21-ECC.usfm

@@ -11,22 +11,23 @@
 \p
 \v 1 These are the words of the Teacher, the descendant of David and king in Jerusalem.
 \p
-\v 2 "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher.
+\q1
+\v 2 "Meaningless! Meaningless! 
+\q2 says the Teacher.
 \q1 "Absolutely meaningless!
 \q2 Everything is meaningless!"
-\q1
 \p
-\v 3 What profit does a man gain from all the work that he labors at under the sun?
+\q1
+\v 3 What profit does a man gain from all the work 
+\q2 that he labors at under the sun?
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 4 One generation goes,
+\v 4 One generation goes, and another generation comes,
-\q2 and another generation comes,
+\q2 but the earth remains forever.
-\q1 but the earth remains forever.
 \q1
-\v 5 The sun rises,
+\v 5 The sun rises,and it goes down
-\q2 and it goes down
+\q2 and hurries back to the place where it rises again.
-\q1 and hurries back to the place where it rises again.
 \q1
 \v 6 The wind blows south
 \q2 and circles around to the north,
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@
 \q1
 \v 9 Whatever has been is what will be,
 \q2 and whatever has been done is what will be done.
-\q1 There is nothing new under the sun.
+\q2 There is nothing new under the sun.
 \q1
 \v 10 Is there anything about which it may be said,
 \q2 'Look, this is new'?
@@ -57,25 +58,27 @@
 \q2 during ages which came long before us.
 \q1
 \v 11 No one seems to remember the things that happened in ancient times,
-\q2 and the things that happened much later
+\q2 and the things that happened much later and that will happen in the future
-\q2 and that will happen in the future
 \q1 will not likely be remembered either."
 
 \s5
+\p
 \v 12 I am the Teacher, and I have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
 \v 13 I applied my mind to study and to search out by wisdom everything that is done under heaven. That search is a burdensome task that God has given to the children of mankind to be busy with.
 \v 14 I have seen all the deeds that are done under the sun, and look, they all are meaningless and chasing the wind.
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 15 The twisted cannot be straightened!
-\q1 The missing cannot be counted!
+\q2 The missing cannot be counted!
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 16 I have spoken to my heart, saying, "Look, I have acquired greater wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My mind has seen great wisdom and knowledge."
 \v 17 So I applied my heart to know wisdom and also madness and folly. I came to understand that this also was an attempt to shepherd the wind.
 \p
-\v 18 For in the abundance of wisdom there is much frustration, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
+\q1
+\v 18 For in the abundance of wisdom there is much frustration, 
+\q2 and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
 
 \s5
 \c 2
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@
 \v 3 I explored in my heart how to gratify myself with wine. I let my mind guide me with wisdom although I was still holding on to folly. I wanted to find out what is good for the children of mankind to do under heaven during the days of their lives.
 
 \s5
+\p
 \v 4 I accomplished great things. I built for myself houses and planted for myself vineyards.
 \v 5 I built for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
 \v 6 I created pools of water to water a forest where trees were grown.
@@ -97,12 +101,11 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 9 So I became greater and wealthier than all who were before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom remained with me.
-\q1
 \p
-\v 10 Whatever my eyes desired,
+\q1
-\q2 I did not withhold from them.
+\v 10 Whatever my eyes desired, I did not withhold from them.
-\q1 I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
+\q2 I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
-\q2 because my heart rejoiced in all my labor
+\q1 because my heart rejoiced in all my labor
 \q2 and pleasure was my reward for all my labor.
 
 \s5
@@ -111,8 +114,9 @@
 \q2 and on the labor that I had done,
 \q1 but again, everything was meaningless—like chasing the wind.
 \q2 There was no profit under the sun in it.
-\q1
+
 \p
+\q1
 \v 12 Then I turned to consider wisdom,
 \q2 and also madness and folly.
 \q1 For what more can the man who becomes the next king do
@@ -120,22 +124,20 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 13 Then I began to understand
+\v 13 Then I began to understand that wisdom has advantages over folly,
-\q2 that wisdom has advantages over folly,
 \q2 just as light is more profitable than darkness.
 \q1
 \v 14 The wise man uses his eyes in his head to see where he is going,
 \q2 but the fool walks in darkness,
-\q1 although I know the same event happens to all of them.
+\q1 although I know 
+\q2 the same event happens to all of them.
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
 \v 15 Then I said in my heart,
-\q2 "What happens to the fool,
+\q1 "What happens to the fool, will also happen to me.
-\q2 will also happen to me.
+\q2 So what difference does it make if I am very wise?"
-\q1 So what difference does it make if I am very wise?"
+\q1 I concluded in my heart,
-\q2 I concluded in my heart,
 \q2 "This too is meaningless."
 \q1
 \v 16 For the wise man, like the fool, is not remembered for very long.
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@
 \q1 The wise man dies just like the fool dies.
 
 \s5
+\p
 \v 17 So I detested life because all the work done under the sun was evil to me. This was because everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
 \v 18 I hated all my toil for which I had toiled under the sun because I must leave it behind to the man who comes after me.
 
@@ -166,34 +169,37 @@
 \s5
 \c 3
 \p
-\v 1 For everything there is an appointed time, and a season for every matter under heaven.
 \q1
+\v 1 For everything there is an appointed time, 
+\q2 and a season for every matter under heaven.
+\q2
 \v 2 There is a time to be born and a time to die,
-\q1 a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
+\q2 a time to plant and a time to pull up plants,
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
-\q1 a time to tear down and a time to build up.
+\q2 a time to tear down and a time to build up.
 
 \s5
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 4 There is a time to weep and a time to laugh,
-\q1 a time to mourn and a time to dance,
+\q2 a time to mourn and a time to dance,
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 5 a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones,
-\q1 a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.
+\q2 a time to embrace other people, and a time to refrain from embracing.
 
 \s5
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 6 There is a time to look for things and a time to stop looking,
-\q1 a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
+\q2 a time to keep things and a time to throw away things,
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 7 a time to tear clothing and a time to repair clothing,
-\q1 a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
+\q2 a time to keep silent and a time to speak.
 
 \s5
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 8 There is a time to love and a time to hate,
-\q1 a time for war and a time for peace.
+\q2 a time for war and a time for peace.
+
 \p
 \v 9 What profit does the worker gain in his labor?
 \v 10 I have seen the work that God has given to human beings to complete.
@@ -207,17 +213,23 @@
 
 \s5
 \v 14 I know that whatever God does lasts forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken away, because it is God who has done it so that people will approach him with honor.
-\q1
+
 \p
+\q1
 \v 15 Whatever exists has already existed;
 \q2 whatever will exist has already existed.
-\q1 God makes human beings seek hidden things. \f + \ft Instead of \fqa God makes human beings seek hidden things \fqa* , other modern translations interpret this line in different ways. \f*
+\q2 God makes human beings seek hidden things. \f + \ft Instead of \fqa God makes human beings seek hidden things \fqa* , other modern translations interpret this line in different ways. \f*
 
 \s5
 \p
-\v 16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, where there should be justice, and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
+\v 16 I have seen the wickedness that is under the sun, 
+\q1 where there should be justice, 
+\q2 and in place of righteousness, wickedness was there.
 \p
-\v 17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked at the right time for every matter and every deed."
+\v 17 I said in my heart, 
+\q1 "God will judge 
+\q2 the righteous and the wicked 
+\q1 at the right time for every matter and every deed."
 
 \s5
 \p
@@ -242,46 +254,53 @@
 
 \s5
 \q1
-\v 2 So I considered those who are already dead
+\v 2 So I considered those 
-\q2 more fortunate than the living, who are still alive.
+\q2 who are already dead
+\q1 more fortunate than the living, 
+\q2 who are still alive.
 \q1
-\v 3 However, more fortunate than both of them is the one who has not yet lived,
+\v 3 However, more fortunate than both of them 
-\q2 the one who has not seen any of the evil acts that are done under the sun.
+\q2 is the one who has not yet lived,
+\q1 the one who has not seen any of the evil acts 
+\q2 that are done under the sun.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 4 Then I saw that every act of labor and every skillful work became the envy of one's neighbor. This also is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 5 The fool folds his hands and does not work,
 \q2 so his food is his own flesh.
 \q1
 \v 6 But better is a handful of profit with quiet work
-\q2 than two handfuls with the labor that tries to shepherd the wind.
+\q2 than two handfuls with the labor 
+\q2 that tries to shepherd the wind.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 7 I returned and I saw something meaningless under the sun.
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 8 There is the kind of man who is alone.
 \q2 He does not have a companion, no son or brother,
 \q1 and yet there is no end to all his work,
 \q2 and his eyes are not satisfied with gaining wealth.
 \q1 He wonders, "For whom am I toiling
 \q2 and depriving myself of pleasure?"
-\q1 This also is meaningless—a bad situation.
+\q1 This also is meaningless—
+\q2 a bad situation.
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 9 Two people work better than one;
 \q2 together they can earn a good wage for their labor.
 \q1
-\v 10 For if one falls, the other can lift up his friend.
+\v 10 For if one falls, 
-\q2 However, woe to the one who is alone when he falls
+\q2 the other can lift up his friend.
+\q1 However, woe to the one who is alone when he falls
 \q2 if there is no one to lift him up.
 \q1
 \v 11 If two lie down together, they can be warm,
@@ -291,9 +310,10 @@
 \q1
 \v 12 One man alone can be overpowered,
 \q2 but two can withstand an attack,
-\q2 and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.
+\q1 and a three-strand rope is not quickly broken.
 
 \s5
+\p
 \v 13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to listen to warnings.
 \v 14 This is true even if the young man becomes king from prison, or even if he was born poor in his kingdom.
 
@@ -307,11 +327,13 @@
 \v 1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not understand that they are doing what is wrong.
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 2 Do not be too quick to speak with your mouth,
-\q2 and do not let your heart be too quick to bring any matter up before God.
+\q2 and do not let your heart be too quick 
-\q1 God is in heaven, but you are on earth,
+\q2 to bring any matter up before God.
+\q1 God is in heaven, 
+\q2 but you are on earth,
 \q2 so let your words be few.
 \q1
 \v 3 If you have too many things to do and worry about, you will probably have bad dreams.
@@ -327,45 +349,52 @@
 \v 7 For when there are many dreams and many words, they are meaningless. Instead, fear God!
 
 \s5
+\p
 \v 8 When you see the poor being oppressed and robbed of just and right treatment in your province, do not be astonished as if no one knows, because there are people in power who watch those under them, and there are even higher ones over them.
 \v 9 In addition, the produce of the land is for everyone, and the king himself takes produce from the fields.
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
+\q1
 \v 10 Whoever loves silver will not be satisfied with silver,
 \q2 nor will he who loves wealth be satisfied with his income.
 \q1 This, too, is meaningless.
-\q1
+
 \p
-\v 11 As prosperity increases, so also do the people who consume it.
+\q2
+\v 11 As prosperity increases, 
+\q2 so also do the people who consume it.
 \q1 What advantage in wealth is there to the owner
 \q2 except to watch it with his eyes?
 
 \s5
-\q1
 \p
+\q1 
 \v 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
 \q2 whether he eats little or a lot,
-\q1 but the wealth of a rich person does not allow him to sleep well.
+\q1 but the wealth of a rich person 
+\q2 does not allow him to sleep well.
 
 \s5
 \p
 \v 13 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun:
 \q1 riches hoarded by the owner, resulting in his own misery.
-\q1
+\q2
 \v 14 When the rich man loses his wealth through bad luck,
-\q2 his own son, one whom he has fathered, is left with nothing in his hands.
+\q1 his own son, one whom he has fathered, 
+\q2 is left with nothing in his hands.
 
 \s5
 \q1
 \v 15 As a man comes from his mother's womb,
 \q2 so also he will leave naked.
-\q1 He can take none of the fruits of his labor in his hand.
+\q1 He can take none of the fruits of his labor 
+\q2 in his hand.
 \p
 \v 16 Another evil is
 \q1 that as a person comes, so he goes away.
-\q1 So what profit is there for him who labors for the wind?
+\q2 So what profit is there for him 
+\q2 who labors for the wind?
 \q1
 \v 17 During his days he eats with darkness
 \q2 and is greatly distressed with sickness and anger.