1 Great travail is created to all men, and an heavy yoke upon the children of Adam, from the day of their coming forth of their mother's womb, until the day of their burying, into the mother of all.
1 Great labor is created for all men, and a heavy yoke is upon the children of Adam from the day of their coming out of their mother’s womb, until the day of their burial into the mother of all.
2 Their cogitations, and fears of the heart, imagination of things to come, and the day of their ending:
2 Their thoughts, and fears of the heart, their imagination of things to come, and the day of their end:
3 from him that sitteth upon the glorious seat, unto him that is humbled in earth & ashes.
3 From him that sitteth on a glorious throne, unto him that is humbled in earth and ashes:
4 From him that weareth hyacinth, and beareth the crown, even to him, that is covered with rude linen: fury, envy, tumult, wavering, and the fear of death, anger persevering, and contention,
4 From him that weareth purple, and beareth the crown, even to him that is covered with rough linen: wrath, envy, trouble, unquietness, and the fear of death, continual anger, and strife,
5 and in the time of repose in bed, the sleep of night changeth his knowledge.
5 And in the time of rest upon his bed, the sleep of the night changeth his knowledge.
6 Alittle is as nothing in rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of watch.
6 A little and as nothing is his rest, and afterward in sleep, as in the day of keeping watch.
7 He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as he that hath escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and marveleth at no fear:
7 He is troubled in the vision of his heart, as if he had escaped in the day of battle. In the time of his safety he rose up, and wondereth that there is no fear.
8 With all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners sevenfold.
8 Such things happen to all flesh, from man even to beast, and upon sinners are sevenfold more.
9 Beside these things, death, blood, contention, and sword, oppressions, famine, and contrition, and scourges:
9 ¹Moreover, death, and bloodshed, strife, and sword, oppressions, famine, and affliction, and scourges:
10 for the wicked all these were created, and for them the flood was made.
10 All these things are created for the wicked, ²and for their sakes came the flood.
11 All things that are of the earth, shall turn into the earth, and all waters shall return into the sea.
11 ³All things that are of the earth, shall return to the earth again, ⁴and all waters shall return to the sea.
12 All bribing, and iniquity shall be clean taken away, and fidelity shall stand for ever.
12 All bribery, and injustice shall be blotted out, and fidelity shall stand forever.
13 The riches of the unjust shall be dried up as a river, and they shall sound as great thunder in rain.
13 The riches of the unjust shall be dried up like a river, and shall pass away with a noise like a great thunder in rain.
14 In opening his hands he shall rejoice: so transgressors shall pine away in consumption.
14 While he openeth his hands he shall rejoice: but transgressors shall pine away in the end.
15 The nephews of the impious shall not multiply boughs, nor unclean roots sound upon the top of a rock.
15 The offspring of the ungodly shall not bring forth many branches, and make a noise as unclean roots upon the top of a rock.
16 Over all water greenness, and at the brink of the river it shall be plucked up before all grass.
16 The weed growing over every water, and at the bank of the river, shall be pulled up before all grass.
17 Grace is as paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth for ever.
17 Grace is like a paradise in blessings, and mercy remaineth forever.
18 The life of a workman that is sufficient for himself shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.
18 The life of a laborer that is content with what he hath, shall be sweet, and in it thou shalt find a treasure.
19 Children, and building of a city shall confirm the name, and an unspotted woman shall be counted above this.
19 Children, and the building of a city shall establish a name, but a blameless wife shall be counted above them both.
20 Wine and music make a joyful heart: and the love of wisdom is above both.
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart, but the love of wisdom is above them both.
21 Shalms, and Psaltery make sweet melody, and a sweet tongue is above both.
21 The flute and the psaltery make a sweet melody, but a pleasant tongue is above them both.
22 Thine eye will desire grace and beauty, and green sown fields are above this.
22 Thy eye desireth favor and beauty, but more than these green sown fields.
23 Afriend and companion meeting together in time, & above them both is a woman with her husband.
23 A friend and companion meeting together in season, but above them both is a wife with her husband.
24 Brethren are an help in the time of tribulation, and mercy shall deliver more than they.
24 Brethren are a help in the time of trouble, but mercy shall deliver more than they.
25 Gold & silver are the establishing of the feet: and counsel is well accepted above them both.
25 Gold and silver make the feet stand sure: but wise counsel is above them both.
26 Riches & strength exalt the heart, and above these is the fear of our Lord.
26 Riches and strength lift up the heart: but above these is the fear of the Lord.
27 There is no diminution in the fear of our Lord, and in it there is no need to seek for help.
27 There is no want in the fear of the Lord, and it needeth not to seek for help.
28 The fear of our Lord is as a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.
28 The fear of the Lord is like a paradise of blessing, and they have covered it above all glory.
29 Son in thy lifetime want not: for it is better to die than to want.
29 My son, in thy lifetime be not indigent: for it is better to die than to want.
30 Aman that looketh toward another man's table, his life is as no life, thinking how to live, for he feedeth his soul with another man's meats.
30 The life of him that looketh toward another man’s table is not to be counted a life: for he feedeth his soul with another man’s meat.
31 But a man nurtured and taught, will look to himself.
31 But a man, well instructed and taught, will look to himself.
32 Poverty will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, and in his belly a fire will burn.
32 Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the unwise, but in his belly there shall burn a fire.