40
Great travail is created for every man,
And a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam,
From the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb,
Until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.
The expectation of things to come, and the day of death,
The Trouble their thoughts, and cause fear of heart;
From him that sits on a throne of glory,
Even to him that is humbled in earth and ashes;
From him that wears purple and a crown,
Even to him that is clothed with a hempen frock.
There is wrath, and jealousy, and trouble, and disquiet,
And fear of death, and anger, and strife;
And in the time of rest upon his bed
His night sleep does change his knowledge.
A little or nothing is his resting,
And afterward in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch,
He is troubled in the vision of his heart,
As one that has escaped from the front of battle.
In the very time of his deliverance he awakens,
And marvels that the fear is nothing.
 
It is thus with all flesh, from man to beast,
And upon sinners sevenfold more.
Death, and bloodshed, and strife, and sword,
Calamities, famine, tribulation, and the scourge;
10 All these things were created for the wicked,
And because of them came the flood.
11 All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again:
And all things that are of the waters return into the sea.
 
12 All bribery and injustice shall be blotted out;
And good faith shall stand for ever.
13 The goods of the unjust shall be dried up like a river,
And like a great thunder in rain shall go off in noise.
14 In opening his hands a man shall be made glad:
So shall transgressors utterly fail.
15 The children of the ungodly shall not put forth many branches;
And are as unclean roots upon a sheer rock.
16 The sedge that grows upon every water and bank of a river
Shall be plucked up before all grass.
17 Bounty is as a garden of blessings,
And almsgiving endures for ever.
 
18 The life of one that labores, and is contented, shall be made sweet;
And he that finds a treasure is above both.
19 Children and the building of a city establish a man’s name;
And a blameless wife is counted above both.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart;
And the love of wisdom is above both.
21 The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody;
And a pleasant tongue is above both.
22 Your eye shall desire grace and beauty;
And above both the green blade of corn.
23 A friend and a companion never meet amiss;
And a wife with her husband is above both.
24 Brethren and succour are for a time of affliction;
And almsgiving is a deliverer above both.
25 Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure;
And counsel is esteemed above them both.
26 Riches and strength will lift up the heart;
And the fear of the Lord is above both:
There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord,
And there is no need to seek help therein.
27 The fear of the Lord is as a garden of blessing,
And covers a man above all glory.
 
28 My son, lead not a beggar’s life;
Better it is to die than to beg.
29 A man that looks to the table of another,
His life is not to be counted for a life;
He will pollute his soul with another man’s meats:
But a man wise and well-instructed will beware thereof.
30 In the mouth of the shameless begging will be sweet;
And in his belly a fire shall be kindled.
 
+Or,alike workTheword is of very doubtful meaning.1:5+Verses1:55 and 7 are omitted by the best authorities1:7+Verses1:75 and 7 are omitted by the best authorities1:15+1:15Gr.1:15nested.1:18+1:18Gr.health1:18of cure.1:18+The1:18remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.1:21+Verse1:2121 is omitted by the best authorities.1:23+Most1:23authorities read1:23resist.1:23+1:23Or,1:23until1:23his1:23season1:24+1:24Or,1:24until1:24his1:24season1:28+The1:28remainder of this line is omitted by the best authorities.2:4+2:4Gr.in2:4the changes of your humiliation.3:7+The3:7preceding words of this verse are omitted by the best authorities.3:19+Verse3:1919 is omitted by the best authorities.3:25+Most3:25authorities omit verse 25, and transpose the lines in verse 26.3:27+3:27Gr.3:27sins.4:13+4:13Or,4:13she4:19+4:19Gr.to4:19the hands of his fall.4:20+4:20Or,an4:20evil man4:22+4:22Or,be4:22not abashed4:23+4:23Gr.in4:23an occasion of safety.4:23+Most4:23authorities omit this line.4:29+Some4:29authorities read4:29rough.4:31+4:31Or,drawn4:31back5:4+The5:4remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.5:7+A5:7line of this verse is here omitted by the best authorities.5:11+The5:11remainder of this line is omitted by the best authorities.6:4+6:4Or,a6:4rejoicing6:5+6:5Gr.A6:5sweet throat.6:5+6:5Gr.6:5his.6:7+6:7Or,in6:7the time of trial6:14+6:14Or,6:14covert6:15+6:15Gr.6:15weight.6:28+6:28Or,6:28it6:30+Numbers6:3015:38.6:32+6:32Or,6:32shrewd7:9+7:9Or,7:9them7:12+7:12Gr.Plow7:12not.7:15+7:15Gr.7:15created.7:20+7:20Or,7:20soul.7:26+Many7:26authorities omit this line7:26+7:26Or,7:26hated7:36+7:36Or,7:36words8:10+8:10Gr.fire8:10of his flame.8:18+8:18Or,8:18it9:9+A9:9line of this verse is here omitted by the best authorities.9:12+9:12Gr.9:12Hades.9:13+9:13Or,9:13authority10:9+The10:9text here is uncertain.10:9+Two10:9lines of this verse are here omitted by the best authorities.10:19+The10:19MSS. here greatly differ. The rendering represents the most probable text.10:21+Verse10:2121 is omitted by the best authorities.10:27+The10:27Greek text of this verse is uncertain.11:5+11:5Gr.11:5tyrants11:15-16+Verses11:15-1615 and 16 are omitted by the best authorities.12:6+The12:6remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.12:8+12:8Or,12:8punished12:11+12:11Or,it12:11has not utterly rusted him13:13+13:13Gr.along13:13with.13:14+The13:14remainder of verse 13, and verse 14, are omitted by the best authorities.13:22+13:22Or,secrets,13:22and13:25+The13:25remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.14:12+14:12Gr.14:12Hades.14:16+14:16Gr.14:16Hades.14:20+Most14:20authorities readcome14:20to an end.16:15-16+Verses16:15-1615 and 16 are omitted by the best authorities.16:21+16:21Gr.among16:21hidden things.16:22+The16:22remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.16:23+16:23Gr.16:23heart.16:30+The16:30Greek text of this line is uncertain.16:30+16:30Gr.The16:30soul of every living thing.17:4+17:4Gr.17:4him.17:5+Verse17:55 is omitted by the best authorities.17:9+Verse17:99 is omitted by the best authorities.17:10+This17:10line is added by the best authorities.17:13+Some17:13ancient authorities read17:13their.17:16+Verses17:1616, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.17:17+The17:17preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.17:18+Verses17:1816, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.17:21+Verses17:2116, 18, and 21 are omitted by the best authorities.17:22+The17:22remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.17:26+A17:26line is here omitted by the best authorities.17:27+17:27Gr.17:27Hades.18:3+The18:3remainder of verse 2, and verse 3, are omitted by the best authorities.18:27+The18:27remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.18:31+18:31Or,a18:31rejoicing to18:33+The18:33remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.19:5+The19:5remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.19:6+The19:6preceding part of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.19:12+19:12Gr.thigh19:12of flesh.19:18-19+Verses19:18-1918 and 19 are omitted by the best authorities.19:21+The19:21remainder of verse 20, and verse 21, are omitted by the best authorities.19:25+19:25Gr.to19:25bring to light.19:25+The19:25remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.19:30+19:30Gr.laughter19:30of the teeth.20:3+Verse20:33 is omitted by the best authorities.20:14+A20:14line of this verse is here omitted by the best authorities.20:17+The20:17latter part of verse 17 is omitted by the best authorities.20:20+20:20Gr.20:20parable.20:32+Verse20:3232 is omitted by the best authorities.21:5+21:5Gr.21:5him.21:18+21:18Gr.unexamined21:18words.21:25+The21:25text seems to be uncertain.22:9-10+Verses22:9-109 and 10 are omitted by the best authorities.22:13+22:13Or,defiled:22:13in his onslaught turn22:23+The22:23remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.23:3+The23:3remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.23:4+23:4Gr.lifting23:4up of eyes.23:4+The23:4remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.23:5+The23:5remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.23:6+23:6Gr.appetite23:6of the belly.23:8+Most23:8authorities read23:8left.23:16+23:16Or,made23:16a fire blaze up23:28+Verse23:2828 is omitted by the best authorities.24:1+24:1Gr.her24:1own soul.24:15+See24:15Exodus 30:34.24:18+Verse24:1818 is omitted by the best authorities.24:24+Verse24:2424 is omitted by the best authorities.24:30+24:30Gr.24:30canal.24:32+24:32Gr.24:32them.25:12+Verse25:1212 is omitted by the best authorities.25:26+25:26Gr.according25:26to your hand.25:26+The25:26remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.26:5+26:5Gr.26:5countenance.26:15+26:15Gr.26:15weight.26:16+26:16Gr.26:16his.26:19-27+Verses26:19-2719-27 are omitted by the best authorities.27:2+27:2Gr.27:2rub.28:10+The28:10order of the lines in this verse is uncertain.29:5+29:5Gr.the29:5season.29:7+Some29:7ancient authorities readMany29:7therefore.29:23+The29:23remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.30:11+These30:11three lines are absent from the oldest MSS.30:12+These30:12three lines are absent from the oldest MSS.30:12+These30:12three lines are absent from the oldest MSS.30:17+The30:17oldest MSS. omitAnd30:17eternal rest.30:17+30:17Gr.age-long30:17rest.31:2+This31:2appears to be the meaning; but the Greek text here is probably corrupt.31:6+31:6Or,comes31:6to pass in their faces31:12+31:12Gr.open31:12not your throat upon it.32:21+32:21Gr.without32:21stumbling blocks.33:14+A33:14line of this verse is here omitted by the best authorities.33:31+The33:31Greek text of this line is probably corrupt.35:14+35:14Gr.35:14if35:17+Some35:17ancient authorities readfor35:17the righteous.36:2+The36:2remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.36:6+The36:6remainder of this verse is omitted by the best authorities.36:11+The36:11ancient authorities readI36:11took them for mine inheritance:but36:11the Greek text is here very confused.36:17+36:17Gr.God36:17of the ages.36:19+36:19Gr.36:19throat.38:6+38:6Or,38:6he38:19+38:19Gr.against38:19the heart.38:24+38:24Gr.he38:24that is lessened in his business.38:28+38:28Gr.38:28renew.38:33+This38:33line is absent from the oldest MSS.38:34+38:34Gr.38:34age.39:1+39:1Gr.Except39:1him that.39:11+39:11Gr.39:11cease.40:2+The40:2Greek text of this line is probably corrupt.40:17+40:17Gr.40:17in.40:27+40:27Gr.40:27him.