None knoweth (certainly and ordinarily) whether they be in God's grace or no. 4. The evil are in worse case dead than alive, 11. neither can we know the event of temporal things, nor the term of our life, nor how grateful others will be towards us. 16. Sure it is, that wisdom is better than strength.None knoweth (certainly and ordinarily) whether they be in Gods grace or no. 4. The euil are in worse case dead then aliue, 11. neither can we know the euent of temporal thinges, nor the terme of our life, nor how gratful others wil be towards vs. 16. Sure it is, that wisdom is better then streingth.✦
All these things have I discoursed in my heart, that I might curiose: inquisitively; carefully, attentively understand them: there are just men and wise, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not, whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:AL these thinges haue I discoursed in my hart, that I might curiously vnderstand them: there are iust men and wise, and their workes are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not, whether he be worthie of loue, or hatred:✦Omnia hæc tractavi in corde meo, ut curiose intelligerem. Sunt justi atque sapientes, et opera eorum in manu Dei ; et tamen nescit homo utrum amore an odio dignus sit.
2but all things are reserved uncertain for the time to come, because all things do equally chance to the just and impious, to the good and the evil, to the clean and unclean, to him that immolanti: offereth in sacrifice victimas: those wronged or harmed; sacrificial beasts slain in offering, and him that contemneth sacrifices. As the good so also is the sinner: as the perjured, so he also that sweareth truth.but al thinges are reserued vncertaine for the time to come, because al thinges do equally chance to the iust and impious, to the good and the euil, to the cleane and vncleane, to him that immoleth victimes, and him that contemneth sacrifices. As the good so also is the sinner: as the periured, so he also that sweareth truth.Sed omnia in futurum servantur incerta, eo quod universa æque eveniant justo et impio, bono et malo, mundo et immundo, immolanti victimas et sacrificia contemnenti. Sicut bonus, sic et peccator ; ut perjurus, ita et ille qui verum dejerat.
3This is a very evil thing among all, which are done under the sun, that the same things chance to all men. Whereby also the hearts of the children of men are filled with malice, and with contempt in their life, and after that they shall be brought down to hell.This is a very euil thing among al, which are done vnder the sunne, that the same thinges chance to al men. Wherby also the hartes of the children of men are filled with malice, and with contempt in their life, and after that they shal be brought downe to hel.✦Hoc est pessimum inter omnia quæ sub sole fiunt : quia eadem cunctis eveniunt. Unde et corda filiorum hominum implentur malitia et contemptu in vita sua, et post hæc ad inferos deducentur.
4There is no man that may live always, and that can have confidence of this thing: better is a dog living than a lion dead.There is no man that may liue alwayes, and that can haue confidence of this thing: better is a dog liuing then a lion dead.Nemo est qui semper vivat, et qui hujus rei habeat fiduciam ; melior est canis vivus leone mortuo.
5For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing more, neither have they reward any more: because the memory of them is forgotten.For the liuing know that they shal dye, but the dead know nothing more, neither haue they reward anie more: because the memorie of them is forgotten.Viventes enim sciunt se esse morituros ; mortui vero nihil noverunt amplius, nec habent ultra mercedem, quia oblivioni tradita est memoria eorum.
6Love also, and hatred, and envies have perished together, neither have they part in this world, and in the work, that is done under the sun.Loue also, and hatred, and enuies haue perished together, neither haue they part in this world, and in the worke, that is done vnder the sunne.✦Amor quoque, et odium, et invidiæ simul perierunt ; nec habent partem in hoc sæculo, et in opere quod sub sole geritur.
7Go therefore and eat thy bread in joy, and drink thy wine with gladness: because thy works please God.Goe therfore and eate thy bread in ioy, & drinke thy wine with gladnes: because thy workes please God.✦Vade ergo, et comede in lætitia panem tuum, et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum, quia Deo placent opera tua.
8At all time let thy garments be white, and let not oil fall from off thy head.At al time let thy garments be white, and let not oyle fal from of thy head.✦Omni tempore sint vestimenta tua candida, et oleum de capite tuo non deficiat.
9Enjoy life, with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of the life of thy instabilitatis: fickle, fleeting condition, which are given to thee under the sun, all the time of thy vanity: for this is the portion in life, and in thy labour, wherewith thou labourest under the sun.Enioy life, with thy wife whom thou louest, al the dayes of the life of thy instabilitie, which are geuen to thee vnder the sunne, al the time of thy vanitie: for this is the portion in life, and in thy labour, wherwith thou laborest vnder the sunne.✦Perfruere vita cum uxore quam diligis, cunctis diebus vitæ instabilitatis tuæ, qui dati sunt tibi sub sole omni tempore vanitatis tuæ : hæc est enim pars in vita et in labore tuo quo laboras sub sole.
10Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, work it instanter: at once, immediately; earnestly, without ceasing: for neither work, nor reason, nor wisdom nor knowledge shall be in hell, whither thou dost hasten.Whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe, worke it instantly: for neither worke, nor reason, nor wisdom nor knowlege shal be in hel, whither thou dost hasten.✦Quodcumque facere potest manus tua, instanter operare, quia nec opus, nec ratio, nec sapientia, nec scientia erunt apud inferos, quo tu properas.
11I turned me to another thing, and I saw under the sun, that neither running is of the swift, nor war of the strong, nor bread of the wise, nor riches of the learned, nor grace of the artificum: craftsmen, skilled workmen: but time and chance in all.I turned me to an other thing, and I saw vnder the sunne, that neither running is of the swift, nor warre of the strong, nor bread of the wise, nor riches of the lerned, nor grace of the artificers: but time and chance in al.✦Verti me ad aliud, et vidi sub sole nec velocium esse cursum, nec fortium bellum, nec sapientium panem, nec doctorum divitias, nec artificum gratiam ; sed tempus casumque in omnibus.
12Man knoweth not his own end: but as fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare: so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall suddenly come upon them.Man knoweth not his owne end: but as fishes are taken with the hooke, and as birdes are caught with the snare: so men are taken in the euil time, when it shal sudenly come vpon them.✦Nescit homo finem suum ; sed sicut pisces capiuntur hamo, et sicut aves laqueo comprehenduntur, sic capiuntur homines in tempore malo, cum eis extemplo supervenerit.
13This wisdom also I have seen under the sun, and have proved it to be very great:This wisdom also I haue sene vnder the sunne, and haue proued it to be very great:✦Hanc quoque sub sole vidi sapientiam, et probavi maximam :
14A little city, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and compassed it, and builded forts round about, and the siege was perfecta: completed, brought to full.A litle citie, and few men in it: there came against it a great king, and compassed it, and builded fortes round about, and the siege was perfited.✦civitas parva, et pauci in ea viri ; venit contra eam rex magnus, et vallavit eam, exstruxitque munitiones per gyrum, et perfecta est obsidio.
15And there was found in it a man poor and wise, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembered that poor man.And there was found in it a man poore and wise, and he deliuered the citie by his wisdom, and no man afterward remembred that pooreman.Inventusque est in ea vir pauper et sapiens, et liberavit urbem per sapientiam suam ; et nullus deinceps recordatus est hominis illius pauperis.
16And I said, that wisdom is better than strength: how then was the wisdom of the poor man contemned, and his words were not heard?And I sayd, that wisdom is better then streingth: how then was the wisdom of the pooreman contemned, & his wordes were not heard?✦Et dicebam ego meliorem esse sapientiam fortitudine. Quomodo ergo sapientia pauperis contempta est, et verba ejus non sunt audita ?
17The words of the wise are heard in silence, more than the cry of a prince among fools.The wordes of the wise are heard in silence, more then the crie of a prince among fooles.✦Verba sapientium audiuntur in silentio, plus quam clamor principis inter stultos.
18Better is wisdom, than weapons of war: and he that shall offend in one point, shall lose many good things.Better is wisdom, then weapons of warre: and he that shal offend in one point, shal lose manie good thinges.✦Melior est sapientia quam arma bellica ; et qui in uno peccaverit, multa bona perdet.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.