| To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. | For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. |
| He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. | He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. |
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| I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. | I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. |
| Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. | Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. |
| Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. | Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. |
| For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. | For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. |
| And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. | And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. |
| When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. | When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow. |
| He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. | The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity. |
| When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? | When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes? |
| As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. | As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands. |
| Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. | This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot. |
| Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. | Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God. |
| Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. | Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. |
| In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. | In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them. |
| Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. | Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the human heart is fully set to do evil. |
| Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. | Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do. |
| The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. | Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them. |
| As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. | Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything. |
| Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. | Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. |
| Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. | Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”. |
| Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. | The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. |
| For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. | For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow. |
