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Jay Trott. The Great Reduction
The Great Reduction
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
THE GREAT REDUCTION
Vanity, vanity, all is vanity
What does a man gain by all the toil with which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down
The wind returns again according to his circuits
The rivers run into the sea, and yet the sea is never full
All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it
The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing
The thing that has been is that which shall be
Is there anything of which it might be said, See, this is new?
There is no remembrance of former things
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom. concerning all things that are done under heaven
A sore travail to fatigue themselves with
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit
That which is crooked cannot be made straight
That which is wanting cannot be numbered
Behold, I have come to greatness, and have more wisdom than all who went before me in Jerusalem
I gave myself to know wisdom and madness and folly, and I perceived that this too is vexation of spirit
For in much wisdom is much grief, and he that increases knowledge increases sorrow
I said in my heart, go to; now I will prove you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure
I made me great works
I got myself servants and maidens, and many servants were born in my house
I also possessed more cattle, great and small, than any in Jerusalem before me
So I was great and increased more than all. who had been in Jerusalem before me
Also my wisdom remained with me
And whatsoever my eyes desired I did not keep from them
Then I looked at all the things my hands had made, and all the labor I had labored to do, and look you now: it was vanity and vexation of spirit
And behold, Solomon was naked
Then I turned to behold wisdom and madness and folly; for what can a man do that comes after the king?
Then I saw that wisdom exceeds folly as light exceeds darkness
The wise man’s eyes are in his head, while the fool walks in darkness; but I also perceived that one event happens to them all
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever; since all that is now shall in the days to come be forgotten
I hated the labor I had done under the sun because I would have to leave it to the man who comes after me; and who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool?
I turned to cause my heart to despair regarding all the labor. I had undertaken under the sun
For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom and knowledge and equity; yet to a man that has not labored in these things he shall leave it. for his portion
For what does a man have for all his labor, all the vexation of his heart, in which he has labored under the sun? All his days are sorrows, his travail grief; his heart does not take rest at night. This is also vanity
There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor
For who can eat, or who else can hasten here, more than I?
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy
But to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven
What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
I have seen the travail that God has given to the sons of men. to be exercised in it
He has made everything beautiful in its time
He has set eternity in their heart
No man can find out the work that God made. from the beginning to the end
I know that there is no good in them but for a man to rejoice. and to do good in his life
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor; it is the gift of God
I know that, whatever God does, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God does it in order that men should fear before him
That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires that which is past
And moreover I saw under the sun that there was wickedness in the place of judgment and iniquity in the place of righteousness
I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work
I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of Adam, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts
For that which befalls men also befalls beasts; as one dies, so dies the other
Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: see the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter
Therefore I praised the dead which are already dead. more than the living which are yet alive
Yes, better off than both of them is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work—and for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit
The fool folds his hands together, and eats his own flesh
Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full. with travail and vexation of spirit
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun
There is one alone, and there is not a second; indeed, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; and neither does he say, For whom do I labor and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yes, it is a sore travail
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he does not have another to help him up
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken
Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished
For out of prison he comes to reign, while he that is born in his kingdom [born a king] becomes poor
I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: and they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit
Keep your foot when you go into the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they do not consider that they do evil
Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and you are on earth: therefore let your words be few
For as a dream comes through the multitude of business, so a fool’s voice is known by a multitude of words
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay
Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; and do not say before the angel that it was an error: so why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also many vanities: but you, fear God
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest is watching; and there are higher than they
He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he has a son, and there is nothing in his hand
As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go. as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor that he may carry away. in his hand
Look what I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor that he undertakes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion
Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him the power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease
If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul is not filled with good, and also that he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. For he comes in with nothingness and departs in darkness, and his name will be covered with darkness. Moreover he has not seen the sun, or known anything: this has more rest than the other
Yes, even if he lives a thousand years twice over, yet has seen no good: for do not all go to one place?
All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. For what has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor, that knows to walk before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit
That which has been is named already, and it is known that it is man: nor can he contend with him that is mightier than he. Since there are many things that increase his vanity, what is man the better?
For who knows what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spends as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
A good name is better than precious ointment
And the day of death [is better] than the day of one’s birth
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this too is vanity
Surely oppression makes a wise man mad
And a gift destroys the heart
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of it: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit
Be not hasty in your spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools
Do not say, What is the reason that former days were better than these? For you do not enquire wisely concerning this
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after it
All things I have seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his wickedness. Be not over-righteous; and do not make yourself over-wise: why should you destroy yourself? Be not over-wicked, neither be a fool: why should you die before your time?
It is good that you should take hold of this and also from this not withdraw your hand: for he that fears God shall come forth of them all
Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men in the city
For there is not a just man upon earth who does good and does not sin
Also take no heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you. For oftentimes your own heart knows that you likewise have cursed others
All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?
I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness
And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: he who pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her
Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account—which my soul still seeks and does not find—one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found
This only have I found, that God has made man upright; but they have sought out many new things
Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face to shine, and the boldness of his face. shall be changed
I counsel you to keep the king’s commandment, and in light of the oath of God. Do not be hasty to go out of his sight: do not stand in an evil thing; for he does whatever pleases him. Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say to him, What are you doing? Whoever keeps the commandment will feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment. Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. For he knows not what will be: for who can tell him when it will be?
There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war. Neither will wickedness deliver those who are given to it
All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work done. under the sun: there is a time in which one man rules over another. to his own hurt
And so I saw the wicked buried who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had done so: this is also vanity
Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet surely I know that it will be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: but it will not be well with the wicked, and neither will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he does not fear God
There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, that there be wicked men, to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity
Then I commended mirth, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat and to drink and be merry: for mirth abides with him due to labor the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun
When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see. the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is he that neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes)
Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; furthermore, though a wise man think to know it, yet he will not be able to find it
For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices, and to him that does not sacrifice: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that swears as he that fears an oath. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: and yes, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that they shall die: but the dead do not know anything, neither have they any more reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun
Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now accepts your works
Let your garments always be white; and let your head lack no ointment
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity: for that is your portion in this life . .
. . . and in your labor, which you do under the sun. Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might; for there is no work, or scheme, or knowledge, or wisdom in the grave, where you are going
I returned, and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet is bread to the wise, or riches to men of understanding, or favor to men of skill; but time and chance happens to them all
For man also does not know his time: as the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them
This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, who besieged it and built great bulwarks against it. Now a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry. of him that rules among fools
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroys much good
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth. a stinking savor: so does a little folly him that is in reputation. for wisdom and honor
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left
Yes and also, when he who is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifies great offences
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceeds from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. Whoever removes stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby. If the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, then he must use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? The labor of the foolish wears every one of them, because he knows not how to go to the city
Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning! Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! By much slothfulness the building decays; and through idleness of the hands the house drops through. A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry: but money answers all things. Curse not the king, no not in your thought; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter
Cast your bread upon the waters: for you shall find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you do not know what evil shall be upon the earth. If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be. He that observes the wind shall not sow; and he that regards the clouds shall not reap. As you know not what the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so you do not know the works of God who makes all. In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good
Truly the light is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years and rejoice in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes: but know this, that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days do not come, nor the years draw nigh when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, are not yet darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets
Or ever the silver cord be loosened, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, my son, by these be admonished that of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil
Final Thoughts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
