Ecclesiastes, Chapter 9

When I aspir'd to know, how God th'affaires
Of Men dispos'd: observ'd the restlesse Cares,
The travels, and disturbed thoughts, which keepe
The toyling Braine from the reliefe of sleepe:
I then perceived that humane industry
Could not the wayes, nor workes of God descry.
Though Men endeavour, though the wise suppose
They apprehend; yet none his wisedome knowes.
But this have found; that both the just and wise,
Their industry, even all their faculties
Are in his Rule, and by his Motion move:
Nor can determine of his Hate or Love.
All under Heaven succeeds alike to all;
To good and bad, the same events befall;
To pure, impure; to those who Sacrifice,
To those who Pietie, and God despise;
To th'innocent, the guiltie; such who feare
Flagitious Oathes, and those who fearelesse sweare.
What greater mischiefe rules beneath the Sunne,
Than this; that all unto one period runne?
Men, while they live are mad; profanely spend
Their flight of time; then to the dead descend.
Yet those have hope, who with the living dwell:
For living Dogs dead Lyons farre excell.
The living know that they at length must dye:
They nothing know who in Earths entrailes lye.
What better times can they expect, who rot
In silent graves, and are by All forgot?
Abolish'd is their Envy, Love, and Hate:
Bereft of all, which they possest of late.
Then take my Counsell; eate thy Bread with joy:
Let wine the Sorrowes of thy heart destroy.
Why should unfruitfull Cares our Soules molest?
Please thou thy God, and in his favour rest.
Be thy Apparell ever fresh, and faire;
Powre breathing Odors, on thy shining haire:
Enjoy the pleasures of thy gentle Wife,
Through all the Course of thy short-dated Life.
For this is all thy Industry hath wonne:
Even all thou canst expect beneath the Sunne.
Since Time hath wings, what thou intend'st to doe,
Doe quickly; and with all thy Power pursue:
No wisedome, knowledge, wit, or worke, will goe
Along with thee unto the Shades below.
I see the swift of foot winnes not the Race;
Nor wreathes of Victory the Valiant grace;
The wise, to feed his hunger wanteth Bread;
Riches are not by knowledge purchased;
Nor Popular suffrages Desert advance:
All rul'd by Opportunity and Chance.
Man knowes not his owne fate. As Birds are tane
With Tramels; Fishes by th'intangling Saine:
Even so the Sonnes of Men are un-awares
Prevented by Destructions secret Snares.
This also have I seene beneath the Sun,
So full of wonder; and by wisedome done:
A little Citie man'd but by a few;
To which a Mightie King his Army drew,
Erected Bulwarkes, and intrench't it round:
A poore wise man within the walles was found,
Whose wisedome rais'd the siege: But they ingrate
Neglected him who had preserv'd their State.
Then wisedome before Strength should be preferr'd:
Yet is, if poore, despis'd; her words unheard.
Men more should listen to her sober Rules,
Then to his Cryes, who governes among fooles.
Wisedome th'habilaments of warre exceeds:
But Folly is destroy'd by her owne Deeds.
Lo as dead flyes with their ill savour spoyle
Th'Apothecaries Aromaticke oyle:
Even so a little folly damnifies
The Dignitie and Honour of the wise.
A wise mans Heart to his right hand enclines:
A foole t'his left; and such are his designes.
His owne disordred Paths his life defame:
His gesture and his lookes a foole proclaime.