At first, all the people served him when he became king. But those who came later weren’t pleased with the way he was ruling. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

他所治理的众人就是他的百姓，多得无数；在他后来的人尚且不喜悦他。这真是虚空，也是捕风。

他的百姓，就是他所治理的众人，多得无数；但后来的人还是不喜欢他。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

他的百姓，就是他所治理的众人，多得无数；但后来的人还是不喜欢他。这也是虚空，也是捕风。

拥护他的人不计其数，以后的世代却对他不满。这也是虚空，如同捕风。

所有的人民，就是他所统治的人民，多得无数；然而后来的人却不喜欢他。这实在也是虚空，也是捕风。

尽管所有的民众，就是那些站在他前面的人无穷无尽，但后来的人却不喜欢他。这也是虚空，也是捕风！

他所治理的眾人就是他的百姓，多得無數；在他後來的人尚且不喜悅他。這真是虛空，也是捕風。

他的百姓，就是他所治理的眾人，多得無數；但後來的人還是不喜歡他。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

他的百姓，就是他所治理的眾人，多得無數；但後來的人還是不喜歡他。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

擁護他的人不計其數，以後的世代卻對他不滿。這也是虛空，如同捕風。

所有的人民，就是他所統治的人民，多得無數；然而後來的人卻不喜歡他。這實在也是虛空，也是捕風。

所有的人民、他所治理的眾人、都數不了，但在他以後的人也不喜歡他。這也是虛空，也是捕風。

儘管所有的民眾，就是那些站在他前面的人無窮無盡，但後來的人卻不喜歡他。這也是虛空，也是捕風！

其所轄之民眾、不可勝數、而後人不之悅、斯亦虛空、乃為捕風、

及其為君、從者無數、而後人卒不頌其美、此亦捕風捉影之事也。

彼所率之民無數、而後人又不悅之、此亦屬於虛、亦如捕風、○

There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless— like chasing the wind.

There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is futility and striving after wind.

There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; Yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

There is no limit to all the people who were before them, yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

[ There is] no end of all the people,[ even] of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also[ is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was— yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I’ve seen what is done on this earth. All of it is meaningless. It’s like chasing the wind.

So I hated life. That’s because the work done on this earth made me sad. None of it has any meaning. It’s like chasing the wind.

But then I looked over everything my hands had done. I saw what I had worked so hard to get. And nothing had any meaning. It was like chasing the wind. Nothing was gained on this earth.

People from all the tribes of Israel began to argue among themselves. They were saying,“ The king saved us from the power of our enemies. He saved us from the power of the Philistines. But now he has left the country to escape from Absalom.

There David’s men won the battle over Israel’s army. A huge number of men were wounded or killed that day. The total number was 20,000.The fighting spread out over the whole countryside. But more men were killed in the forest that day than out in the open.

While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel. Ahithophel was David’s adviser. He came to Absalom from Giloh, his hometown. The number of people who followed Absalom kept growing. So he became more and more able to carry out his plans against David.A messenger came and spoke to David. He told him,“ The hearts of the Israelites are turned toward Absalom.”

Adonijah was the son of David and his wife Haggith. He came forward and announced,“ I’m going to be the next king.” So he got chariots and horses ready. He also got 50 men to run in front of him.His father had never tried to stop him from doing what he wanted to. His father had never asked him,“ Why are you acting the way you do?” Adonijah was also very handsome. Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah was David’s oldest son.Adonijah talked things over with Joab, the son of Zeruiah. He also talked with Abiathar the priest. They agreed to help him.

God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness to the person who pleases him. But to a sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth. Then the sinner must hand it over to the one who pleases God. That doesn’t have any meaning either. It’s like chasing the wind.

Have you citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo acted in an honest way toward Jerub- Baal? Have you done the right thing to his family today? If you have, may you be happy with Abimelek! And may he be happy with you!But if you haven’t, let fire come out from Abimelek and burn you up! And let fire come out from you and burn Abimelek up!”

The young men who had grown up with him gave their answer. They replied,“ These people have said to you,‘ Your father put a heavy load on our shoulders. Make it lighter.’ Now tell them,‘ My little finger is stronger than my father’s legs.My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I’ll make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips. But I’ll beat you with bigger whips.’ ”Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam. That’s because the king had said,“ Come back to me in three days.”The king answered the people in a mean way. He didn’t accept the advice the elders had given him.Instead, he followed the advice of the young men. He said,“ My father put a heavy load on your shoulders. But I’ll make it even heavier. My father beat you with whips. But I’ll beat you with bigger whips.”So the king didn’t listen to the people. That’s because the Lord had planned it that way. What he had said through Ahijah came true. Ahijah had spoken the Lord’ s message to Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Ahijah was from Shiloh.All the Israelites saw that the king refused to listen to them. So they answered the king. They said,“ We don’t have any share in David’s royal family. We don’t have any share in Jesse’s son. People of Israel, let’s go back to our homes. David’s royal family, take care of your own kingdom!” So the Israelites went home.

Then they went up toward the city. Solomon was leading the way. The people were playing flutes. They were filled with great joy. The ground shook because of all the noise.