Bible In A Year

Ecclesiastes 4

 ¹ Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

   I saw the tears of the oppressed—
   and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
   and they have no comforter.
² And I declared that the dead,
   who had already died,
are happier than the living,
   who are still alive.
³ But better than both
   is he who has not yet been,
who has not seen the evil
   that is done under the sun.

 ⁴ And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

 ⁵ The fool folds his hands
   and ruins himself.
⁶ Better one handful with tranquillity
   than two handfuls with toil
   and chasing after the wind.

 ⁷ Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

 ⁸ There was a man all alone;
   he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
   yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
"For whom am I toiling," he asked,
   "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?"
This too is meaningless—
   a miserable business!

 ⁹ Two are better than one,
   because they have a good return for their work:
¹⁰ If one falls down,
   his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
   and has no one to help him up!
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
   But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
   two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  ¹³ Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. ¹⁴ The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵ I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor. ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 5

 ¹ Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

 ² Do not be quick with your mouth,
   do not be hasty in your heart
   to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
   and you are on earth,
   so let your words be few.
³ As a dream comes when there are many cares,
   so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

 ⁴ When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.  ⁸ If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹ The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

 ¹⁰ Whoever loves money never has money enough;
   whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
   This too is meaningless.

 ¹¹ As goods increase,
   so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
   except to feast his eyes on them?

 ¹² The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
   whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
   permits him no sleep.

 ¹³ I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

   wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
 ¹⁴ or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
   there is nothing left for him.
¹⁵ Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,
   and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
   that he can carry in his hand.

 ¹⁶ This too is a grievous evil:

   As a man comes, so he departs,
   and what does he gain,
   since he toils for the wind?
¹⁷ All his days he eats in darkness,
   with great frustration, affliction and anger.

 ¹⁸ Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. ¹⁹ Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. ²⁰ He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Ecclesiastes 6

 ¹ I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: ² God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

 ³ A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. ⁴ It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵ Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— ⁶ even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

 ⁷ All man's efforts are for his mouth,
   yet his appetite is never satisfied.
⁸ What advantage has a wise man
   over a fool?
What does a poor man gain
   by knowing how to conduct himself before others?
⁹ Better what the eye sees
   than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
   a chasing after the wind.

 ¹⁰ Whatever exists has already been named,
   and what man is has been known;
no man can contend
   with one who is stronger than he.
¹¹ The more the words,
   the less the meaning,
   and how does that profit anyone?

 ¹² For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?

 ¹⁷ Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. ²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

 ²⁵ Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. ²⁶ Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for you to remain as you are. ²⁷ Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

 ²⁹ What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; ³⁰ those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; ³¹ those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

 ³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

 ²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life:
   Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

 ²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
   he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

 ²⁵ Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
   rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

 ²⁶ He who robs his father and drives out his mother
   is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

 ²⁷ Stop listening to instruction, my son,
   and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

 ²⁸ A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
   and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

 ²⁹ Penalties are prepared for mockers,
   and beatings for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 20

 ¹ Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
   whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

 ² A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion;
   he who angers him forfeits his life.

 ³ It is to a man's honor to avoid strife,
   but every fool is quick to quarrel.

 ⁴ A sluggard does not plow in season;
   so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.