Not

A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

…even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Do not be overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?

Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time?

It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

While my soul was still searching but not finding, among a thousand I have found one upright man, but among all these I have not found one such woman.

Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.

Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.

If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

On my bed at night I sought the one I love; I sought him, but did not find him.

I will arise now and go about the city, through the streets and squares. I will seek the one I love. So I sought him but did not find him.

I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.

I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.

I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin, and not one of them is lost.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.

So mankind is brought low, and man is humbled—do not forgive them!

On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”

On that day he will cry aloud: “I am not a healer. I have no food or clothing in my house. Do not make me leader of the people!”

The expression on their faces testifies against them, and like Sodom they flaunt their sin; they do not conceal it. Woe to them, for they have brought disaster upon themselves.

I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.

…and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.

But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.

The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”

The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”

But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”

But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”

Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?

Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:

“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.

But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.

Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Nothing will remain but to crouch among the captives or fall among the slain. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.

But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.

“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.

“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?

“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?

“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?

…and as I have done to Samaria and its idols, will I not also do to Jerusalem and her idols?”

Does an axe raise itself above the one who swings it? Does a saw boast over him who saws with it? It would be like a rod waving the one who lifts it, or a staff lifting him who is not wood!

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: “O My people who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria, who strikes you with a rod and lifts his staff against you as the Egyptians did.

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,

And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”

For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.

Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

You will not join them in burial, since you have destroyed your land and slaughtered your own people. The offspring of the wicked will never again be mentioned.

Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg.

“Give us counsel; render a decision. Shelter us at noonday with shade as dark as night. Hide the refugees; do not betray the one who flees.

They will not look to the altars they have fashioned with their hands or to the Asherahs and incense altars they have made with their fingers.

O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle.

Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”