Bible in 90 Days
3 1 All things have their time. 14 The works of God are perfect, and cause us to fear him. 17 God shall judge both the just and unjust.
1 To all things there is an [a]appointed time, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
2 A time to be born, and a time to die: a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
3 A time to slay, and a time to heal: a time to break down, and a time to build.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones: a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embracing.
6 A time to seek, and a time to lose: a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
7 A time to rent, and a time to sow: a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate: a time of war, and a time of peace.
9 What profit hath he that worketh of the thing wherein he travaileth?
10 I have seen the travail that God hath given to the sons of men, [b]to humble them thereby.
11 He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the [c]world in their heart, yet cannot man find out the work that God hath wrought from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing good in them, but to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13 And also that every man eateth and drinketh, and seeth the commodity of all his labor. This is the [d]gift of God.
14 I know that whatsoever God shall do, it shall be [e]forever: to it can no man add, and from it can none diminish: for God hath done it, that they should fear before him.
15 What is that that hath been? that is now: and that that shall be, hath now been: for God [f]requireth that which is past.
16 And moreover, I have seen under the Sun the place of judgment, where was wickedness, and the place of justice, where was iniquity.
17 I thought in mine heart, God will judge the just and the wicked: for time is [g]there for every purpose and for every work.
18 I considered in mine heart the state of the children of men, that God had [h]purged them: yet to see too, they are in themselves as beasts.
19 For the condition of the children of men, and the condition of beasts are even as one [i]condition unto them. As the one dieth, so dieth the other: for they have all one breath, and there is no excellency of man above the beast: for all is vanity.
20 All go to one place, and all was of the dust, and all shall return to the dust.
21 Who [j]knoweth whether the spirit of man ascend upward, and the spirit of the beast descend downward to the earth?
22 Therefore I see that there is nothing better than that a man should [k]rejoice in his affairs, because that is his portion. For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
4 2 The innocents are oppressed. 4 Man’s labors are full of abuse and vanity. 9 Man’s society is necessary. 13 A young man poor and wise, is to be preferred to an old King that is a fool.
1 So [l]I turned and considered all the oppressions that are wrought under the sun, and behold, the tears of the oppressed, and none comforteth them, and lo, the strength is of the hand of them that oppress them, and none comforteth them.
2 Wherefore I praised the [m]dead which now are dead, above the living, which are yet alive.
3 And I count him [n]better than them both, which hath not yet been: for he hath not seen the evil works which are wrought under the sun.
4 Also I beheld all travail, and all [o]perfection of works, that this is the envy of a man against his neighbor: this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
5 The fool foldeth his hands, and [p]eateth up his own flesh.
6 Better is an handful with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and vexation of spirit.
7 Again I returned, and saw vanity under the sun.
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second, which hath neither son nor brother, yet is there none end of all his travail, neither can his eye be satisfied with riches: neither doth he think, For whom do I travail and defraud my soul of pleasures? this also is vanity, this is an evil travail.
9 [q]Two are better wages for their labor.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone: for he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him up.
11 Also if two sleep together, then shall they have heat: but to one how should there be heat?
12 And if one overcome him, two shall stand against him: and a threefold [r]cord is not easily broken.
13 Better is a poor and wise child, than an old and foolish King, which will no more be admonished.
14 For out of the [s]prison he cometh forth to reign: when as he that is [t]born in his kingdom, is made poor.
15 I beheld all the living, which walk under the Sun [u]with the second child, which shall stand up in his place.
16 There is none [v]end of all the people, nor of all that were before them, and they that come after, shall not rejoice in him: surely this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
17 Take heed to thine [w]foot when thou enterest into the house of God, and be more near to hear than to give the sacrifice of [x]fools: for they know not that they do evil.
5 1 Not to speak lightly, chiefly in God’s matters. 9 The covetous can never have enough. 11 The laborer’s sleep is sweet. 14 Man when he dieth, taketh nothing with him. 18 To live joyfully, and with a contented mind, is the gift of God.
1 Be not [y]rash with thy mouth, nor let thine heart be hasty to utter a thing before God: for God is in the heavens, and thou art on the earth: therefore let thy words be [z]few.
2 For as a dream cometh by the multitude of business: so the voice of a fool is in the multitude of words.
3 (A)When thou hast vowed a vow to God, defer not to pay it: for he delighteth not in fools: pay therefore that thou hast [aa]vowed.
4 It is better that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay it.
5 Suffer not thy mouth to make thy [ab]flesh to sin: neither say before the [ac]Angel, that this is ignorance: wherefore shall God be angry by thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
6 For in the multitude of dreams, and vanities are also many words: but fear thou God.
7 If in a country thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the defrauding of judgment and justice, be not astonied at the matter: for he that is [ad]higher than the highest, regardeth, and there be higher than they.
8 And the [ae]abundance of the earth is over all: the king [af]also consisteth by the field that is tilled.
9 He that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver, and he that loveth riches, shall be without the fruit thereof: this is also vanity.
10 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good cometh to the owners thereof, but the beholding thereof with their eyes?
11 The sleep of him that travaileth, is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the [ag]satiety of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
12 There is an evil sickness that I have seen under the sun: to wit, riches [ah]reserved to the owners thereof for their evil.
13 And these riches perish by evil travail, and he begetteth a son, and in his [ai]hand is nothing.
14 (B)As he came forth of his mother’s belly, he shall return naked to go as he came, and shall bear away nothing of his labor, which he hath caused to pass by his hand.
15 And this also is an evil sickness, that in all points as he came, so shall he go, and what profit hath he that he hath travailed for the [aj]wind?
16 Also all his days he eateth in [ak]darkness with much grief, and in his sorrow and anger.
17 Behold then, what I have seen good, that it is comely to [al]eat, and to drink, and to take pleasure in all his labor, wherein he travaileth under the sun, the whole number of the days of his life, which God giveth him: for this is his portion.
18 Also to every man to whom God hath given riches and treasures, and giveth him power to eat thereof, and to take his part, and to enjoy his labor: this is the gifts of God.
19 Surely he will not much remember the days of his [am]life, because God answereth to the joy of his heart.
6 The miserable estate of him to whom God hath given riches, and not the grace to use them.
1 There is an evil, which I saw under the sun, and it is much among men:
2 A man to whom God hath given riches and treasures and honor, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth: but [an]God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a strange man shall eat it up: this is vanity, and this is an evil sickness.
3 If a man beget an hundred children and live many years, and the days of his years be multiplied: and his soul be not [ao]satisfied with good things, and he be not [ap]buried, I say that an untimely fruit is better than he.
4 For [aq]he cometh into vanity, and goeth into darkness: and his name shall be covered with darkness.
5 Also he hath not seen the sun, nor known it: therefore this hath more rest than the other.
6 And if he had lived a thousand years twice told, and had seen no good, shall not all go to one place?
7 All the labor of man is for his mouth: yet the [ar]soul is not filled.
8 For what hath the wise man more than the fool? what hath the poor that [as]knoweth how to walk before the living?
9 The [at]sight of the eye is better than to walk in the lusts: this also is vanity, and vexation of spirit.
10 What is that that hath been? the name thereof is now named: and it is known that it is man: and he cannot strive with him that is [au]stronger than he.
7 Divers precepts to follow that which is good, and to avoid the contrary.
1 Surely there be many things that increase vanity, and what availeth it a man?
2 For who knoweth what is [av]good for man in the life, and in the number of the days of the life of his vanity, seeing he maketh them as a (C)shadow? for who can show unto man what shall be after him under the sun?
3 (D)A good name is better than a good ointment, and the day of [aw]death, than the day that one is born.
4 It is better to go to the house of [ax]mourning, than to go to the house of feasting, because this is the end of all men: and the living shall lay it to his heart.
5 Anger is better than laughter: for by a sad look the heart is made better.
6 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning: but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
7 Better it is to hear the rebuke of a wise man, than that a man should hear the song of fools.
8 For like the noise of the [ay]thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
9 Surely oppression maketh a wise man [az]mad: and the reward destroyeth the heart.
10 The [ba]end of a thing is better than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
11 Be not thou of an hasty spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.
12 Say not thou, Why is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire [bb]wisely of this thing.
13 Wisdom is good with an [bc]inheritance, and excellent to them that see the sun.
14 For man shall rest in the shadow of wisdom, and in the shadow of silver: but the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life to the possessors thereof.
15 Behold the work of God; for who can make (E)straight that which he hath made crooked?
16 In the day of wealth be of good comfort, and in the day of affliction [bd]consider: God also hath made this contrary to that, to the intent that man should find [be]nothing after him.
17 I have seen all things in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his [bf]justice, and there is a wicked man that continueth long in his malice.
18 Be not thou just [bg]overmuch, neither make thyself overwise: wherefore shouldest thou be desolate?
19 Be not thou wicked [bh]overmuch, neither be thou foolish: wherefore shouldest thou perish not in thy time?
20 It is good that thou lay hold on [bi]this: but yet withdraw not thine hand from [bj]that: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
21 Wisdom shall strengthen the wise men more than ten mighty princes that are in the city.
22 (F)Surely there is no man just in the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.
23 Give not thine [bk]heart also to all the words that men speak, lest thou do hear thy servant cursing thee.
24 For oftentimes also thine heart knoweth that thou likewise hast [bl]cursed others.
25 All this have I proved by wisdom: I thought, I will be wise, but it went far from me.
26 It is far off, what may [bm]it be? and it is a profound deepness, who can find it?
27 I have compassed about, both I and mine heart to know and to inquire and to search wisdom, and reason, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness,
28 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is as nets and snares, and her hands as bands: he that is good before God, shall be delivered from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her.
29 Behold, saith the Preacher, this have I found, seeking one by one to [bn]find the count:
30 And yet my soul seeketh, but I find it not. I have found one man of a thousand: but a woman among them all have I not found.
31 Only lo, this have I found, that God hath made man righteous: but they have sought many [bo]inventions.
8 2 To obey Princes and Magistrates. 17 The works of God pass man’s knowledge.
1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisdom of a man doth make his face [bp]to shine: and [bq]the strength of his face shall be changed.
2 I advertise thee to take heed to the [br]mouth of the king, and to the word of the oath of God.
3 [bs]Haste not to go forth of his sight: stand not in an evil thing: for he will do whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 Where the word of the King is, there is power, and who shall say unto him, What doest thou?
5 He that keepeth the commandment, shall know none evil thing, and the heart of the wise shall know the [bt]time, and judgment.
6 For to every purpose there is a time and judgment, because the [bu]misery of man is great upon him.
7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
8 Man is not Lord [bv]over the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power in the day of death, nor deliverance in the battle, neither shall wickedness deliver the possessors thereof.
9 All this have I seen, and have given mine heart to every work which is wrought under the sun, and I saw a time that man ruleth over man to his own [bw]hurt.
10 And likewise I saw the wicked buried, and [bx]they returned, and they that came from the holy [by]place, were yet forgotten in the city, where they had done right: this also is vanity.
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not [bz]executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil.
12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and God prolongeth his days, yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear the Lord, and do reverence before him.
13 But it shall not be well to the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days: he shall be like a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
14 There is a vanity, which is done upon the earth, that there be righteous men to whom it cometh according to the [ca]work of the wicked: and there be wicked men to whom it cometh according to the work of the just: I thought also that this is vanity.
15 And I praised joy, for there is no goodness to man under the sun, save [cb]to eat and to drink and to rejoice: for this is adjoined to his labor the days of his life that God hath given him under the sun.
16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to behold the business that is done on earth, that neither day nor night the eyes of man take sleep,
17 Then I beheld the whole work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is wrought under the sun: for the which man laboreth to seek it, and cannot find it: yea, and though the wise man think to know it, he cannot find it.
9 1 By no outward thing can man know whom God loveth or hateth. 12 No man knoweth his end. 16 Wisdom excelleth strength.
1 I have surely given mine heart to all this, and to declare all this, that the just, and the wise, and their works are in the hand of God: and no man knoweth either love or [cc]hatred of all that is before them.
2 All things come alike to all: and the same condition is to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is evil among all that is done under the sun, that there is one [cd]condition to all, and also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead.
4 Surely whosoever is joined to all the living, there is hope: for it is better to a [ce]living dog, than to a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing at all: neither have they anymore a reward: for their remembrance is forgotten.
6 Also their love and their hatred, and their envy is now perished, and they have no more portion forever, in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a cheerful heart: for God now [cf]accepteth thy works.
8 At all times let thy garments be [cg]white, and let not oil be lacking upon thine head.
9 [ch](G)Rejoice with the wife whom thou hast loved all the days of the life of thy vanity, which God hath given thee under the sun all the days of thy vanity: for this is thy portion in the life, and in thy travail wherein thou laborest under the sun.
10 All that thine hand shall find to do, do it with all thy power: for there is neither work nor invention, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor also riches to men of understanding, neither yet favor to men of knowledge: but time and [ci]chance cometh to them all.
12 For neither doth man know his [cj]time, but as the fishes which are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare: so are the children of men snared in the evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it is great unto me.
14 A little city and few men in it, and a great King came against it, and compassed it about, and built forts against it.
15 And there was found therein a poor and wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, but none remembered this poor man.
16 Then said I, Better is wisdom than strength: yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.
17 The words of the wise are more heard in quietness, than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
18 Better is wisdom than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
10 1 The difference of foolishness and wisdom. 11 A slanderer is like a serpent that cannot be charmed. 16 Of foolish kings and drunken princes, 17 And of good Kings and Princes.
1 Dead flies cause to stink, and putrefy the ointment of the apothecary: so doth a little folly him that is in estimation for wisdom, and for glory.
2 The heart of a [ck]wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a fool is at his left hand.
3 And also when the fool goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he [cl]telleth unto all that he is a fool.
4 If the [cm]spirit of him that ruleth, rise up against thee, leave not thy place: for gentleness pacifieth great sins.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an [cn]error that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.
6 Folly is set in great excellency, and the [co]rich sit in the low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the ground.
8 (H)He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 He that removeth stones, shall hurt himself thereby, and he that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more [cp]strength: but the excellency to direct a thing is wisdom.
11 If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man have grace: but the lips of a fool devour himself.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madness.
14 For the fool multiplieth words, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The labor of the foolish doth weary him: for he knoweth not to go into the [cq]city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a [cr]child, and thy princes [cs]eat in the morning.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the son [ct]of nobles, and thy princes eat in time, for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness the roof of the house goeth to decay, and by the idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the living, but silver answereth to all.
20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the [cu]fowl of the heaven shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.
11 1 To be liberal to the poor. 4 Not to doubt of God’s providence. 8 All worldly prosperity is but vanity. 9 God will judge all.
1 Cast thy bread upon the [cv]waters: for after many days thou shalt find it.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 If the [cw]clouds be full, they will pour forth rain upon the earth: and if the [cx]tree do fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the [cy]wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds, shall not reap.
5 As thou knowest not which is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the work of God that worketh all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand [cz]rest: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or [da]that, or whether both shall be a like good.
7 Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sun.
8 Though a man live many years, and in them all he rejoice, yet he shall remember the days of [db]darkness, because they are many, all that cometh is vanity.
9 [dc]Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth: and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know that for all these things, God will bring thee to judgment.
10 Therefore take away [dd]grief out of thine heart, and cause evil [de]to depart from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
12 1 To think on God in youth, and not to defer till age. 7 The soul returneth to God. 11 Wisdom is the gift of God, and consisteth in fearing him and keeping his commandments.
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years approach, wherein thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them:
2 While the sun is not dark, nor the light, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor the [df]clouds return after the rain.
3 When the [dg]keepers of the house shall tremble, and the [dh]strong men shall bow themselves, and the [di]grinders shall cease, because they are few, and they wax dark that [dj]look out by the windows:
4 And the [dk]doors shall be shut without by the base sound of the [dl]grinding, and he shall rise up at the voice of the [dm]bird: and all the [dn]daughters of singing shall be abased:
5 Also they shall be afraid of the [do]high thing, and fear shall be in the [dp]way, and the almond tree shall [dq]flourish, and the [dr]grasshopper shall be a burden, and concupiscence shall be driven away: for man goeth to the house of his age, and the mourners go about in the street.
6 While the [ds]silver cord is not lengthened, nor the golden [dt]ewer broken, nor the [du]pitcher broken at the [dv]well, nor the [dw]wheel broken at the [dx]cistern,
7 And dust return to the earth as it was, and the [dy]spirit return to God that gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, all is vanity.
9 And the more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge, and caused them to hear, and searched forth, and prepared many parables.
10 The Preacher sought to find out pleasant words, and an upright writing, even the words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails [dz]fastened by the masters of the assemblies, which are given by one [ea]pastor.
12 And of other things beside these, my son, take thou heed: for there is none end in making many [eb]books, and much reading is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the end of all: fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every work unto judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.
An [ec]Excellent Song Which Was Solomon’s
1 1 The familiar talk and mystical communication of the spiritual love between Jesus Christ and his Church. 5 The domestical enemies that persecute the Church.
1 Let [ed]him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.
2 Because of the [ee]savor of thy good ointments, thy name is as an ointment poured out: therefore the [ef]virgins love thee.
3 [eg]Draw me: we will run after thee: the King hath brought me into his [eh]chambers: we will rejoice and be glad in thee: we will remember thy love more than wine: the righteous do love thee.
4 I am [ei]black, O daughters of Jerusalem, but comely, as the tents of [ej]Kedar, and as the [ek]curtains of Solomon.
5 Regard ye me not because I am [el]black: for the [em]sun hath looked upon me. The [en]sons of my mother were angry against me: they made me the keeper of the vines: but I [eo]kept not mine own vine.
6 Show me, [ep]O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou liest at noon: for why should I be as she that turneth aside to the stocks of [eq]thy companions?
7 [er]If thou know not, O thou the fairest among women, get thee forth by the steps of the flock, and feed thy kids by the tents of the shepherds.
8 I have compared thee, O my love, to the troupe of horses in the [es]chariots of Pharaoh.
9 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of stones, and thy neck with chains.
10 We will make thee borders of gold with floods of silver.
11 [et]While the King was at his repast, my spikenard gave the smell thereof.
12 My well-beloved is as a bundle of myrrh unto me: he shall lie between my [eu]breasts.
13 My well-beloved is as a cluster of camphire unto me in the vines of En Gedi.
14 My love, behold, thou art [ev]fair: behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are like the doves.
15 My well-beloved, behold, thou art fair, and pleasant: also our [ew]bed is green.
16 The beams of our house are cedars, our rafters are of fir.
2 3 The Church desireth to rest under the shadow of Christ. 8 She heareth his voice. 14 She is compared to the dove. 15 And the enemies to the foxes.
1 I am the rose of the field, and the lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among the thorns, so is my [ex]love among the daughters.
3 [ey]Like the apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my well-beloved among the sons of men: under his shadow had I delight, and sat down: and his fruit was sweet unto my mouth.
4 He brought me into the wine cellar, and love was his banner over me.
5 Stay me with flagons, and comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand is under mine head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
7 [ez]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor waken my love, until she please.
8 [fa]It is the voice of my well-beloved: behold, he cometh leaping by the mountains, and skipping by the hills.
9 My well-beloved is like a roe, or a young hart: lo, he [fb]standeth behind our wall, looking forth of the windows, showing himself through the [fc]grates.
10 My well-beloved spake and said unto me, Arise, my love, my fair one, and come thy way.
11 For behold, [fd]winter is past: the rain is changed, and is gone away.
12 The flowers appear in the earth: the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree hath brought forth her young figs: and the vines with their small grapes have cast a savor: arise my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 My dove, that art in the [fe]holes of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, show me thy sight, let me hear thy voice: for thy voice is sweet, and thy sight comely.
15 Take us the foxes, the [ff]little foxes, which destroy the vines: for our vines have small grapes.
16 My well-beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies,
17 Until the daybreak, and the shadows flee away: return, my well-beloved, and be like a [fg]roe, or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.
3 1 The Church desireth to be joined inseparably to Christ her husband. 6 Her deliverance out of the wilderness.
1 In my bed by [fh]night I sought him that my soul loved: I sought him, but I found him not.
2 I will rise therefore now, and go about in the city, by the streets, and by the open places, and will [fi]seek him that my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.
3 The [fj]watchmen that went about the city, found me: to whom I said, Have you seen him whom my soul loveth?
4 When I had passed a little from them, then I found him whom my soul loved: I took hold on him, and left him not, till I had brought him unto my mother’s house, into the chamber of her that conceived me.
5 [fk]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor waken my love until she please.
6 Who is she that cometh up out of the [fl]wilderness like pillars of smoke perfumed with myrrh and incense, and with all the [fm]spices of the merchant?
7 Behold his [fn]bed, which is Solomon’s: threescore strong men are round about it, of the valiant men of Israel.
8 They all handle the sword, and are expert in war, everyone hath his sword upon his thigh for the fear [fo]by night.
9 King Solomon made himself a [fp]palace of the trees of Lebanon.
10 He made the pillars thereof of silver, and the pavement thereof of gold, the hangings thereof of purple, whose midst was paved with the love of the daughters of Jerusalem.
11 Come forth, ye [fq]daughters of Zion, and behold the King Solomon with the [fr]crown, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his marriage, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.
4 1 The praises of the Church. 7 She is without blemish in his sight. 9 The love of Christ towards her.
1 Behold, thou art [fs]fair, my love: behold, thou art fair: thine eyes are like the doves: among thy locks (I)thine hair is like the [ft]flock of goats, which look down from the mountain of Gilead.
2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep in good order, which go up from the washing: which every one brings out twins, and none is barren among them.
3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy talk is comely: thy temples are within thy locks as a piece of a pomegranate.
4 Thy neck is as the tower of David built for defense: a thousand shields hang therein, and all the targets of the strong men.
5 Thy two [fu]breasts are as two young roes that are twins, feeding among the lilies.
6 Until the day break, and the shadows fly away, I will go into the mountain of myrrh, and to the mountain of incense.
7 Thou art all fair my love, and there is no spot in thee.
8 [fv]Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, even with me from Lebanon, and look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir, and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, and from the mountains of the leopards.
9 My [fw]sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded mine heart: thou hast wounded mine heart with one of thine [fx]eyes, and with a chain of thy neck.
10 My sister, my Spouse, how fair is thy love? how much better is thy love than wine? and the savor of thine ointments than all spices?
11 Thy [fy]lips, my Spouse, drop as honeycombs: honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the savor of thy garment is as the savor of Lebanon.
12 My sister, my spouse is as a garden enclosed, as a spring shut up, and a fountain sealed up.
13 Thy plants are as an orchard of pomegranates with sweet fruits, as camphire, spikenard,
14 Even spikenard, and saffron: calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of incense, myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.
15 [fz]O fountain of the gardens, O well of living waters, and the springs of Lebanon.
16 Arise, O [ga]North, and come, O South, and blow on my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out: let my well-beloved come to his garden, and eat his pleasant fruit.
5 1 Christ calleth his Church to the participation of all his treasures. 2 She heareth his voice. 3 She confesseth her nakedness. 10 She praiseth Christ her husband.
1 I am come into my [gb]garden, my sister, my spouse, I gathered my myrrh with my spice: I ate mine honeycomb with mine honey, I drank my wine with my milk: eat, O friends, drink, and make you merry, O well-beloved.
2 [gc]I sleep, but mine heart waketh, it is the voice of my well-beloved that knocketh, saying, Open unto me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for mine head is full of dew, and my locks with the drops of the [gd]night.
3 I have put off my [ge]coat, how shall I defile [put] it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them?
4 My well-beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and [gf]mine heart was affectioned toward him.
5 I rose up to open to my well-beloved, and mine hands did drop down myrrh, and my [gg]fingers pure myrrh upon the handles of the bar.
6 I opened to my well-beloved: but my well-beloved was gone and past: mine heart was gone when he did speak: I sought him, but I could not find him: I called him, but he answered me not.
7 The [gh]watchmen that were about the city, found me: they smote me, and wounded me: the watchmen of the walls took away my veil from me.
8 I charge you, [gi]O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my well-beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love.
9 [gj]O the fairest among women, what is thy well-beloved more than other well-beloved? what is thy well-beloved more than another lover, that thou dost so charge us?
10 My well-beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest of ten thousand.
11 His [gk]head is as fine gold, his locks curled, and black as a raven.
12 His eyes are like doves upon the rivers of waters, which are washed with milk, and remain by the full vessels.
13 His cheeks are as a bed of spices, and as sweet flowers, and his lips like lilies dropping down pure myrrh.
14 His hands as rings of gold set with the [gl]chrysolite, his belly like white ivory covered with sapphires.
15 His legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
16 His mouth is as sweet things, and he is wholly delectable: this is my well-beloved, and this is my lover, O daughters of Jerusalem.
17 [gm]O the fairest among women, whither is thy well-beloved gone? whither is thy well-beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee?
6 1 The Church assureth herself of the love of Christ. 3 The praises of the Church. 8 She is but one and undefiled.
1 My well-beloved is gone down into his [gn]garden to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
2 I am my well-beloved’s, and my well-beloved is mine, who feedeth among the lilies.
3 Thou art beautiful, my love, as [go]Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.
4 [gp]Turn away thine eyes from me: for they overcome me: (J)thine hair is like a flock of goats, which look down from Gilead.
5 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, which go up from the washing, which every one bring out twins, and none is barren among them.
6 Thy temples are within thy locks as a piece of a pomegranate.
7 There are [gq]threescore Queens, and fourscore concubines, and of the damsels without number.
8 But my dove is alone, and my undefiled, she is the only daughter of her mother, and she is dear to her that bare her: the daughters have seen her, and counted her blessed: even the Queens and the concubines, and they have praised her.
9 [gr]Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, pure as the sun, terrible as an army with banners!
10 I went down to the [gs]garden of nuts, to see the fruits of the valley, to see if the vine budded, and if the pomegranates flourished.
11 [gt]I knew nothing, my soul set me [gu]as the chariots of my noble people.
12 Return, return, O [gv]Shulamite, return: return that we may behold thee. What shall you see in the Shulamite, but as the company of an army?
7 1 The beauty of the Church in all her members. 10 She is assured of Christ’s love towards her.
1 How beautiful are thy [gw]goings with shoes, O prince’s daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels: the work of the hand of a cunning workman.
2 Thy navel is as a round cup that wanteth not liquor: thy belly is as an heap of wheat compassed about with lilies.
3 [gx]Thy two breasts are as two young roes that are twins.
4 Thy neck is like a tower of ivory; thine eyes are like the fish pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath Rabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon that looketh toward Damascus.
5 Thine head upon thee is as scarlet, and the bush of thine head like purple: the king is tied [gy]in the [gz]rafters.
6 How fair art thou, and how pleasant art thou, O my love, in pleasures!
7 This thy stature is like a palm tree, and thy breasts like clusters.
8 I said, I will go up into the palm tree, I will take hold of her boughs: thy breasts shall now be like the clusters of the vine: and the savor of thy nose like apples,
9 And the roof of thy mouth like good wine, which goeth straight to my well-beloved, and causeth the lips of the ancient to speak.
10 [ha]I am my well-beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.
11 Come my well-beloved, let us go forth into the field: let us remain in the villages.
12 Let us get up early to the vines, let us see if the [hb]vine flourish, whither it hath budded the small grape, or whither the pomegranates flourish: there will I give thee my love.
13 The mandrakes have given a smell, and in our gates are all sweet things, new and old: my well-beloved, I have kept them for thee.
8 2 The Church will be taught by Christ. 3 She is upheld by him. 6 The vehement love wherewith Christ loveth her. 11 She is the vine that bringeth forth fruit to the spiritual Solomon, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Oh [hc]that thou werest as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother: I would find thee without, I would kiss thee, then they should not despise [hd]thee.
2 I will lead thee and bring thee into my mother’s house: there thou shalt teach me: and I will cause thee to drink spiced wine, and new wine of the pomegranate.
3 [he]His left hand shall be under mine head, and his right hand shall embrace me.
4 [hf]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor waken my love until she please.
5 (Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her well-beloved?) I raised thee up under an apple tree: there the mother conceived thee: there she conceived that bare thee.
6 [hg]Set me as a seal on thine heart, and as a signet upon thine arm: for love is strong as death: jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are fiery coals, and a vehement flame.
7 Much water cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, they would greatly contemn it.
8 [hh]We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister when she shall be spoken for?
9 [hi]If she be a wall, we will build upon her a silver palace: and if she be a door, we will keep her in with boards of cedar.
10 [hj]I am a wall, and my breasts are as towers: then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.
11 [hk]Solomon had a vine in Baal Hamon: he gave the vineyard unto keepers: everyone bringeth for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver.
12 But my vineyard which is mine, is before me: to thee, O Solomon, appertaineth a thousand pieces of silver, and two hundred to them that keep the fruit thereof.
13 O thou that dwellest in the [hl]gardens, the companions hearken unto thy voice: cause me to hear it.
14 O my well-beloved, [hm]flee away and be like unto the roe, or to the young hart upon the mountains of spices.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.