Qoheleth Chapter Three
Translation from the Anchor Bible commentary by R.B.Y. Scott: 1 Everything has its season, and there is a proper time for every happening under the sun– 2 A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot [what has been planted] 3 A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to wreck and a time to build; 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to lament and a time to dance for joy; 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to shun embraces. 6 A time to seek and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together, A time to be silent and a time to speak; 8 A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does...
Read MoreQoheleth Chapter Two
I continue in transcribing a translation from the Anchor Bible commentary by R.B.Y. Scott- 1 I said to myself, “Let me experiment with pleasure and have a good time!”, but this also turned out to be [unsubstantial as] a vapor. 2 Merrymaking, I concluded, is foolishness; and as for pleasure, what does it accomplish? 3 I investigated by stimulating my body with wine while my reason remained in control, and by putting my hand to folly–so that I might discern whether this is good for men to do beneath the sky, in the brief span of their lives. 4 I carried out great undertakings, I built myself houses, I planted vineyards, 5 I made for myself gardens and parks and planted in them trees bearing all kinds of fruit. 6 I constructed reservoirs from which to irrigate...
Read MorePrelimanry Notes on Qoheleth
In preparation for Lent, I have not only started this blog, but I have once again buried my nose in one of my favourite books of the bible: Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes). The idea at the time was that I would lead a bible study at the Episcopal Church where I was working. For various reasons, that has now fallen through. Not the least of which being that the verb in that sentence is now past tense. For better or for worse, I am no longer working at Trinity. I do not wish to dwell much on the complex web of reasons, emotions, and situations that led to that decision here. But let it suffice for me to say that it was not a good fit for more reasons than two, and it has long been time to focus my energies elsewhere. It is actually probably more of a step forward that I am...
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