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ECCLESIASTES 11

« Ecclesiastes 10 | Ecclesiastes 11 | Ecclesiastes 12 »

Cast Your Bread upon the Waters
11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
2
Give a portion to seven, or even to eight,
for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3
If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4
He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

    
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
    
6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
    
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
    
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
    
9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
    
10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.



ECCLESIASTES 12

« Ecclesiastes 11 | Ecclesiastes 12 | Song of Solomon 1 »

Remember Your Creator in Your Youth
  12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. Fear God and Keep His Commandments
9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.
    
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
    
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.



PROVERBS 31

« Proverbs 30 | Proverbs 31 | Ecclesiastes 1 »

The Words of King Lemuel
  31:1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
2
What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
3
Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
4
It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
5
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6
Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
7
let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
8
Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
The Woman Who Fears the Lord
10
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13
She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14
She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15
She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16
She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17
She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20
She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21
She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22
She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23
Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24
She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.



PSALM 100

« Psalm 99 | Psalm 100 | Psalm 101 »

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
A Psalm for giving thanks.
100:1
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

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