Day 206: Ecclesiastes 9 - Song of Solomon 2

Bible in a year reading for day 206.

Ecclesiastes 9

11 I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
12 For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:
14 There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
16 And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
17 The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Ecclesiastes 10

1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

Ecclesiastes 11

1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
2 Divide your portion among seven, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may befall the land.
3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
4 He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.
5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones are formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
6 Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.
7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.
9 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad 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 things God will bring you to judgment.
10 So banish sorrow from your heart, and cast off pain from your body, for youth and vigor are fleeting.

Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of adversity come and the years approach of which you will say, “I find no pleasure in them,”
2 before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is darkened, and the clouds return after the rain,
3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly,
4 when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,
5 when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels— for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.
6 Remember Him before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is crushed, before the pitcher is shattered at the spring and the wheel is broken at the well,
7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 “Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile!”
9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
10 The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
12 And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.
13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Song of Solomon 1

1 This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is more delightful than wine.
3 The fragrance of your perfume is pleasing; your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens adore you.
4 Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.
5 I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
6 Do not stare because I am dark, for the sun has gazed upon me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me a keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have neglected.
7 Tell me, O one I love, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest them at midday? Why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your companions?
8 If you do not know, O fairest of women, follow the tracks of the flock, and graze your young goats near the tents of the shepherds.
9 I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.
10 Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.
11 We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with beads of silver.
12 While the king was at his table, my perfume spread its fragrance.
13 My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.
14 My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.
15 How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how very beautiful! Your eyes are like doves.
16 How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how delightful! The soft grass is our bed.
17 The beams of our house are cedars; our rafters are fragrant firs.

Song of Solomon 2

1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.
2 Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.
5 Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
8 Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10 My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.
11 For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”
14 O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
15 Catch for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards— for our vineyards are in bloom.
16 My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.

Open this plan in the app