The One Year Bible TLB (188 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
September 2The author: Solomon
*
of Jerusalem, King David’s son, “The Preacher.”
2
In my opinion, nothing is worthwhile; everything is futile.
3-7
For what does a man get for all his hard work?
Generations come and go, but it makes no difference.
*
The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full, and the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea . . .
8-11
everything is unutterably weary and tiresome. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we are not content.
History merely repeats itself. Nothing is truly new; it has all been done or said before. What can you point to that is new? How do you know it didn’t exist long ages ago? We don’t remember what happened in those former times, and in the future generations no one will remember what we have done back here.
12-15
I, the Preacher, was king of Israel, living in Jerusalem. And I applied myself to search for understanding about everything in the universe. I discovered that the lot of man, which God has dealt to him, is not a happy one. It is all foolishness, chasing the wind. What is wrong cannot be righted; it is water over the dam; and there is no use thinking of what might have been.
16-18
I said to myself, “Look, I am better educated than any of the kings before me in Jerusalem. I have greater wisdom and knowledge.” So I worked hard to be wise instead of foolish
*
—but now I realize that even this was like chasing the wind. For the more my wisdom, the more my grief; to increase knowledge only increases distress.
2:
1-2
I said to myself, “Come now, be merry; enjoy yourself to the full.” But I found that this, too, was futile. For it is silly to be laughing all the time; what good does it do?
3
So after a lot of thinking, I decided to try the road of drink, while still holding steadily to my course of seeking wisdom.
Next I changed my course again and followed the path of folly, so that I could experience the only happiness most men have throughout their lives.
4-6
Then I tried to find fulfillment by inaugurating a great public works program: homes, vineyards, gardens, parks, and orchards for myself, and reservoirs to hold the water to irrigate my plantations.
7-8
Next I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born within my household. I also bred great herds and flocks, more than any of the kings before me. I collected silver and gold as taxes from many kings and provinces.
In the cultural arts, I organized men’s and women’s choirs and orchestras.
And then there were my many beautiful concubines.
9
So I became greater than any of the kings in Jerusalem before me, and with it all I remained clear-eyed, so that I could evaluate all these things.
10
Anything I wanted I took and did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work. This pleasure was, indeed, my only reward for all my labors.
11
But as I looked at everything I had tried, it was all so useless, a chasing of the wind, and there was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
12
Now I began a study of the comparative virtues of wisdom and folly, and anyone else would come to the same conclusion I did
*
—
13-14
that wisdom is of more value than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness; for the wise man sees, while the fool is blind. And yet I noticed that there was one thing that happened to wise and foolish alike—
15
just as the fool will die, so will I. So of what value is all my wisdom? Then I realized that even wisdom is futile.
16
For the wise and fool both die, and in the days to come both will be long forgotten.
17
So now I hate life because it is all so irrational; all is foolishness, chasing the wind.
18
And I am disgusted about this—that I must leave the fruits of all my hard work to others.
19
And who can tell whether my son will be a wise man or a fool? And yet all I have will be given to him—how discouraging!
20-23
So I turned in despair from hard work as the answer to my search for satisfaction. For though I spend my life searching for wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave all of it to someone who hasn’t done a day’s work in his life; he inherits all my efforts, free of charge. This is not only foolish but unfair. So what does a man get for all his hard work? Days full of sorrow and grief, and restless, bitter nights. It is all utterly ridiculous.
24-26
So I decided that there was nothing better for a man to do than to enjoy his food and drink and his job. Then I realized that even this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy apart from him? For God gives those who please him wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away from him and gives it to those who please him. So here, too, we see an example of foolishly chasing the wind.
3:
1
There is a right time for everything:
2
A time to be born;
A time to die;
A time to plant;
A time to harvest;
3
A time to kill;
A time to heal;
A time to destroy;
A time to rebuild;
4
A time to cry;
A time to laugh;
A time to grieve;
A time to dance;
5
A time for scattering stones;
A time for gathering stones;
A time to hug;
A time not to hug;
6
A time to find;
A time to lose;
A time for keeping;
A time for throwing away;
7
A time to tear;
A time to repair;
A time to be quiet;
A time to speak up;
8
A time for loving;
A time for hating;
A time for war;
A time for peace.
9
What does one really get from hard work?
10
I have thought about this in connection with all the various kinds of work God has given to mankind.
11
Everything is appropriate in its own time. But though God has planted eternity in the hearts of men, even so, many cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
12
So I conclude that, first, there is nothing better for a man than to be happy and to enjoy himself as long as he can;
13
and second, that he should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of his labors, for these are gifts from God.
14
And I know this, that whatever God does is final—nothing can be added or taken from it; God’s purpose in this is that man should fear the all-powerful God.
*
15
Whatever is has been long ago; and whatever is going to be has been before; God brings to pass again what was in the distant past and disappeared.
*
16
Moreover, I notice that throughout the earth justice is giving way to crime, and even the police courts are corrupt.
17
I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everything man does, both good and bad.”
18
And then I realized that God is letting the world go on its sinful way so that he can test mankind, and so that men themselves will see that they are no better than beasts.
19
For men and animals both breathe the same air, and both die. So mankind has no real advantage over the beasts; what an absurdity!
20
All go to one place—the dust from which they came and to which they must return.
21
For who can prove that the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward into dust?
22
So I saw that there is nothing better for men than that they should be happy in their work, for that is what they are here for, and no one can bring them back to life to enjoy what will be in the future, so let them enjoy it now.
As God’s partners, we beg you not to toss aside this marvelous message of God’s great kindness.
2
For God says, “Your cry came to me at a favorable time, when the doors of welcome were wide open. I helped you on a day when salvation was being offered.” Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today he is ready to save you.
3
We try to live in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we act, so that no one can find fault with us and blame it on the Lord.
4
In fact, in everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God.
We patiently endure suffering and hardship and trouble of every kind.
5
We have been beaten, put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, stayed awake through sleepless nights of watching, and gone without food.
6
We have proved ourselves to be what we claim by our wholesome lives and by our understanding of the Gospel and by our patience. We have been kind and truly loving and filled with the Holy Spirit.
7
We have been truthful, with God’s power helping us in all we do. All of the godly man’s arsenal—weapons of defense, and weapons of attack—have been ours.
8
We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us. We are honest, but they call us liars.
9
The world ignores us, but we are known to God; we live close to death, but here we are, still very much alive. We have been injured but kept from death.
10
Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the Lord. We are poor, but we give rich spiritual gifts to others. We own nothing, and yet we enjoy everything.
11
Oh, my dear Corinthian friends! I have told you all my feelings; I love you with all my heart.
12
Any coldness still between us is not because of any lack of love on my part but because your love is too small and does not reach out to me and draw me in.
13
I am talking to you now as if you truly were my very own children. Open your hearts to us! Return our love!
God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble.
2
And so we need not fear even if the world blows up and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3
Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!
4
There is a river of joy flowing through the city of our God—the sacred home of the God above all gods.
5
God himself is living in that city; therefore it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help.
6
The nations rant and rave in anger—but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and kingdoms totter into ruin.
7
The Commander of the armies of heaven is here among us. He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue us.
8
Come, see the glorious things that our God does, how he brings ruin upon the world
9
and causes wars to end throughout the earth, breaking and burning every weapon.
10
“Stand silent! Know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation in the world!”
11
The Commander of the heavenly armies is here among
us!
He, the God of Jacob, has come to rescue
us!
A youngster’s heart is filled with rebellion, but punishment will drive it out of him.
September 3Next I observed all the oppression and sadness throughout the earth—the tears of the oppressed, and no one helping them, while on the side of their oppressors were powerful allies.
2
So I felt that the dead were better off than the living.
3
And most fortunate of all are those who have never been born and have never seen all the evil and crime throughout the earth.
4
Then I observed that the basic motive for success is the driving force of envy and jealousy! But this, too, is foolishness, chasing the wind.
5-6
The fool won’t work and almost starves but feels that it is better to be lazy and barely get by, than to work hard, when in the long run it is all so futile.
7
I also observed another piece of foolishness around the earth.
8
This is the case of a man who is quite alone, without a son or brother, yet he works hard to keep gaining more riches. And to whom will he leave it all, and why is he giving up so much now? It is all so pointless and depressing.
9
Two can accomplish more than twice as much as one, for the results can be much better.
10
If one falls, the other pulls him up; but if a man falls when he is alone, he’s in trouble.
11
Also, on a cold night, two under the same blanket gain warmth from each other, but how can one be warm alone?
12
And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
13
It is better to be a poor but wise youth than to be an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.
14
Such a lad could come from prison and succeed. He might even become king though born in poverty.
15
Everyone is eager to help a youth like that, even to help him usurp the throne.
16
He can become the leader of millions of people and be very popular. But, then, the younger generation grows up around him and rejects him! So again, it is all foolishness, chasing the wind.
5:
1-3
As you enter the Temple, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don’t be a fool who doesn’t even realize it is sinful to make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven and you are only here on earth, so let your words be few. Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, so being a fool makes you a blabbermouth.
4
So when you talk to God and vow to him that you will do something, don’t delay in doing it, for God has no pleasure in fools. Keep your promise to him.
5
It is far better not to say you’ll do something than to say you will and then not do it.
6-7
In that case, your mouth is making you sin. Don’t try to defend yourself by telling the messenger from God that it was all a mistake to make the vow.
*
That would make God very angry; and he might destroy your prosperity. Dreaming instead of doing is foolishness, and there is ruin in a flood of empty words; fear God instead.
8
If you see some poor man being oppressed by the rich, with miscarriage of justice anywhere throughout the land, don’t be surprised! For every official is under orders from higher up, and the higher officials look up to their superiors. And so the matter is lost in red tape and bureaucracy.
*
9
And over them all is the king. Oh, for a king who is devoted to his country! Only he can bring order from this chaos.
10
He who loves money shall never have enough. The foolishness of thinking that wealth brings happiness!
11
The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income. So what is the advantage of wealth—except perhaps to watch it as it runs through your fingers!
12
The man who works hard sleeps well whether he eats little or much, but the rich must worry and suffer insomnia.
13-14
There is another serious problem I have seen everywhere—savings are put into risky investments that turn sour, and soon there is nothing left to pass on to one’s son.
15
The man who speculates is soon back to where he began—with nothing.
16
This, as I said, is a very serious problem, for all his hard work has been for nothing; he has been working for the wind. It is all swept away.
17
All the rest of his life he is under a cloud—gloomy, discouraged, frustrated, and angry.
18
Well, one thing, at least, is good: It is for a man to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, accept his position in life, and enjoy his work whatever his job may be, for however long the Lord may let him live.
19-20
And, of course, it is very good if a man has received wealth from the Lord and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God. The person who does that will not need to look back with sorrow on his past, for God gives him joy.
6:
1
Yes, but there is a very serious evil which I have seen everywhere—
2
God has given to some men very great wealth and honor so that they can have everything they want, but he doesn’t give them the health to enjoy it, and they die and others get it all! This is absurd, a hollow mockery, and a serious fault.
3
Even if a man has a hundred sons and as many daughters and lives to be very old, but leaves so little money at his death that his children can’t even give him a decent burial—I say that he would be better off born dead.
4
For though his birth would then be futile and end in darkness, without even a name,
5
never seeing the sun or even knowing its existence, yet that is better than to be an old, unhappy man.
6
Though a man lives a thousand years twice over but doesn’t find contentment—well, what’s the use?
7-8
Wise men and fools alike spend their lives scratching for food and never seem to get enough. Both have the same problem, yet the poor man who is wise lives a far better life.
9
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; mere dreaming of nice things is foolish; it’s chasing the wind.
10
All things are decided by fate; it was known long ago what each man would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.
11
The more words you speak, the less they mean, so why bother to speak at all?
12
In these few days of our empty lifetimes, who can say how one’s days can best be spent? Who can know what will prove best for the future after he is gone? For who knows the future?
Don’t be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness?
15
And what harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a Christian be a partner with one who doesn’t believe?
16
And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For you are God’s temple, the home of the living God, and God has said of you, “I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.”
17
That is why the Lord has said, “Leave them; separate yourselves from them; don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you
18
and be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters.”
7:
1
Having such great promises as these, dear friends, let us turn away from everything wrong, whether of body or spirit, and purify ourselves, living in the wholesome fear of God, giving ourselves to him alone.
2
Please open your hearts to us again, for not one of you has suffered any wrong from us. Not one of you was led astray. We have cheated no one nor taken advantage of anyone.
3
I’m not saying this to scold or blame you, for, as I have said before, you are in my heart forever, and I live and die with you.
4
I have the highest confidence in you, and my pride in you is great. You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me so happy in spite of all my suffering.
5
When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us; outside, trouble was on every hand and all around us; within us, our hearts were full of dread and fear.
6
Then God who cheers those who are discouraged refreshed us by the arrival of Titus.
7
Not only was his presence a joy, but also the news that he brought of the wonderful time he had with you. When he told me how much you were looking forward to my visit, and how sorry you were about what had happened, and about your loyalty and warm love for me, well, I overflowed with joy!
Come, everyone, and clap for joy! Shout triumphant praises to the Lord!
2
For the Lord, the God above all gods, is awesome beyond words; he is the great King of all the earth.
3
He subdues the nations before us
4
and will personally select his choicest blessings for his Jewish people
*
—the very best for those he loves.
5
God has ascended with a mighty shout, with trumpets blaring.
6-7
Sing out your praises to our God, our King. Yes, sing your highest praises to our King, the King of all the earth. Sing thoughtful praises!
8
He reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne.
9
The Gentile rulers of the world have joined with us in praising him—praising
*
the God of Abraham—for the battle shields of all the armies of the world are his trophies. He is highly honored everywhere.
He who gains by oppressing the poor or by bribing the rich shall end in poverty.