1

While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.

We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.

I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh"s chariots.

If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds" tents.

Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother"s children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.

I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.

Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.

The song of songs, which is Solomon"s.

For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.

That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.