Pre-Game Proverb with John Rayner

Ecc 6:1   There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind:

Ecc 5:19   Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecc 5:18   Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.

Ecc 5:15   As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. Ecc 5:16   This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?

Ecc 5:12   Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.

Ecc 5:10   He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

Ecc 5:8   If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

Ecc 5:6   Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? Ecc 5:7   For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Ecc 5:4   When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. Ecc 5:5   It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.

Ecc 5:3   For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.

Ecc 5:1     Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Ecc 5:2     Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Ecc 4:13   Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. Ecc 4:14   For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. Ecc 4:15   I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. Ecc 4:16   There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led....

Ecc 4:9   Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. Ecc 4:10   For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecc 4:11   Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? Ecc 4:12   And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a...

Ecc 4:7   Again, I saw vanity under the sun: Ecc 4:8   one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Ecc 4:5   The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Ecc 4:6   Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Ecc 4:4   Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecc 4:1   Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. Ecc 4:2   And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. Ecc 4:3   But better than both is he who has not yet been a...

Ecc 3:21   Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? Ecc 3:22   I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

Ecc 3:18   I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts." Ecc 3:19   For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. Ecc 3:20   All go to the same place. All came from...

Ecc 3:17   I said to myself, "God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

Ecc 3:16   Furthermore, I have seen under the sun that in the place of justice there is wickedness and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Ecc 3:15   That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

Ecc 3:14   I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

Ecc 3:13   moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.

Ecc 3:12   I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime;