Place, and were forgotten in the City where they had done so. They also were vanity. And I concluded that when quick

punishment is not inflicted upon crime, then the heart of the sons of Adam is set in them to. do wrong! Yet, although a sinner does wrong a hundred times, and evades from it, yet I myself know that it will be well for those who reverence GOD,—-—wh0 fear before Him,-—but it will not be well with the wicked; nor can they prolong their days like a shadow, although they do not fear the presence of GOD. Lncruxm 11. ®xr the musing nf Zifz. This is a puzzle that occurs upon

earth ;———-There are good men who are treated as if they had done like the wicked ;—and there are wicked who are treated as though they had done like the good. I said to myself, this is a puzzle! So I, myself, commend cheerful-

ness, as there .is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink, and be glad, and be at rest from his toil in the days of life which are given him under the sun. When I applied my mind to learn

science, and to the investigation of the phenomena that are produced upon earth, I perceivedthat day and night there must be no sleep for one’s eyes. And having examined all the works of GOD, I perceived that it is not possible for a man to discover the 886 IO II I2 16