Ecclesiastes

1 Who is as the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

1 τίς οἶδεν σοφούς; καὶ τίς οἶδεν λύσιν ῥήματος; σοφία ἀνθρώπου φωτιεῖ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναιδὴς προσώπῳ αὐτοῦ μισηθήσεται.	1 τίς οἶδε σοφούς; καὶ τίς οἶδε λύσιν ῥήματος; σοφία ἀνθρώπου φωτιεῖ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναιδὴς προσώπῳ αὐτοῦ μισηθήσεται.
1 Who knows the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a saying? A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated.	1 Who knows the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a saying? A man’s wisdom will lighten his countenance; but a man of shameless countenance will be hated.

2 I counsel you to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

2 στόμα βασιλέως φύλαξον καὶ περὶ λόγου ὅρκου θεοῦ μὴ σπουδάσῃς·	2 στόμα βασιλέως φύλαξον καὶ περὶ λόγου ὅρκου Θεοῦ μὴ σπουδάσῃς.
2 Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word of the oath of God.	2 Observe the commandment of the king, and that because of the word of the oath of God.

3 Don’t be hasty to go out of his sight: don’t stand in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him.

3 ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πορεύσῃ, μὴ στῇς ἐν λόγῳ πονηρῷ· ὅτι πᾶν, ὃ ἐὰν θελήσῃ, ποιήσει,	3 ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ πορεύσῃ, μὴ στῇς ἐν λόγῳ πονηρῷ· ὅτι πᾶν ὃν ἐὰν θελήσῃ, ποιήσει,
3 Don’t be hasty; you shall go forth out of his presence: don’t stand in an evil matter; for he will do whatever he shall please,	3 Don’t be hasty; you shall go forth out of his presence: don’t stand in an evil matter; for he will do whatever he shall please,

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, What do you?

4 καθὼς λαλεῖ βασιλεὺς ἐξουσιάζων, καὶ τίς ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ τί ποιήσεις;	4 καθὼς βασιλεὺς ἐξουσιάζων, καὶ τίς ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ· τί ποιεῖς;
4 even as a king having power; and who will say to him, What do you?	4 even as a king having power; and who will say to him, What do you?

5 Whoever keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing; and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment.

5 ὁ φυλάσσων ἐντολὴν οὐ γνώσεται ῥῆμα πονηρόν, καὶ καιρὸν κρίσεως γινώσκει καρδία σοφοῦ·	5 ὁ φυλάσσων ἐντολὴν οὐ γνώσεται ῥῆμα πονηρόν, καὶ καιρὸν κρίσεως γινώσκει καρδία σοφοῦ·
5 He who keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing; and the heart of the wise knows the time of judgment.	5 He who keeps the commandment shall not know an evil thing; and the heart of the wise knows the time of judgment.

6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great on him.

6 ὅτι παντὶ πράγματι ἔστιν καιρὸς καὶ κρίσις, ὅτι γνῶσις τοῦ ἀνθρώπου πολλὴ ἐπ’ αὐτόν·	6 ὅτι παντὶ πράγματί ἔστι καιρὸς καὶ κρίσις, ὅτι γνῶσις τοῦ ἀνθρώπου πολλὴ ἐπ’ αὐτὸν·
6 For to every thing there is time and judgment; for the knowledge of a man is great to him.	6 For to every thing there is time and judgment; for the knowledge of a man is great to him.

7 For he doesn’t know what shall be; for who can tell him when it shall be?

7 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν γινώσκων τί τὸ ἐσόμενον, ὅτι καθὼς ἔσται τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;	7 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι γινώσκων τί τό ἐσόμενον ὅτι καθὼς ἔσται τίς ἀναγγελεῖ αὐτῷ;
7 For there is no one that knows what is going to be; for who shall tell him how it shall be?	7 For there is no one that knows what is going to be; for who shall tell him how it shall be?

8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

8 οὐκ ἔστιν ἄνθρωπος ἐξουσιάζων ἐν πνεύματι τοῦ κωλῦσαι σὺν τὸ πνεῦμα· καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξουσία ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τοῦ θανάτου, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀποστολὴ ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ, καὶ οὐ διασώσει ἀσέβεια τὸν παρ’ αὐτῆς.	8 οὐκ ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ἐξουσιάζων ἐν πνεύματι τοῦ κωλῦσαι σὺν τὸ πνεῦμα· καὶ οὐκ ἐστιν ἐξουσία ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θανάτου, καὶ οὐκ ἐστιν ἀποστολὴ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πολέμου, καὶ οὐ διασώσει ἀσέβεια τὸν παρ’ αὐτῆς.
8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and there is no power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in the day of the battle; neither shall ungodliness save her impiety.	8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; and there is no power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in the day of the battle; neither shall ungodliness save her impiety.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: there is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

9 καὶ σὺν πᾶν τοῦτο εἶδον καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου εἰς πᾶν ποίημα, ὃ πεποίηται ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, τὰ ὅσα ἐξουσιάσατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ κακῶσαι αὐτόν·	9 καὶ σὺν πᾶν τοῦτο εἶδον καὶ ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου εἰς πᾶν τὸ ποίημα, ὃν πεποίηται ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, τὰ ὅσα ἐξουσιάσατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐν ἀνθρώπῳ τοῦ κακῶσαι αὐτόν.
9 So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things in which man has power over man to afflict him.	9 So I saw all this, and I applied my heart to every work that has been done under the sun; all the things in which man has power over man to afflict him.

10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

10 καὶ τότε εἶδον ἀσεβεῖς εἰς τάφους εἰσαχθέντας, καὶ ἐκ τόπου ἁγίου ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐπῃνέθησαν ἐν τῇ πόλει, ὅτι οὕτως ἐποίησαν. καὶ γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.	10 καὶ τότε εἶδον ἀσεβεῖς εἰς τάφους εἰσαχθέντας, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ ἁγίου, καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἐπῃνέθησαν ἐν τῇ πόλει, ὅτι οὕτως ἐποίησαν· καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
10 And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs, and that out of the holy place; and they departed, and were praised in the city, because they had done thus: this also is vanity.	10 And then I saw the ungodly carried into the tombs, and that out of the holy place; and they departed, and were praised in the city, because they had done thus: this also is vanity.

11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

11 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν γινομένη ἀντίρρησις ἀπὸ τῶν ποιούντων τὸ πονηρὸν ταχύ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐπληροφορήθη καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν.	11 ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι γινομένη ἀντίρρησις ἀπὸ τῶν ποιούντων τὸ πονηρὸν ταχύ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐπληροφορήθη καρδία υἱῶν τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ πονηρόν.
11 Because there is no contradiction made on the part of those who do evil quickly, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully determined in them to do evil.	11 Because there is no contradiction made on the part of those who do evil quickly, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully determined in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner does evil 100 times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with those who fear God, who fear before him.

12 ὃς ἥμαρτεν, ἐποίησεν τὸ πονηρὸν ἀπὸ τότε καὶ ἀπὸ μακρότητος αὐτῷ· ὅτι καὶ γε γινώσκω ἐγὼ ὅτι ἔσται ἀγαθὸν τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸν θεόν, ὅπως φοβῶνται ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ·	12 ὃς ἥμαρτεν, ἐποίησε τὸ πονηρὸν ἀπὸ τότε καὶ ἀπὸ μακρότητος αὐτῶν· ὅτι καί γε γινώσκω ἐγὼ ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀγαθὸν τοῖς φοβουμένοις τὸν Θεόν, ὅπως φοβῶνται ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ.
12 He who has sinned has done evil from that time, and long from beforehand: nevertheless I know, that it is well with those who fear God, that they may fear before him.	12 He who has sinned has done evil from that time, and long from beforehand: nevertheless I know, that it is well with those who fear God, that they may fear before him.

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he doesn’t fear before God.

13 καὶ ἀγαθὸν οὐκ ἔσται τῷ ἀσεβεῖ, καὶ οὐ μακρυνεῖ ἡμέρας ἐν σκιᾷ ὃς οὐκ ἔστιν φοβούμενος ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ.	13 καὶ ἀγαθὸν οὐκ ἔσται τῷ ἀσεβεῖ, καὶ οὐ μακρυνεῖ ἡμέρας ἐν σκιᾷ ὃς οὐκ ἔστι φοβούμενος ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ Θεοῦ.
13 but it shall not be well with the ungodly, and he shall not prolong his days, which are as a shadow; since he doesn’t fear before God.	13 but it shall not be well with the ungodly, and he shall not prolong his days, which are as a shadow; since he doesn’t fear before God.

14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth; that there be just men, to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

14 ἔστιν ματαιότης, ἣ πεποίηται ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι εἰσὶ δίκαιοι ὅτι φθάνει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν ἀσεβῶν, καὶ εἰσὶν ἀσεβεῖς ὅτι φθάνει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν δικαίων· εἶπα ὅτι καὶ γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.	14 ἔστι ματαιότης, ἣ πεποίηται ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι εἰσί δίκαιοι ὅτι φθάνει ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν ἀσεβῶν, καὶ εἰσὶν ἀσεβεῖς ὅτι φθάνει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ὡς ποίημα τῶν δικαίων· εἶπα ὅτι καί γε τοῦτο ματαιότης.
14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly; and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity.	14 There is a vanity which is done on the earth; that there are righteous persons to whom it happens according to the doing of the ungodly; and there are ungodly men, to whom it happens according to the doing of the just: I said, This is also vanity.

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man has no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.

15 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν τὴν εὐφροσύνην, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον ὅτι εἰ μὴ τοῦ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι, καὶ αὐτὸ συμπροσέσται αὐτῷ ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὅσας ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεὸς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.	15 καὶ ἐπῄνεσα ἐγὼ σὺν τὴν εὐφροσύνην, ὅτι οὐκ ἐστιν ἀγαθὸν τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον, ὅτι εἰ μὴ φαγεῖν καὶ τοῦ πιεῖν καὶ τοῦ εὐφρανθῆναι, καὶ αὐτὸ συμπροσέσται αὐτῷ ἐν μόχθῳ αὐτοῦ ἡμέρας ζωῆς αὐτοῦ, ὅσας ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ Θεὸς ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον.
15 Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry; and this shall attend him in his labour all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun.	15 Then I praised mirth, because there is no good for a man under the sun, but to eat, and drink, and be merry; and this shall attend him in his labour all the days of his life, which God has given him under the sun.

16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth: (for also there is one who neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes:)

16 ἐν οἷς ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι σοφίαν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὸν περισπασμὸν τὸν πεποιημένον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι καὶ γε ἐν ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ ὕπνον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν βλέπων,	16 Ἐν οἷς ἔδωκα τὴν καρδίαν μου τοῦ γνῶναι τὴν σοφίαν καὶ τοῦ ἰδεῖν τὸν περισπασμὸν τὸν πεποιημένον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅτι καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ καὶ ἐν νυκτὶ ὕπνον ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἔστι βλέπων.
16 Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought on the earth; for there is one who neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.	16 Whereupon I set my heart to know wisdom, and to perceive the trouble that was wrought on the earth; for there is one who neither by day nor night sees sleep with his eyes.

17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labours to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yes further; though a wise man think to know it, yet he shall not be able to find it.

17 καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅτι οὐ δυνήσεται ἄνθρωπος τοῦ εὑρεῖν σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον· ὅσα ἄν μοχθήσῃ ὁ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ ζητῆσαι, καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσει· καὶ γε ὅσα ἄν εἴπῃ ὁ σοφὸς τοῦ γνῶναι, οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ εὑρεῖν.	17 καὶ εἶδον σὺν πάντα τὰ ποιήματα τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι οὐ δυνήσεται ἄνθρωπος τοῦ εὑρεῖν σὺν τὸ ποίημα τὸ πεποιημένον ὑπὸ τὸν ἥλιον. ὅσα ἄν μοχθήσῃ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ ζητῆσαι, καὶ οὐχ εὑρήσει· καί γε ὅσα ἄν εἴπῃ σοφὸς τοῦ γνῶναι, οὐ δυνήσεται τοῦ εὑρεῖν.
17 And I beheld all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun; whatever things a man shall endeavour to seek, however a man may labour to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yes, however much a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it; for I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this.	17 And I beheld all the works of God, that a man shall not be able to discover the work which is wrought under the sun; whatever things a man shall endeavour to seek, however a man may labour to seek it, yet he shall not find it; yes, however much a wise man may speak of knowing it, he shall not be able to find it; for I applied all this to my heart, and my heart has seen all this.