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 MoreQoheleth Chapter One
There are six Sundays in Lent, and twelve chapters of Qoheleth. I will try to tackle two chapters a week. One at the beginning, and one at the end of each week. Here is chapter one, and some brief comments. A translation of the first chapter of Qoheleth from the Anchor Bible Commentary by R.B.Y. Scott: 1 The Words of Qoheleth, Son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 A vapor of vapors! Thinnest of vapors! All is vapor! 3 What has a man to show for all his trouble and effort during his brief lifetime under the sun? 4 One generation goes, another generation comes, but the earth always remains the same. 5The sun rises and the sun sets; and returning to its place, it rises there once more. 6 Blowing toward the south and veering toward the north, ever circling goes the...
Read More