Rhyming Ecclesiastes: Chapter 4

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

All the oppression, what I saw again,
when I looked out, occurring ‘neath the sun:
I saw the tears that the oppressed oft’ cried–
no comforter, they’ve; their oppressors’ side
was where all of the power did reside–
no comforter, they have. And I declared
the dead who’d died, already been interred,
are, than the living, surely happier,
who’re still alive. But better than them both
is he, the one, that ne’er was given birth
who hasn’t seen the evil that’s been done,
no witness to that underneath the sun.

And I saw that all toil, achievement spring
from one’s man’s, of another, envying.
This too is meaningless, a vain pursuit,
to chase the wind. The folding hands of fools,
the method how they bring themselves to ruin.
One handful with tranquility preferred
to handfuls, two, with toil, how they were earned,
and further chasing after it, the wind.

Again I witnessed something ‘neath the sun,
was meaningless: there was a man, alone,
he neither had a brother or a son.
To his long toil, there never was an end
yet with his wealth his eyes were ne’er content.
He asked, “For whom is all my toil expelled
and, of enjoyment, why deprive myself?”
This meaningless, too–business, mis’rable.

Two are to be preferred to only one,
for all their labor, they have good returns:
if either of them ever would fall down,
the other’d help them up, they’re not alone.
But pity him who ever, downward falls,
to help them up, they have no one at all.
As well, if two, together, would lie down,
they will keep warm, but how, if they’re alone?
Though one may, overpowered, be, two can
defend themselves, a cord wove of three strands
is strong and is not broken easily.

Advancement Is Meaningless

It’s better to, a poor but wise youth, be
than him, an old king, foolish, who can’t heed,
no longer knows how, to, a warning, yield.
From prison to the kingship, where
the youth is from, or maybe, he, born there,
in poverty, his kingdom, there within.
I saw that all who lived, walked ‘neath the sun,
the youth, they followed, the successor, king’s.
Of all the people who, them, did precede
there was no end. But those who, they’d succeed,
with the successor, they became displeased.
This meaningless, too, chasing after wind.

Rhyming Ecclesiastes: Chapter 3

There is a time for everything beneath
the heavens, and for each activity,
a season, all for these, appointed times:
a time for birthing, also one to die,
a time to plant and also to uproot,
a time to kill, then healing to pursue,
a time to tear down, one to build anew,
a time to weep, and too, a time to laugh,
a time to mourn, and also, time to dance,
a time to scatter stones, to gather them,
embracing’s time, and also abstinence,
a time to search, and also, to give up,
a time to keep and one to outwards, thrust,
a time to tear, time too, to mending seek,
a time for silence, and a time to speak,
a time to love, and too, a time to hate,
a time for war, then also, peace to make.

What, from their toil, do workers ever gain?
I’ve see the burden on the human race
that God has laid. How everything, he’s made,
in its time, beautiful. Eternity,
that, set inside the human heart, has he;
yet none can fathom things that God has done
from the beginning, to the end, its sum.

I know, for people, nothing better is
to happy, be, and do good while they live.
That each of them may eat and drink their fill,
find satisfaction in all of their toil–
this is the gift of God. It will endure,
I know that everything God does, fore’er;
can nothing to it, ever, added, be
and nothing from, can anyone delete.
God does this so that, fear of him, they’ll feel.

Whatever is, it has already been,
what’s been before, it will be once again.
To full account, how God, the past attends.
And I saw something else beneath the sun:
in judgment’s place–there, wickedness had won,
in place of justice–wickedness was done.
I, to myself said, “Both them, God will bring
to judgment, righteous, wicked, everything,
for each activity, there’ll be a time,
when ev’ry deed is judged, if any, right.”

I also said to myself, “As for them,
for humans, God will put them to the test
so they may see they’re like the animals.
For sure, the fate of them, identical:
just as one dies, so too, the other dies.
All have the same breath, how they both respire.
O’er animals, men, no advantages.
In this, I saw all things were meaningless.
All go to the same place; all come from dust,
as well, all of them, unto dust, descend.
Who knows if, upward, where it will ascend,
the human spirit, of the animal,
its spirit, earthwards, subterrestrial?

So I saw that there’s nothing better for
a person than to full enjoy their work
because that is their lot. So what’s in store?
Whoe’er can show them, how they’ll ever know?

John Dee Would Appear To Me

Performing my poetic sorcery,
if done correctly, he’d appear to me,
a white occultist, everything is free,
deny involvement, demonology.
Through time a portal opened up, John Dee
steps through it, though e’en with my eyes is seen,
I’d disbelieve. Ecclesiastes reads
there’s nothing new, the sun, that’s underneath.

Rhyming Ecclesiastes: Chapter 1

Everything Is Meaningless

The words of him, the Teacher, David’s son,
of him who’s king o’er all Jerusalem:

“All meaningless! All meaningless!”, he says,
the Teacher. “Meaningless, it’s utterly!
“It’s everything,” he says, “is meaningless.”
What gain do people, from their labors, see?
Their constant toil, the sun they’re underneath.
The generations old, and new, give birth,
but it remains forever, here, the earth.
The sun will rise, horizon, dips below,
and hurries back again to where it rose.
It’s to the south, the place from where it blows,
the wind, and then it turns back to the north;
around and ‘round, directions that it goes,
and e’er returning on its willful course.
All streams are flowing down into the sea,
the sea, its emptiness is ne’er relieved.
Back to the place the streams come from, again,
there they return. All things are wearisome,
more than a single person can express.
Of seeing, does the eye ne’er have enough,
nor does the ear, it’s hearing ne’er filled up.
What has been once will be the case once more,
what’s done before, again, will be performed;
there is no new thing ‘neath the sun’s bright rays.
Is there not anything that one could say,
“Look! This is something new”? No, it was here
already, long ago, was here before.
No one remembers generations past,
and even those who’ve yet to come to pass
won’t be remembered by those foll’wing them.

Wisdom Is Meaningless

Was king o’er Is’rael in Jerusalem,
the Teacher, I, and I applied my mind
to study and explore, by wisdom find
all that beneath the heavens might be done.
God’s laid a heavy burden on mankind!
I have seen all the things that ‘neath the sun
are done; they’re meaningless, yes, all of them,
a fruitless chasing after blowing wind.
What’s crooked can’t be straightened out again;
that lacking can’t, enumerated, be.

I said unto myself, “Look, I’ve increased
in wisdom more than anyone who’s ruled
Jerusalem before; experienced,
I have much, both of wisdom, knowledge, too.”
Then I applied myself to wisdom’s goal,
to understanding, madness, folly, know,
but I have learned that this, too, is a ruse,
a chasing after wind that’s useless to pursue.
For with much wisdom, sorrow will attend,
the greater knowledge, grieving will expand.

Rhyming Proverbs: Chapter 31

The sayings of King Lemuel, inspired–
his mother taught him utt’rances most wise.

My son, now listen! Son of my womb, hear!
My son, hear this, the answer to my prayers!
Do not, on women, spending all your strength,
your vigor on those who would ruin great kings.
It’s not for kings, my Lemuel–it’s not
for kings to drink wine, rulers in their heart
to crave beer, lest they drink and would forget
what has been prev’iously declared as law,
and the oppressed, their rights, deprived of all.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
and wine reserved for those who’re anguishing!
Let them drink that, forget their poverty
and no more they remember misery.
Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves,
of all who’re destitute, their rights, you’d tell.
Speak up and fairly judge, defend the rights,
of those, the poor and needy, who’ve no might.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

A wife of noble character, who, her,
can find? Her worth, than rubies, is far more.
Full confidence her husband has in her,
of value, lacking nothing, he’ll confirm.
She brings him good, and never causes harm,
all of the days of her life. Works the loom,
selecting wool and flax, her eager hands.
She’s like the merchant ships from distant lands,
those bringing food. She gets up while it’s night
and for her fam’ly, food, what she provides,
her female servants, portions she divides.
A field, what she considers, it, she buys;
a vineyard, plants, from profits she’s derived.
She sets about her work most vig’rously;
for all her tasks, her arms ne’er lacking strength.
She sees the profits that her trading earns,
her lamp will never, in the night, out, burn.
In her right hand she holds the distaff’s shaft,
the spindle in her fingers, how she grasps.
Her open arms, to them, the poor’s demands,
and to the needy, she extends her hands.
When it might snow, no fear that she would know,
for them, her household, all of them are clothed
in scarlet. Making cov’rings for her bed;
fine linen, purple, in them she is clothed.
Her husband at the city gate, respect
he does receive, where he will take his seat
among the elders of the land. She makes
clothes, linen garments, selling in exchange.
With sashes, all the merchants, she supplies.
She’s clothed with both: strength, and she’s dignified;
she’s someone laughing at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and what’s on her tongue:
instruction faithful. Over their affairs,
she watches over those her household does
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
Her children call her blessed, what they assert;
her husband also, and he praises her:

“There’s many women doing noble things,
but what you do, them all, surpassingly.”

Charm is deceptive, fleeting, beauty, too,
but, to be praised, the LORD, a woman, who
fears him. Her, honor, for the things she’s done,
those, with her hands, her works, let what they’ve brung
her, at the city gates: her praises sung.

Rhyming Proverbs: Chapter 30.17

“The eye that mocks a father, one that scorns
an agèd mother, from the socket torn.
It’s out, by ravens of the valley, pecked,
and by the vultures, carrion, it’s et.”

Rhyming Mark: Chapter 10.17-22

As he set off for journeying a spell
a man ran up to him, before him, knelt,
and asked, “Good Teacher, please, eternal life,
so I’d inherit it, how should I strive?”

“Why call me good?”, what Jesus then intoned,
“You know there’s no one good ‘cept God alone.
All the commandments, those, to you, are known:

“‘Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery;
your neighbors’ goods, possessions, do not steal.
Don’t bear false witness, you should not defraud.
Dishon’ring mother, father, both outlawed.’”

The man said, “Teacher, all these things I’ve kept
from my youth up.” Then Jesus, him, inspects,
felt love for him and to him, this expressed:

“One thing you lack: go sell all you possess
and give the proceeds to the needy, poor,
then treasure, great for you from heaven’s stores
and after doing that come follow me.”

But at these words the man was sad and grieved,
‘cause he was one who owned much property.

Rhyming Proverbs: Chapter 25.1-7

More Proverbs of Solomon

Of Solomon, more proverbs, what are these,
compiled by Hezekiah’s men, he’s king.

of Judah. All the matters God’s concealed,
his glory, for that; kings, too, glorify
to search a matter out. Just as they’re high,
the heavens, also, deepnesses of earth,
as well the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

From silver, where you will remove the dross,
a silversmith, a vessel, can produce;
from the king’s presence, they, you should remove,
officials, wicked, righteousness, that, through,
how his throne’s ‘stablished. Don’t exalt yourself
in the king’s presence, do not claim a place
among his great men; this to be preferred
for him to say to you, “Now come up here,”
than for him to, before his noble caste,
humiliate you, from his presence, cast.

Rhyming Proverbs: Chapter 24

Saying 20

The wicked, neither envy nor desire
their company, their hearts plot violence,
their lips talk of the trouble they’d devise.

Saying 21

A house, by wisdom, its establishment,
through understanding how it’s built, comprised.
Through knowledge, filled, its rooms, their complement,
with treasures, beautiful and rare, apprized.

Saying 22

The wise prevail through power, great, possesed,
and those with knowledge will, their strength, combine.
To wage war you’ll need guidance for success,
your vict’ry certain when more will advise.

Saying 23

It’s wisdom that’s too lofty, to attain,
for fools. In the assembly at the gate,
they must not open, let their mouths e’er gape.

Saying 24

Whoe’er plots evil, as a schemer, known.
The schemes of folly are, for certain, sin,
and people will detest a mocking man.

Saying 25

If you would falter in a troubling time,
how small your strength, its measurement defined!
Those ones you know who, to their death, are led
to slaughter, hold them back, their staggering tread.
If you say, “But we knew nothing ‘bout this,”
Does not the one who guards your life know it?
According to what we will do, repaid,
moreso when we, from righteous works, abstained?

Saying 26

My son, eat honey, for it’s good and sweet;
that from the comb’s sweet to your taste indeed,
Know also wisdom’s like’n’d to honey just for you.
If you find it, there’s future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off, eschewed.

Saying 27

Do not lurk like a thief nearby their house,
that of the righteous, or their dwelling place,
don’t plunder it, for though they may fall down
sev’n times, they always rise up once again,
but how the wicked, when calamity
will strike, then stumbling’s their capacity.

Saying 28

You shouldn’t gloat, your enemy’s confused,
their stumbling, no rejoicing in your heart,
or else the LORD will see and disapprove,
from them he’ll turn his wrath away, outward.

Saying 29

Don’t fret yourself because of evildo’rs,
no envy in your heart that makes it cramp,
their future hope, for certain, not assured,
snuffed out, what happens to the wicked’s lamp.

Saying 30

Both fear the LORD, and too, the king, my son,
officials who’re rebellious, don’t join,
for both send swift destruction, punishing,
and who knows what calamities they’ll bring?

Further Sayings of the Wise

These also are the sayings of the wise:
Your biased judging is to be despised:
Whoe’er says to men, guilty: “Innocent!”,
he’s cursed by peoples, nations, they resent.
But it goes well with those who will convict
the guilty, all their blessings will be rich.
An honest answer on the lips, a kiss.
Your work outdoors, in order, you should get
your fields prepared, and after, build your house.
Don’t testify ‘gainst neighbor without cause–
would you e’er use your lips misleadingly?
Don’t say, “I’ll do to them as they’ve to me;
for what they’ve done, I will, them, full repay.”
I went past it, the sluggard’s field one day,
the vineyard passed, owned by a senseless man;
thorns had grown up and covered all his land,
the ground was covered o’er with many weeds,
in ruins, the stone wall. Everything I’d seen,
my heart applied, to all that I’d observed:
A little slumber, sleep, a lesson learned
a little folding of the hands to rest–
and poverty, just like a thief descends,
and scarcity attacks like an armed man.

The Path of Enlightenment

You seek enlightenment, you walk that path,
you’ll fail if all your efforts measure half.
And even then, before you might succeed,
you might fall several times, your heart may bleed.
The number of the times that you might fall,
it may be only once then you’ll see all,
it maybe be sev’ral, out, for help, you’ll call.
Don’t be discouraged if it seems you’ve stalled.
The path is hard and long, not always nice,
expect to fall, how high to count is thrice!
And when you fall, just keep in mind this truth:
there’s only one thing that you e’er must do,
arise again from that, your fallen place,
you must get up again and steel your face,
but then inside, the place where you should look,
if you don’t see a guidepost, there’s a book
of signs and wonders written on your heart,
divinity, the universe’s art.
Just close your eyes and daily, take some time,
o’er years, you’ll see that you are your own guide,
your inward gaze in silence will reveal,
your vision meant for all the world to heal.
You seek enlightenment, you walk that path,
you’ll fail if all your efforts measure half.