Title page of An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed, London, 1573

A06504:133

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

Name: An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed
Author: Martin Luther

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowed.An exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed.

Martin Luther 1483–1546London: printed by John Daye, 1573London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1573

181 [i.e. 187] leaves · 71k words · STC 16979 · ESTC S105591

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Chapter 2 › And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness as far as light do…: And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness as far as light doth darkness.Chapter 2 › And I saw that wisedome excelleth foolishnesse as farre as light do…: And I saw that wisedome excelleth foolishnesse as farre as light doth darkenes.

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

[ Earlier:132–145 of 797

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And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness as far as light doth darkness.

And I saw that wisedome excelleth foolishnesse as farre as light doth darkenes.

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Wisdom is very good, but because it lacketh power and strength, it can not bring things about, nor rule the success of them.

WIsdome is very good, but because it lacketh power and strength, it can not bring thinges about, nor rule the successe of them.

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A wise man hath his eyes in his head, but the fool. &c.

A wyse man hath his eyes in hys head, but the foole. &c.

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¹I See verily that the like happeneth to them both. Our wisdom deceiveth us, our foolishness deceiveth us: yet wisdom passeth foolishness. To have the eyes in the head, is an Hebrew phrase, which we commonly do use to express thus. He that will play at chess must not hide his eyes in his purse. Whereby we signify that he must not only be skilful in that play, but also have a diligent eye and care to his play: So he saith here:

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

An exposition of Solomons book called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seen and allowedAn exposition of Salomons booke called Ecclesiastes or the preacher. Seene and allowed

And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness as far as light doth darkness.

And I saw that wisedome excelleth foolishnesse as farre as light doth darkenes.

A wise man hath his eyes in his head, but the fool. &c.

A wyse man hath his eyes in hys head, but the foole. &c.

A wise man hath his eyes in his head.

For what man is able to imitate the king that made him before. &c.

For what man is able to imitate the kyng that made him before. &c.

And made us before (to say) that we were.

And made vs before (to say) that we were.

And I saw that the success of both these men were alike.

And I saw that the successe of both these men were alike.

Then said I in my mind, if it happen unto the fool as it doth unto me, what need I labour then any more for wisdom? So I said in mine hart, that this also was but vanity.

Then sayd I in my mynde, if it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what neede I labour then any more for wisdome? So I sayde in myne hart, that this also was but vanitie.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness as far as light doth darkness.

And I saw that wisedome excelleth foolishnesse as farre as light doth darkenes.

A wise man hath his eyes in his head, but the fool. &c.

A wyse man hath his eyes in hys head, but the foole. &c.

A wise man hath his eyes in his head.

For what man is able to imitate the king that made him before. &c.

For what man is able to imitate the kyng that made him before. &c.

And made us before (to say) that we were.

And made vs before (to say) that we were.

And I saw that the success of both these men were alike.

And I saw that the successe of both these men were alike.

Then said I in my mind, if it happen unto the fool as it doth unto me, what need I labour then any more for wisdom? So I said in mine hart, that this also was but vanity.

Then sayd I in my mynde, if it happen vnto the foole as it doth vnto me, what neede I labour then any more for wisdome? So I sayde in myne hart, that this also was but vanitie.