41 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun . And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power , but they had no one to comfort them. 2 So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living . 3 But better off than both of them is the one who has never existed , who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun .
4 I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor . This too is vanity and striving after wind . 5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh . 6 One hand full of rest is better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind .
7 Then I looked again at vanity under the sun . 8 There was a certain man without a dependent , having neither e a son nor a brother , yet there was no end to all his labor . Indeed , his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure ?" This too is vanity and it is a grievous task . 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor . 10 For if either of them falls , the one will lift up his companion . But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore , if two lie down together they keep warm , but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist e him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart .
13 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction . 14 For he has come out of prison e to become king , even though he was born poor in his kingdom . 15 I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces e him. 16 There is no end to all the people , to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him, for this too is vanity and striving after wind .
51 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools ; for they do not know they are doing evil . 2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God . For God is in heaven and you are on the earth ; therefore e let your words be few . 3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words .
4 When you make a vow to God , do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools . Pay what you vow ! 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay . 6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake . Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands ? 7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness . Rather , fear God .
8 If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province , do not be shocked at the sight ; for one official watches over e another official , and there are higher officials over them.
9 After all , a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land . 10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money , nor he who loves abundance with its income . This too is vanity . 11 When good things increase , those who consume them increase . So what is the advantage to their owners except e to look e on? 12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant , whether he eats little or much ; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep . 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun : riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt . 14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son , then there was nothing e to support him. 15 As he had come naked from his mother's womb , so will he return as he came . He will take nothing e from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand . 16 This also is a grievous evil -exactly as a man is born , thus will he die . So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind ? 17 Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation , sickness and anger .
18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting : to eat , to drink and enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward . 19 Furthermore , as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth , He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor ; this is the gift of God . 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life , because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart .
61 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and it is prevalent among men - 2 a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires ; yet God has not empowered him to eat from them, for a foreigner enjoys them. This is vanity and a severe affliction . 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years , however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial , then I say , "Better the miscarriage than he, 4 for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity ; and its name is covered in obscurity . 5 "It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he. 6 "Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things - do not all go to one place ?"
7 All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied . 8 For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool ? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living ? 9 What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires . This too is futility and a striving after wind . 10 Whatever e exists has already been named e , and it is known what man is; for he cannot e dispute with him who is stronger than he is.
11 For there are many words which increase futility . What then is the advantage to a man ? 12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime , during the few years of his futile life ? He will spend them like a shadow . For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun ?
121 Boasting is necessary , though it is not profitable ; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord . 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -whether in the body I do not know , or out of the body I do not know , God knows -such a man was caught up to the third heaven . 3 And I know how such a man -whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know , God knows - 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words , which a man is not permitted to speak . 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast ; but on my own behalf I will not boast , except in regard to my weaknesses . 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish , for I will be speaking the truth ; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations , for this reason , to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh , a messenger of Satan to torment me-to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ." Most gladly , therefore , I will rather boast about my weaknesses , so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses , with insults , with distresses , with persecutions , with difficulties , for Christ's sake ; for when I am weak , then I am strong .
11 I have become foolish ; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles , even though I am a nobody . 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance , by signs and wonders and miracles . 13 For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches , except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong !
14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours , but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents , but parents for their children . 15 I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls . If I love you more , am I to be loved less ? 16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself ; nevertheless , crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit . 17 Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I? 18 I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him. Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps ? 19 All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you. Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ ; and all for your upbuilding , beloved . 20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish ; that perhaps there will be strife , jealousy , angry tempers , disputes , slanders , gossip , arrogance , disturbances ; 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity , immorality and sensuality which they have practiced .
