Old/New Testament

4 Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them. ² So I thought that those who are already dead are better off than those who are still living. ³ But better than both is the one who has never been, who has never seen the wrong that is done under the sun.

⁴ I have seen that all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind. ⁵ The fool folds his hands and has no food to eat. ⁶ One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of work and trying to catch the wind.

⁷ Then I looked again at what is of no use under the sun. ⁸ There was a certain man who lived alone. He did not have a son or a brother. Yet he worked all the time. His eyes were never happy with the riches he had, and he never asked, “For whom am I working and why am I keeping myself from happiness?” This also is for nothing. It is work that brings sorrow.

A True Friend

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work. ¹⁰ For if one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up. ¹¹ And if two lie down together, they keep warm. But how can one be warm alone? ¹² One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.

¹³ A poor and wise boy is better than an old and foolish king who will no longer listen to words of wisdom. ¹⁴ A man can come out of prison to become king, even if he was born poor in his nation. ¹⁵ I have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place. ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people. He ruled over all of them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. For this also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

Do What You Promise

5 Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning. ² Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few. ³ For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words. ⁴ When you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay! ⁵ It is better not to make a promise, than to make a promise and not pay it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth cause you to sin. And do not say to the one sent from God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry because of what you said, and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear.

Money and Honor Are of Little Worth

⁸ In one part of a land if you see a bad power held over the poor, and what is right and fair and good taken away, do not be surprised by what you see. For one leader watches over another leader, and more important leaders watch over them. ⁹ After all, a country does better with a king in power.

¹⁰ He who loves money will never have enough money to make him happy. It is the same for the one who loves to get many things. This also is for nothing. ¹¹ When there are more good things, there are also more people to eat them. So what does their owner get except to see them with his eyes? ¹² The sleep of the working man is pleasing, if he eats little or much. But the full stomach of the rich man does not let him sleep.

¹³ There is something very wrong which I have seen under the sun: Riches being kept by the owner and he is hurt by them. ¹⁴ When those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him. ¹⁵ A man comes from his mother without clothing, and he will go as he came. He will take nothing from his work that he can carry in his hand. ¹⁶ This also is very wrong: As a man is born, this is the way he will leave. So what does the man get who works for the wind? ¹⁷ All his life he eats in darkness with much sorrow, sickness and anger.

¹⁸ This is what I have seen to be good and right: to eat and to drink and be happy in all the work one does under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him. For this is his reward. ¹⁹ As for every man to whom God has given riches and many good things, He has also given him the power to eat from them, receive his reward and be happy in his work. This is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not think much about the years of his life, because God keeps him happy in his heart.

6 There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men: ² God gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad. ³ If a man becomes the father of a hundred children and lives many years until he is very old, but he is not happy with good things, and is not buried as he should be, then I say that the child who dies before it is born is shown more favor than he. ⁴ For this child comes for nothing and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. ⁵ It never sees the sun and it never knows anything. It is better off than he. ⁶ Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not find joy in good things, do not all go to the same place?

⁷ All a man’s work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger is not filled. ⁸ For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living? ⁹ What the eyes see is better than what there is a desire for. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

¹⁰ Whatever has come to be has already been given a name. It is known what man is, and that he cannot argue with one who is stronger than he. ¹¹ The more words there are, the more they are worth nothing. What good is that to anyone? ¹² For who knows what is good for a man during his life, during the few years of his living for nothing? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will happen after he is gone under the sun?

Paul Sees Something True in a Special Dream

12 I have to talk about myself, even if it does no good. But I will keep on telling about some things I saw in a special dream and that which the Lord has shown me. ² I know a man who belongs to Christ. Fourteen years ago he was taken up to the highest heaven. (I do not know if his body was taken up or just his spirit. Only God knows.) ³ I say it again, I know this man was taken up. But I do not know if his body or just his spirit was taken up. Only God knows. ⁴ When he was in the highest heaven, he heard things that cannot be told with words. No man is allowed to tell them. ⁵ I will be proud about this man, but I will not be proud about myself except to say things which show how weak I am. ⁶ Even if I talk about myself, I would not be a fool because it is the truth. But I will say no more because I want no one to think better of me than he does when he sees or hears me.

⁷ The things God showed me were so great. But to keep me from being too full of pride because of seeing these things, I have been given trouble in my body. It was sent from Satan to hurt me. It keeps me from being proud. ⁸ I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. ⁹ He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me. ¹⁰ I receive joy when I am weak. I receive joy when people talk against me and make it hard for me and try to hurt me and make trouble for me. I receive joy when all these things come to me because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

¹¹ I have been making a fool of myself talking like this. But you made me do it. You should be telling what I have done. Even if I am nothing at all, I am not less important than those false missionaries of yours. ¹² When I was with you, I proved to you that I was a true missionary. I did powerful works and there were special things to see. These things were done in the strength and power from God. ¹³ What makes you feel less important than the other churches? Is it because I did not let you give me food and clothing? Forgive me for this wrong!

¹⁴ This is the third time I am ready to come to you. I want nothing from you. I want you, not your money. You are my children. Children should not have to help care for their parents. Parents should help their children. ¹⁵ I am glad to give anything I have, even myself, to help you. When I love you more, it looks as if you love me less.

¹⁶ It is true that I was not a heavy load to you. But some say I set a trap for you. ¹⁷ How could I have done that? Did I get anything from you through the men I sent to you? ¹⁸ I asked Titus and the other Christian brother to visit you. Did Titus get anything from you? Did we not do things that showed we had the same desires and followed the same plan?

¹⁹ It may look to you as if we had been trying to make everything look right for ourselves all this time. God knows and so does Christ that all this is done to help you. ²⁰ I am afraid that when I visit you I will not find you as I would like you to be. And you will not find me as you would like me to be. I am afraid I will find you fighting and jealous and angry and arguing and talking about each other and thinking of yourselves as being too important and making trouble. ²¹ I am afraid when I get there God will take all the pride away from me that I had for you. I will not be happy about many who have lived in sin and done sex sins and have had a desire for such things and have not been sorry for their sins and turned from them.