Bible in a Year.

On day 149, 1 Kings 7 details the internal and external construction of Solomon's temple. Ecclesiastes 1-3 invites us to reflect on the futility of human ambitions without God and the passing of time. Psalm 5 reminds us that God protects the righteous and hears their prayers, offering guidance and security.

1. And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years, and brought it to perfection.

2. He built also the house of the forest of Libanus, the length of it was a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty cubits, and the height thirty cubits: and four galleries between pillars of cedar: for he had cut cedar trees into pillars.

3. And he covered the whole vault with boards of cedar, and it was held up with five and forty pillars. And one row had fifteen pillars,

4. Set one against another,

5. And looking one upon another, with equal space between the pillars, and over the pillars were square beams in- all things equal.

6. And he made a porch of pillars of fifty cubits in length, and thirty cubits in breadth: and another porch before the greater porch: and pillars, and chapiters upon the pillars.

7. He made also the porch of the throne, wherein is the seat of judgment: and covered it with cedar wood from the floor to the top.

8. And in the midst of the porch, was a small house where he sat in judgment, of the like work. He made also a house for the daughter of Pharao (whom Solomon had taken to wife) of the same work, as this porch,

9. All of costly stones, which were sawed by a certain rule and measure both within and without: from the foundation to the top of the walls, and without unto the great court.

10. And the foundations were of costly stones, great stones of ten cubits or eight cubits:

11. And above there were costly stones, or equal measure, hewed; and, in like manner, planks of cedar:

12. And the greater court was made round with three rows of hewed stones, and one row of planks of cedar, moreover also in the inner court of the house of the Lord, and in the porch of the house.

13. And king Solomon sent, and brought Hiram from Tyre,

14. The son of a widow woman of the tribe of Nephtali, whose father was a Tyrian, an artificer in brass, and full of wisdom, and understanding, and skill to work all work in brass. And when he was come to king Solomon, he wrought all his work.

15. And he cast two pillars in brass, each pillar was eighteen cubits high: and a line of twelve cubits compassed both the pillars.

16. He made also two chapiters of molten brass, to be set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:

17. And a kind of network, and chain work wreathed together with wonderful art. Both the chapiters of the pillars were cast : seven rows of nets were on one chapiter, and seven nets on the other chapiter.

18. And he made the pillars, and two rows round about each network to cover the chapiters, that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and in like manner did he to the other chapiter.

19. And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars, were of lily work in the porch, of four cubits.

20. And again other chapiters in the top of the pillars above, according to the measure of the pillar over against the network: and of pomegranates there were two hundred in rows round about the other chapiter.

21. And he set up the two pillars in the porch of the temple: and when he had set up the pillar on the right hand, he called the name thereof Jachin: in like manner he set up the second pillar, and called the name thereof Booz.

22. And upon the tops of the pillars he made lily work: so the work of the pillars was finished.

23. He made also a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round all about; the height of it was five cubits, and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.

24. And a graven work under the brim of it compassed it, for ten cubits going about the sea: there were two rows cast of chamfered sculptures.

25. And it stood upon twelve oxen, of which three looked towards the north, and three towards the west, and three towards the south, and three towards the east, and the sea was above upon them, and their hinder parts were all hid within.

26. And the laver was a handbreadth thick: and the brim thereof was like the brim of a cup, or the leaf of a crisped lily: it contained two thousand bates.

27. And he made ten bases of brass, every base was four cubits in length, and four cubits in breadth, and three cubits high.

28. And the work itself of the bases, was intergraven: and there were gravings between the joinings.

29. And between the little crowns and the ledges were lions, and oxen, and cherubims: and in the joinings likewise above: and under the lions and oxen, as it were bands of brass hanging down.

30. And every base had four wheels, and axletrees of brass: and at the four sides were undersetters under the laver molten, looking one against another.

31. The mouth also of the laver within, was in the top of the chapiter: and that which appeared without, was of one cubit all round, and together it was one cubit and a half: and in the corners of the pillars were divers engravings: and the spaces between the pillars were square, not round.

32. And the four wheels, which were at the four corners of the base, were joined one to another under the base: the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.

33. And they were such wheels as are used to be made in a chariot: and their axletrees, and spokes, and strakes, and naves, were all east.

34. And the four undersetters that were at every corner of each base, were of the base itself cast and joined together.

35. And in the top of the base there was a round compass of half a cubit, so wrought that the laver might be set thereon, having its gravings, and divers sculptures of itself.

36. He engraved also in those plates, which were of brass. and in the corners, cherubims, and lions, and palm trees, in likeness of a man standing, so that they seemed not to be engraven, but added round about.

37. After this manner he made ten bases, of one casting and measure, and the like graving.

38. He made also ten lavers of brass: one laver contained four bases, and was of four cubits: and upon every base, in all ten, he put as many lavers.

39. And he set the ten bases, five on the right side of the temple, and five on the left: and the sea he put on the right side of the temple over against the east southward.

40. And Hiram made caldrons, and shovels, and basins, and finished all the work of king Solomon in the temple of the Lord.

41. The two pillars and the two cords of the chapiters, upon the chapiters of the pillars: and the two networks, to cover the two cords, that were upon the top of the pillars.

42. And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks: two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the cords of the chapiters, which were upon the tops of the pillars.

43. And the ten bases, and the ten lavers on the bases.

44. And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea.

45. And the caldrons, and the shovels, and the basins. All the vessels that Hi- ram made for king Solomon for the house of the Lord, were of fine brass.

46. In the plains of the Jordan did the king cast them in a clay ground, between Socoth and Sartham.

47. And Solomon placed all the vessels: but for exceeding great multitude the brass could not be weighed.

48. And Solomon made all the vessels for the house of the Lord: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, upon which the leaves of proposition should be set:

49. And the golden candlesticks, five on the right hand, and five on the left, over against the oracle, of pure gold: and the flowers like lilies, and the lamps over them of gold: and golden snuffers,

50. And pots, and fleshhooks, and bowls, and mortars, and censers, of most pure gold: and the hinges for the doors of the inner house of the holy of holies, and for the doors of the house of the temple were of gold.

51. And Solomon finished all the work that he made in the house of the Lord, and brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver and the gold, and the vessels, and laid them up in the treasures of the house of the Lord.

Chapter 1

1. The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.

2. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.

3. What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?

4. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever.

5. The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,

6. Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.

7. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again.

8. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing.

9. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done.

10. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us.

11. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.

12. I Ecclesiastes was king over Israel in Jerusalem,

13. And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God given to the children of men, to be exercised therein.

14. I have seen all things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity, and vexation of spirit.

15. The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite.

16. I have spoken in my heart, saying: Behold I am become great, and have gone beyond all in wisdom, that were before me in Jerusalem: and my mind hath contemplated many things wisely, and I have learned.

17. And I have given my heart to know prudence, and learning, and errors, and folly: and I have perceived that in these also there was labour, and vexation of spirit,

18. Because In much wisdom there is much indignation: and he that addeth knowledge, addeth also labour.

Chapter 2

1. I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity.

2. Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?

3. I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

4. I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards,

5. I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds,

6. And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,

7. I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem:

8. I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine:

9. And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.

10. And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour.

11. And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.

12. I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?)

13. And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.

14. The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.

15. And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.

16. For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool for ever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned.

17. And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.

18. Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me,

19. Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there any thing so vain?

20. Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring any more under the sun.

21. For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil.

22. For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he bath been tormented under the sun?

23. All his days axe full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity?

24. Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.

25. Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I?

26. God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind.

Chapter 3

1. All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven.

2. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

3. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build.

4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

6. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

7. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

8. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.

9. What hath man more of his labour?

10. I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11. He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot flnd out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end.

12. And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life.

13. For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God.

14. I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared.

15. That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past.

16. I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity.

17. And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing.

18. I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts.

19. Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things are subject to vanity.

20. And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into earth they return together.

21. Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward?

22. And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him?

1. Unto the end, for her that obtaineth the inheritance. A psalm of David.

2. Give ear, O Lord, to my words, understand my cry.

3. Hearken to the voice of my prayer, O my King and my God.

4. For to thee will I pray: O Lord, in the morning thou shalt hear my voice.

5. In the morning I will stand before thee, and will see: because thou art not a God that willest iniquity.

6. Neither shall the wicked dwell near thee: nor shall the unjust abide before thy eyes.

7. Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity: Thou wilt destroy all that speak a lie. The bloody and the deceitful man the Lord will abhor.

8. But as for me in the multitude of thy mercy, I will come into thy house; I will worship towards thy holy temple, in thy fear.

9. Conduct me, O Lord, in thy justice: because of my enemies, direct my way in thy sight.

10. for there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain.

11. Their throat is an open sepulchre: they dealt deceitfully with their tongues: judge them, O God. Let them fall from their devices: according to the multitude of their wickedness cast them out: for they have provoked thee, O Lord.

12. But let all them be glad that hope in thee: they shall rejoice for ever, and thou shalt dwell in them. And all they that love thy name shall glory in thee:

13. For thou wilt bless the just. O Lord, thou hast crowned us, as with a shield of thy good will.