Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from Ecclesiastes
chapters 9 through 12. Chapter 9 For I considered
all this in my heart, so that I could declare
it all, that the righteous and the wise and their
works are in the hand of God. People know neither
love nor hatred by anything they see before them.
All things come alike to all. one event happens
to the righteous and the wicked to the good the
clean and the unclean to him who sacrifices and
him who does not sacrifice as is the good so
is the sinner he who takes an oath as he who
fears an oath this is an evil in all that is
done under the sun that one thing happens to
all truly the hearts of the sons of men are full
of evil madness is in their hearts while they
live and after that they go to the dead But for
him who is joined to all the living, there is
hope, for a living dog is better than a dead
lion. For the living know that they will die,
but the dead know nothing, and they have no more
reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy
have now perished. Never more will they have
a share in anything done under the sun. Go, eat
your bread with joy, and drink your wine with
a merry heart, for God has already accepted your
works. Let your garments always be white and
let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with
the wife whom you love all the days of your vain
life which she has given you under the sun, all
your days of vanity, for that is your portion
in life and in the labor which you perform under
the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it
with your might, for there is no work or device
or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you
are going. I returned and saw under the sun.
that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle
to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches
to men of understanding, nor favor to men of
skill. But time and chance happen to them all.
For man also does not know his time, like fish
taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a
snare. For the sons of men are snared in an evil
time, when it falls suddenly upon them. This
wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it
seemed great to me. there was a little city with
few men in it and a great king came against it
besieged it and built great snares around it
now there was found in it a poor wise man and
he by his wisdom delivered the city yet no one
remembered that same poor man then i said wisdom
is better than strength nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom is despised and his words are not
heard words of the wise spoken quietly should
be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of
fools Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but
one sinner destroys much good. Dead flies putrefy
the perfumer's ointment and cause it to give
off a foul odor. So does a little folly to one
respected for wisdom and honor. A wise man's
heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart
at his left. Even when a fool walks along the
way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that
he is a fool. If the spirit of the ruler rises
against you, do not leave your post, for conciliation
pacifies great offenses. There is an evil I have
seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from
the ruler. Folly is set in great dignity, while
the rich sit in a lowly place. I have seen servants
on horses, while princes walk on the ground like
servants. He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten
by a serpent. He who quarries stones may be hurt
by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered
by it. If the axe is dull and one does not sharpen
the edge, then he must use more strength, but
wisdom brings success. A serpent may bite when
it is not charmed. The babbler is no different.
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious,
but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.
The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
and the end of his talk is raving madness. A
fool also multiplies words. No man knows what
is to be. Who can tell him what will be after
him? The labor of fools wearies them, for they
do not even know how to go to the city. Woe to
you, O land, when your king is a child, and your
princes feast in the morning. Blessed are you,
O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
and your princes feast at the proper time. for
strength and not for drunkenness. Because of
laziness the building decays, and through idleness
of hands the house leaks. A feast is made for
laughter, and wine makes merry, but money answers
everything. Do not curse the king, even in your
thought. Do not curse the rich, even in your
bedroom. For a bird of the air may carry your
voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.
Chapter 11 Cast your bread upon the waters. for
you will find it after many days. Give a serving
to seven, and also to eight, for you do not know
what evil will be on the earth. If the clouds
are full of rain, they empty themselves upon
the earth. And if a tree falls to the south or
the north, in the place where the tree falls,
there it shall lie. He who observes the wind
will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will
not reap. As you do not know what is the way
of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb
of her who is with child, so you do not know
the works of God who makes everything. In the
morning sow your seed, and in the evening do
not withhold your hand, for you do not know which
will prosper, either this or that, or whether
both alike will be good. Truly the light is sweet,
and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the
sun. But if a man lives many years and rejoices
in them all, Yet let him remember the days of
darkness, for they will be many. All that is
coming is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your
youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days
of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart
and in the sight of your eyes. But know that
for all these God will bring you into judgment.
Therefore remove sorrow from your heart and put
away evil from your flesh, for childhood and
youth are vanity. Remember now your Creator in
the days of your youth, before the difficult
days come, and the years draw near, when you
say, I have no pleasure in them, while the sun
and the light, the moon and the stars are not
darkened, and the clouds do not return after
the rain. In the day when the keepers of the
house tremble and the strong men bow down, when
the grinders cease because they are few, and
those that look through the windows grow dim,
when the doors are shut in the streets and the
sound of grinding is low. when one rises up at
the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of
music are brought low. Also they are afraid of
height, and of terrors in the way. When the almond
tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and
desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home,
and the mourners go about the streets. Remember
your creator before the silver cord is loosed,
or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher
shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken
at the well. Then the dust will return to the
earth as it was, and the spirit will return to
God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the
preacher, all is vanity. And moreover, because
the preacher was wise, he still taught the people
knowledge. Yes, he pondered and sought out and
set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought
to find acceptable words, and what was written
was upright. Words of truth. The words of the
wise are like goads, and the words of scholars
are like well -driven nails. given by one shepherd.
And further, my son, be admonished by these,
of making many books there is no end, and much
study is worrisome to the flesh. Let us hear
the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God
and keep his commandments, for this is man's
all. For God will bring every work into judgment,
including every secret thing, whether good or
evil. I hope you enjoyed today's reading as much
as I did and I look forward to seeing you again
tomorrow to continue on our journey. God bless
you and have a great day.