Timeline of the Bible God creates the world. --- God destroys the world with the flood, but saves  Noah and his family.---  God chooses Abraham and his descendants to His people. ---Abraham's grandson, Jacob, has 12 sons who lead the 12 tribes of Israel.--- The Israelites become slaves in Egypt.--- God helps the Israelites escape and leads them to Canaan. ---The Israelites fight in wars and take control of Canaan.---Judges lead the Israelites, but the Israelites want to have kings instead of judges. ---  ► This book of the Bible happens between theses times   David is Israel's greatest king. ---◄   Israel divides into 2 parts: Israel and Judah.--- The people of Israel and Judah continue to sin and worship false gods.--- God allows the Assyrians and the Babylonians to take the Israelites out of Israel and Judah.---   The Israelites (Jews) live in Babylonia and then Persia. --- When Persia defeats the Babylonians, the Jews go back to Judah.--- The Jews build God's Temple in Jerusalem again.--- Greece defeats Persia, and the Greeks control Judah (also now called Israel).--- The Jews become independent for 100 years.-- The Romans take control of Israel.--- Jesus is born. At age 30, Jesus begins his ministry. ---Jesus is crucified and then is resurrected.     A Roman named Saul is converted to Christianity and becomes Paul.--- Christianity spreads. ---      Paul write letters to Christians in other places. In the year, 70 A.D., God's Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed again.

Ecclesiastes 8 - 12 Plant your seeds in the morning and evening.  You don't know what tomorrow will hold. There are good men who have bad things happen.  There are wicked men who have good things happen.  The most important thing to know --  respect God and obey His laws.

 

Chapter 8

Who is like a wise man? Who knows how to interpret things? A man's wisdom will make his face shine. His face will change.
[1] Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

I suggest you keep the king's laws. You promised God to obey. Don't leave God fast. Do not do evil things. Do what God wants you to do.
[2] I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.
[3] Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.


The king's words make power. No one can ask him what he is doing.
[4] Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
 

The person who obeys will not have trouble. A wise man has good judgment about time and when to do things. 
[5] Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.
 

For every purpose, there is a time. There is great misery upon a man because he can't tell the future. No one can tell him when things will happen.
[6] Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
[7] For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

No man has power over the wind. No man can stop the wind. No man can stop death. No one can escape death. Not even wicked people can stop death.
[8] There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
 

I have seen all of this.  There is a time when one man rules over another man and causes hurt?
[9] All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

I saw wicked people get buried with honor. They had big funerals. People said good things about them. People forgot the bad things they did. This is worthless.
[10] And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

Sometimes, evil actions do not get punished fast. Then, other people copy and do bad things, too.
[11] 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.

A sinner might do evil things 100 times, but he lives a long life.  But I know people who respect and love God will do well. But it will not go well for wicked people. They won't live long. Their days are like a shadow because they did not respect and love God.
[12] Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:
[13] But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

There is something that happens on the earth.  There are good men who have bad things happen.  There are wicked men who have good things happen. This is worthless.
[14] There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

Men should be happy.  They should eat, drink, and be happy. That will stay with them all of their lives on earth.
[15] Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

I started to learn wisdom and learn how things work on the earth. Then, I saw the work of God. Man cannot see why He does the work.  He can try hard to find the reason, but he cannot find it. Even wise men cannot find it.  
[16] When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)
[17] Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.
 

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Chapter 9

I thought about this. The smart and good people and everything they do are in God's hands.  No one knows whether love or hate are ahead of them.
[1] For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
 

Everyone dies. Wicked people die, and good people die. Clean and unclean people die.  People who sacrifice die, and people who do not sacrifice die. Good people die, and sinners die. People who make promises die, and people who do not make promises die.
[2] All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

It is bad that everyone on earth dies. I am not surprised that people are crazy and evil. After that, they die.
[3] This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

There is hope for all who are joined to living.  A living dog is better than a dead lion.
[4] For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

People who are living know they will die.  The dead don't know anything.. They don't have a reward here. The memory of them is forgotten.
[5] For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Their love, their hate, and their envy is now dead. They don't have a part of anything on earth.
[6] Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

Go on and eat and be happy. Drink wine and be happy.  God now accepts your work.
[7] Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Let your clothes be clean and white. Let your head be clean. Be happy living with your wife who you love all your days of worthlessness. Your time on earth is worthless.
[8] Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.
[9] Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Whatever you find to do, do it all you can.  There will be no work, knowledge, or wisdom in the grave where you're going.
[10] Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

I saw that on earth, it is not always the fastest who win the race.  It is not always the strongest who win the battle.  It is not always the wise who have food. It is not always smart men who get rich.  It is not from skill. But some have better luck.
[11] I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

People do not know when they will die. Fish get caught in nets.  Birds get caught in traps. The same happens to people. All of a sudden, it is their time to die. I have seen this.
[12] For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
[13] This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:
 

There was a little city. There were just a few men in it.  A great king came and attacked it. They used great weapons against it.
[14] There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
 

There was a poor, but wise man in the city. He saved the city with his wisdom. But, no one remembers the poor man.
[15] Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
 

Then I said that being wise is better than being strong.  But even so, the poor man's wisdom is hated. No one hears what he says.
[16] Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Wise men's quiet words are heard more than a king yelling to a crowd of fools.
[17] The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

Wisdom is better than war weapons. One sinner can destroy a lot of good.
[18] Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
 

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Chapter 10

Dead flies will make the ointment stink. That is the same thing that will happen to some men.  Those men will reject wisdom and honor.
[1] Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

A wise man's heart goes the right way. A fool's heart goes the opposite way.
[2] A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
 

When a fool walks down the road, he shows everyone he is a fool.
[3] Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
 

If the ruler gets mad, stay calm.  Being calm can quiet bad situations.
[4] If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

I have noticed something very wrong like a mistake by the ruler.   Foolish people are thought of more highly. Mature people are thought of as low.
[5] There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
[6] Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.

I have seen the servants riding horses and princes walking like servants.
[7] I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.

The person who digs a hole will fall into it.  A person makes a hole in a hedge, then a snake bites him.
[8] He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.

The person who mines rocks will be hurt in them.  The person who chops wood will be in danger.
[9] Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.

If an ax blade is dull, it takes more strength to chop wood. Be smart.
[10] If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

A snake will bite without being charmed. Someone who talks all the time is no better.
[11] Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

A wise man says gracious and polite words.  A fool will get swallowed up with foolish words.
[12] The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.


When he starts talking, he is foolish. When is finished talking, he is crazy.
[13] The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

A fool talks too much. He won't listen to anyone.
[14] A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

Fools get tired from working, then they don't know how to go back to the city.
[15] The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

A country will have trouble when their king is a child and their princes stay out all night.
[16] Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

A country is blessed when their king is a royal, and their princes don't get drunk.
[17] Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

The building will fall apart because of laziness.
[18] By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.

Parties are fun, but money is the important thing.
[19] A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

Don't say bad things about the king when you are in private. The birds will tell what you said.
[20] Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
 

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Chapter 11
 

If you give to good causes, you will get a reward.
[1] Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
 

Share with 7 or 8 other people.  You never know, but something bad might happen.
[2] Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Rain falls on the earth. Trees fall and stay where they fall.
[3] If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
 

If a farmer sees the wind blowing, he won't plant seeds.  If sees clouds, he will harvest his crops.
[4] He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
 

You don't know how God works.  You don't know how bones grow in the womb.
[5] 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.

Plant your seeds in the morning and evening.  You don't know what tomorrow will hold. You don't know if it will be good or bad.
[6] In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

The light is good. It is pleasant to see the sun. But if people live long and have many sunny days, they should remember the dark days.  There will be many dark days. Everything is worthless.
[7] Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:
[8] But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Young people should be happy. They should do what they want. But they should remember that God will judge them.
[9] Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

So, don't be sad. Being a child doesn't last.
[10] Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
 

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Chapter 12

You are young now.  Honor God your Creator now before the hard times come.  When you are older, you won't be able to enjoy anything. Your vision will not be good.
[1] 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;
[2] While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

Later on in old age, strong people will become weak. Their vision will be dark. Their hearing will be less. But small noises will keep them awake.
[3] In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
[4] And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
 

They will be afraid of high places and other places. They will not be excited about life.  They will move slowly.
[5] Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

Silver cords and golden bowls can be broken. Pitchers and wheels can be broken.  Everything returns to the earth. Our spirits return to God who gave them.
[6] Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
[7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Everything is worthless.
[8] Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

I am very smart, and I still teach people. I give good warnings. People ask for my help. I try to find the best words. I give truthful words.
[9] And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
[10] The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
 

Words of wisdom are like sticks to make animals move.  They are like nails to hold things together.
[11] The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.


My son, here is a warning.  There is no end to books. Studying will make you tired. So, here is the most important thing to know: respect God and obey His laws. This is your duty.  God will judge everything that you do in secret.  He will judge if it is good or bad.
[12] And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
[14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.