6 ^(A)There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: ² a man ^(B)to whom ^(C)God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he ^(D)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God ^(E)does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity;^[a] it is a grievous evil. ³ If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that ^(F)the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's ^(G)good things, and he also has no ^(H)burial, I say that ^(I)a stillborn child is better off than he. ⁴ For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. ⁵ Moreover, it has not ^(J)seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds ^(K)rest rather than he. ⁶ Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy^[b] no good—do not all go to the one place?

^7 (L)All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.^{[c] 8} For what advantage has the wise man ^(M)over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? ⁹ Better ^(N)is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is ^(O)vanity and a striving after wind.

¹⁰ Whatever has come to be has ^(P)already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to ^(Q)dispute with one stronger than he. ¹¹ The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? ¹² For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his ^(R)vain^[d] life, which he passes like ^(S)a shadow? For who can tell man what will be ^(T)after him under the sun?

Peter's Vision

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, ^(A)Peter went up ^(B)on the housetop about ^(C)the sixth hour^[a] to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into ^(D)a trance ¹¹ and saw ^(E)the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^(F)for I have never eaten anything that is ^(G)common or ^(H)unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, ^(I)“What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what ^(J)the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, ^(K)the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering ^(L)the vision, ^(M)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and ^(N)accompany them without hesitation,^[b] for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and ^(O)God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ^(P)a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and ^(Q)to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and ^(R)some of ^(S)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

^32 (A)“Fear not, little ^(B)flock, for ^(C)it is your Father's good pleasure to give you ^(D)the kingdom. ^33 (E)Sell your possessions, and ^(F)give to the needy. ^(G)Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with ^(H)a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. ^34 (I)For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

You Must Be Ready

^35 (J)“Stay dressed for action^[a] and ^(K)keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ and be like men who are ^(L)waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and ^(M)knocks. ^37 (N)Blessed are those servants^[b] whom the master finds ^(O)awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, ^(P)he will dress himself for service and ^(Q)have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! ^39 (R)But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour ^(S)the thief was coming, he^[c] would not have left his house to be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ^(T)ready, for ^(U)the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”