The Simpleton's Bible

By Malcolm Rich

The Simpleton's Bible is a revolutionary reworking of ancient scriptures designed to bring Biblical philosophy and ethics back into the forefront of modern discussion. Free of all notions of god, superstition, messianic thought, and ancient history, the Simpleton's Bible brings morality back into the forefront of everyday life. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Malcolm Rich
• Release date: Aug 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386428688

Book preview

The Book of Truth

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The First Sermon

Meaningless, meaningless, says the Holy One. Everything is meaningless.

One generation passes away, and another generation takes its place.

The sun goes up, and the sun goes back down.

The wind goes toward the south, and the wind goes toward the north.

All rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full.

All things are full of struggle; there is no end to desire.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing; the ear is not satisfied with hearing.

That which has been will be again; that which has already been done will be done again.

There is no remembrance of those things which have happened in the past, nor will there be any remembrance of those things which will happen in times to come.

Do not doubt my words, my children, for I have seen all the work that is done under the sun. I have seen all the ways of this world. I have seen the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous, the way of the foolish and the way of the wise; and I tell you, it is all meaningless. It is like chasing after the wind, like trying to grasp the wind, like trying to hold on to the whirlwind.

Indeed, I, the Holy One, have grown greater in wisdom than any who have ever come before me in this world. I have applied myself to understanding wisdom, and knowledge of deep things. I have studied suffering and madness, foolishness and folly, and all the ways of the righteous and the wicked that dwell upon the face of the Earth. I made my works great. I built myself houses and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards. I planted all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools of water from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I had greater possessions than all who have ever come before me in this world. I gathered for myself silver and gold. I acquired luxuries from distant lands, fine foods and delicacies of all kinds. I became great and did more than all who have ever come before me. Yes, and my heart rejoiced in all my labor. This was my reward from the toil of my hands.

But, when I looked on all the works that my hands had done, and on all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun, I saw that it was all meaningless.

Then I sought to understand wisdom and to overcome folly, for I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

Yes, the wise person’s eyes are clear, but the fool walks in darkness; yet in the end all people share the same fate. Death comes for all.

So I said in my heart, Just as death comes for the fool, so it will also come for me. How then am I any better than the fool?

Truly, there is no more remembrance of the wise person than the fool at the end of time. All that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. Why then would I worry about what I will eat, where I will go, or what I will wear? Is it not all meaningless?

Therefore I hated life, because all the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, for I knew that I must leave it to those who will come after me.

And who knows whether the one who inherits their estate will be wise or a fool? But when you are gone they will rule over all the labor in which you have toiled under the sun, for good, or for evil.

Yes, even if your labor is done with wisdom and knowledge, with skill and diligence, all must leave their heritage to someone who has not labored for it.

I ask you then, what has the laborer to show for all of their toil, and for all of their laboring which they must endure under the sun? What have they to show for their suffering? What have they to show for the despair with which they are afflicted all the days of their lives?

Truly, I say that nothing is better for a person than that they should eat and drink, and that their soul should enjoy all the fruits of their labor. This, I tell you, is good. It is the greatest gift.

The Second Sermon

For everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

There is a time to be born, and a time to die.

There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.

There is a time to break down, and a time to build up.

There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh.

There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

There is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

There is a time to gain, and a time to lose.

There is a time to keep, and a time to throw away.

There is a time to tear, and a time to sew.

There is a time to remain silent, and a time to speak.

But what profit has the worker from all their labor in which they toil under the sun? When will they receive their reward?

Beware, my children, for there is much iniquity in this world. Look! There is wickedness sitting in the place of judgment! There is sin sitting in the place of righteousness! Why are the wicked rewarded? Why are the righteous cast out? Truly, the people of these times are no better than animals. Is it not true that whatever happens to people also happens to animals? Neither can escape the snare of death. All have one breath. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all return to dust. Who knows if the spirit of the human being goes upward towards the heavens when it leaves the body, or if the spirit of the animal goes down to the earth after death? Who can see across to the other side?

Yes, I have considered all the oppression that is done under the sun. And look! The tears of the oppressed flow like streams of running water. Why do the oppressed have no comforter? It is because on the side of their oppressors there is power. The oppressed have no advocate in this world.

Therefore, I praise the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive. But I say that the one who never existed is better than both. The one who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun is greater than either the living or the dead.

Now behold the lonesome one, the one without companion. Behold the one who has neither child nor spouse. They are alone in this world, yet there is no end to all their labor. Their heart is not satisfied with riches. They never ask themselves, For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good? What’s more, for all their toil, and for every skillful work they do, they are envied by their neighbor.

Yes, I say to you that two are better than one, for if one falls, the other will lift up their companion; but woe to the one who is alone when they fall. They have no one to help them up. If two lie down together they will keep warm, but how can one stay warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand them.

The Third Sermon

Take heed, my children. Do not speak foolishly with your mouth. Let not your heart utter anything hastily. Let your words be but few. When you make a vow, do not delay to keep it. Always pay what you owe. Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. If you see the oppression of the poor by the violent, or perversion of justice in the land, do not be surprised; for government everywhere is full of corruption.

And do not forget that the profit of the land is for all. Even the ruler has no right to take more than is their due. Those who love silver will not be satisfied with silver; those who love gold will not be satisfied with gold. When goods increase, so the people who eat them increase. Therefore, what profit has the one who labors for such a fate?

Truly, it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all their labor in which they toil all the days of their lives. The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether they have little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not permit them to sleep.

As for those righteous ones to whom fate has granted riches; peace be upon them. They are blessed. Such a one will not dwell unnecessarily on all the