With

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me.

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?

Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.

Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness, with much sorrow, sickness, and anger.

For a man seldom considers the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

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.

Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

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

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:

Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.

Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.

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.

Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.

Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.

We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.

My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.

The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”

Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?

All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.

He has made its posts of silver, its base of gold, its seat of purple fabric. Its interior is inlaid with love by the daughters of Jerusalem.

Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding—the day of his heart’s rejoicing.

Your neck is like the tower of David, built with rows of stones; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.

You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.

You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck.

Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,

Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,

…with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

…with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

…with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

…with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

…with nard and saffron, with calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of frankincense tree, with myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices.

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.

I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.

O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.

His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.

His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.

Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Which way has he turned? We will seek him with you.

You are as beautiful, my darling, as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners.

How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!

If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.

Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers.

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 silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.

The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames.

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

For You have abandoned Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with influences from the east; they are soothsayers like the Philistines; they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

Their land is full of silver and gold, with no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, with no limit to their chariots.

Their land is full of silver and gold, with no limit to their treasures; their land is full of horses, with no limit to their chariots.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion are haughty—walking with heads held high and wanton eyes, prancing and skipping as they go, jingling the bracelets on their ankles—

Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.