I directedmy mindto know,to investigateand to seekwisdomand an explanation,and to knowthe evilof follyand the foolishnessof madness.
Now the sonsof Jacobcamein from the fieldwhen they heard[it]; and the menwere grieved,and they were veryangrybecausehe had donea disgracefulthingin Israelby lyingwith Jacob'sdaughter,for sucha thingought not to be done.
But she answeredhim, "No,my brother,do not violateme, for sucha thingis not donein Israel;do not dothisdisgracefulthing!
Let a manmeeta bearrobbedof her cubs,Ratherthan a foolin his folly.
Like a dogthat returnsto its vomitIs a foolwho repeatshis folly.
the beginningof his talkingis follyand the endof it is wickedmadness.
So I turnedto considerwisdom,madnessand folly;for what[will] the man[do] whowill comeafterthe king[except] whathas alreadybeen done?
Then I saidto myself,"As is the fateof the fool,it will alsobefallme. Whythenhave I beenextremelywise?"So I saidto myself,"Thistoois vanity."
Therefore I completelydespairedof allthe fruitof my laborfor whichI had laboredunderthe sun.
"Behold,I have discoveredthis,"saysthe Preacher,"[adding] onethingto anotherto findan explanation,
"Riseup! Consecratethe peopleand say,'Consecrateyourselves for tomorrow,for thusthe LORD,the Godof Israel,has said,"There are thingsunderthe banin your midst,O Israel.You cannotstandbeforeyour enemiesuntilyou have removedthe thingsunderthe banfrom your midst."
