Study Desk

I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with.

He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I know that whatever God does endures for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has made it so, in order that men should fear before him.

That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work.

I said in my heart with regard to the sons of men that God is testing them to show them that they are but beasts.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil.

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.

Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

For when dreams increase, empty words grow many: but do you fear God.

Behold, what I have seen to be good and to be fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life which God has given him, for this is his lot.

Every man also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and find enjoyment in his toil--this is the gift of God.

For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them; this is vanity; it is a sore affliction.

Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.

And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters; he who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.