Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise {man} glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty {man} glory in his might, let not the rich {man} glory in his riches:

{There is} no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

Who {is} he {that} saith, and it cometh to pass, {when} the Lord commandeth {it} not?

To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for {there is} a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: {himself: Heb. his soul, or, life}

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth {it}, that {men} should fear before him.

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle {is} not yours, but God's.

The wise man's eyes {are} in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for {it is} he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as {it is} this day.

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This {is} also vanity and vexation of spirit. {every...: Heb. all the rightness of work} {for this...: Heb. this is the envy of a man from his neighbour}

Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let {not} arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD {is} a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. {arrogancy: Heb. hard}

Consider the work of God: for who can make {that} straight, which he hath made crooked?

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite {is} better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom. {appointed: Heb. commanded}

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth {his} face, who then can behold him? whether {it be done} against a nation, or against a man only:

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what {can} the man {do} that cometh after the king? {even} that which hath been already done. {even...: or, in those things which have been already done}

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of {such as were} oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors {there was} power; but they had no comforter. {side: Heb. hand}

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them {as} a garment.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but {there was} no sword in the hand of David.

And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled {his} ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father. {followed: Heb. done} {put his...: Heb. gave charge concerning his house}

And all the inhabitants of the earth {are} reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and {among} the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel {was as} light of foot as a wild roe. {of foot: Heb. of his feet} {as a wild...: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field}

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise {man} glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty {man} glory in his might, let not the rich {man} glory in his riches:

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

[A Song of degrees for Solomon.] Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh {but} in vain. {for...: or, of Solomon} {that...: Heb. that are builders of it in it}

The horse {is} prepared against the day of battle: but safety {is} of the LORD. {safety: or, victory}

He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

The wise man's eyes {are} in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell {him}, Let not him that girdeth on {his harness} boast himself as he that putteth it off.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.

And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, {even} with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: {himself: Heb. his soul, or, life}

And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, {then} he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that {it is} not his hand {that} smote us: it {was} a chance {that} happened to us. {he: or, it}

With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?

An horse {is} a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver {any} by his great strength.

And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out {the inhabitants of} the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. {drave...: or, possessed the mountain}

And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel {was as} light of foot as a wild roe. {of foot: Heb. of his feet} {as a wild...: Heb. as one of the roes that is in the field}

These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.

And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. {were all...: or, were nourished}

And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this {is} the woman, and this {is} her son, whom Elisha restored to life.

These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

But if thou wilt go, do {it}, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any {that are} wise of heart.

And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before {was} Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

How say ye, We {are} mighty and strong men for the war?

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it {seemed} great unto me:

Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him. {displease...: Heb. be evil in thine eyes} {one...: Heb. so and such}

And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: