Old Testament • 12 Chapters
Ecclesiastes (Old Testament, 12 chapters). Key figures: David , Jacob/Israel . Key places: Jerusalem . Opens with: "The words of the Preacher, the son of David , king in Jerusalem ...."
vanity, vapor, breath, transient futility
Vapor, passing breath, transient futility; leitmotif of Ecclesiastes ('Vanity of vanities, all is vanity', Ecclesiastes 1:2); mortal transience without God.
Derivation: From הָבַל (H1891) to act vanity.
Interactive Book Map • Ecclesiastes
Geographic map plotting ancient cities, rivers, mountains, and events recorded across the Book of Ecclesiastes .
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 7 (29 verses)
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughte...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 10 (20 verses)
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left. Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, h...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 5 (20 verses)
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou u...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 2 (26 verses)
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to l... Mentions: Jerusalem .
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 12 (14 verses)
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day whe...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 8 (17 verses)
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God. Be not hasty to go out of his sight...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 4 (16 verses)
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. Wherefore I praised the dead which are already...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 6 (12 verses)
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is v...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 1 (18 verses)
The words of the Preacher, the son of David , king in Jerusalem . Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? Mentions: David , Jacob/Israel , Jerusalem .
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 9 (18 verses)
For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to th...
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 3 (22 verses)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
Ecclesiastes • Chapter 11 (10 verses)
Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, ...
Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical • 51 Chapters
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus ( Apocrypha / Deuterocanonical , 51 chapters). Key figures: Lot , Jacob/Israel , Moses , Adam , Aaron , Enoch . Key places: Sin , Ophir , Jerusalem , Hermon , Jericho , Pishon . Opens with: "All wisdom comes from the Lord, And is with him forever...."
time, season, appointed epoch
Time, proper occasion, opportune season ('To everything there is a season', Ecclesiastes 3:1); divine kairos for deliverance or judgment.
Derivation: From עָדָה (H5710) to pass by.
confidence, hope, trust
Confidence, assurance, secure reliance upon God in times of crisis (Ecclesiastes 9:4, Isaiah 36:4).
Derivation: From בָּטַח (H982).
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 1 (27 verses)
All wisdom comes from the Lord, And is with him forever. The sand of the seas, and the drops of rain, And the days of eternity, who shall count? The height of the heaven, and the breadth of the earth, And the deep, and wisdom, who shall search them out?
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 44 (23 verses)
Let us now praise famous men, And our fathers that became the father of us. The Lord manifested in them great glory, Even his mighty power from the beginning. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, And were men renowned for their power, Giving counsel by their understanding,... Mentions: Enoch , Noah , Abram/Abraham , Isaac , Jacob/Israel .
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 5 (15 verses)
Set not your heart upon your goods; And say not, They are sufficient for me. Follow not your own mind and your strength, To walk in the desires of your heart; And say not, Who shall have dominion over me? For the Lord will surely take vengeance on you.
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 39 (35 verses)
Not so he that has applied his soul, And meditateth in the law of the Most High; He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, And will be occupied in prophecies. He will keep the discourse of the men of renown, And will enter in amidst the subtilties of parables. He will seek...
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 36 (26 verses)
Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and behold; And send your fear upon all the nations: Lift up your hand against the strange nations; And let them see your mighty power. Mentions: Jacob/Israel , Aaron , Jerusalem .
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 35 (20 verses)
He that keeps the law multiplies offerings; He that takes heed to the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. He that requites a good turn offers fine flour; And he that gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord; And to de...
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 18 (32 verses)
He that lives for ever created all things in common. The Lord alone shall be justified. To none has he given power to declare his works: And who shall trace out his mighty deeds?
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 7 (36 verses)
Do no evil, so shall no evil overtake you. Depart from wrong, and it shall turn aside from you. My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, And you shall not reap them sevenfold. Mentions: Sin , Ophir .
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 31 (31 verses)
Wakefulness that comes of riches consumes the flesh, And the anxiety thereof puts away sleep. Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber; And in a sore disease sleep will be broken. A rich man toileth in gathering money together; And when he rests, he is filled with his good things.
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 43 (33 verses)
The pride of the height is the firmament in its clearness, The appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory. The sun when he appears, bringing tidings as he goes forth, Is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High: At his noon he dries up the country, And who shal...
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 28 (26 verses)
He that takes vengeance shall find vengeance from the Lord; And he will surely make firm his sins. Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done you; And then your sins shall be pardoned when you pray. Man cherisheth anger against man; And does he seek healing from the Lord?
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 10 (30 verses)
A wise judge will instruct his people; And the government of a man of understanding shall be well ordered. As is the judge of his people, so are his ministers; And as is the ruler of the city, such are all they that dwell therein. An uninstructed king will destroy his people; An...
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 16 (28 verses)
Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, Neither delight in ungodly sons. If they multiply, delight not in them, Except the fear of the Lord be with them. Trust not you in their life, Neither rely on their condition: For one is better than a thousand; And to die childless... Mentions: Lot .
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 2 (18 verses)
My son, if you come to serve the Lord, Prepare your soul for temptation. Set your heart aright, and constantly endure, And make not haste in time of calamity. Cleave to him, and depart not, That you may be increased at your latter end.
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 27 (30 verses)
Many have sinned for a thing indifferent; And he that seeks to multiply gain will turn his eye away. A nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones; And sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling. Unless a man hold on diligently in the fear of the Lord, His ho...
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 17 (27 verses)
The Lord created man of the earth, And turned him back to it again. He gave them days by number, and a set time, And gave them authority over the things that are thereon. He endued them with strength proper to them; And made them according to his own image. Mentions: Jacob/Israel .
The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus • Chapter 34 (26 verses)
Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding; And dreams give wings to fools. As one that catches at a shadow, and follows after the wind, So is he that sets his mind on dreams. The vision of dreams is as this thing against that, The likeness of a face over against a...