Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Prosperity Comes from the Lord.
A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.
The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions
2 I said [a]to myself, “Come now, I will test you with (A)pleasure. So [b]enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2 (B)I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3 I explored with my [c]mind how to (C)stimulate my body with wine while my [d]mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of (D)folly, until I could see (E)what good there is for the sons of men [e]to do under heaven the few [f]years of their lives. 4 I enlarged my works: I (F)built houses for myself, I planted (G)vineyards for myself; 5 I made (H)gardens and (I)parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made (J)ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had [g](K)homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and (L)herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and (M)gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself (N)male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.
9 Then I became (O)great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 (P)All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my (Q)reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had [h]exerted, and behold all was [i](R)vanity and striving after wind and there was (S)no profit under the sun.
Wisdom Excels Folly
12 So I turned to (T)consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except (U)what has already been done? 13 And I saw that (V)wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. 14 The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the (W)fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that (X)one fate befalls them both. 15 Then I said [j]to myself, “(Y)As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. (Z)Why then have I been extremely wise?” So [k]I said to myself, “This too is vanity.” 16 For there is (AA)no [l]lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And (AB)how the wise man and the fool alike die! 17 So I (AC)hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was [m]grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.
Family Relations
18 (A)Wives, (B)be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 (C)Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 (D)Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing [a]to the Lord. 21 (E)Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
22 (F)Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters [b]on earth, (G)not with [c]external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [d]heartily, (H)as for the Lord [e]rather than for men, 24 (I)knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward [f]of (J)the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you (K)serve. 25 For (L)he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [g](M)that without partiality.
Fellow Workers
4 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, (N)knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.