Study Desk

So I say a man should enjoy himself. For there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and drink and be happy. For this will be with him in his work through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.

It is the same for all. The same thing will happen to both the man who is good and the man who is sinful. The same thing will happen to the clean and the unclean, and to the man who gives a gift on the altar and to the man who does not. As the good man is, so is the sinner. As the man who swears is, so is the one who is afraid to swear.

Man does not know his time. Like fish caught in a bad net, and birds caught in a trap, so men are trapped at a bad time when trouble comes upon them when they do not expect it.

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is hated and his words are not carried out.

Dead flies make a perfume maker's oil smell bad. So does acting a little foolish weigh more than wisdom and honor.

The work of a fool makes him so tired that he does not even know the way to a city.

Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how the bones are made of a child yet to be born, so you do not know the work of God Who makes all things.

So put away trouble from your heart, and put away pain from your body. Because the years when you were a child and the best years of your life are going by fast.

The Song of Songs, the most beautiful of them all, which is Solomon's. "May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. Your oils have a pleasing smell. Your name is like oil poured out. So the young women love you. Take me away with you, and let us run together. The king has brought me into his room. "We will have joy and be glad because of you. We will praise your love more than wine. They are right to love you. "I am dark but beautiful, O people of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. Do not look hard at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned me. My mother's sons were angry with me, and made me take care of the grape-fields. But I have not taken care of my own grape-field. Tell me, O you whom my soul loves. In what field do you feed your flock? Where do your sheep lie down at noon? Why should I need to look for you beside the flocks of your friends?" "If you do not know, most beautiful among women, follow the path of the flock. And let your young goats eat in the field beside the tents of the shepherds. "To me, my love, you are like my horse among the war-wagons of Pharaoh. Your face is beautiful with the objects you wear, and your neck with the beautiful chain around it. We will make objects of gold and silver for you." "While the king was at his table, my perfume gave out its smell. My loved one is like a jar of perfume to me, who lies all night between my breasts. My loved one is to me like many henna flowers, in the grape-fields of Engedi." "How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves." "How beautiful you are, my love, and so pleasing! Our bed is green. The pillars of our house are cedars. The pieces on our roof are pine.

Your oils have a pleasing smell. Your name is like oil poured out. So the young women love you.

"How beautiful you are, my love, and so pleasing! Our bed is green.

"Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the young women."

"Like a fruit tree among many trees, so is my loved one among the young men. With much joy I sat down in his shadow. And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

"Wake up, O north wind! Come, south wind! Blow upon my garden so the sweet smells will spread far. May my loved one come into his garden and eat its best fruits."

So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you. Even if you pray many times, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood.

So the Lord God of All, the Powerful One of Israel, says, "I will put an end to those who fight against Me. I will punish those who hate Me.

So pride has been taken away from the poor man, and important men have been put to shame. Do not forgive them.

So the Lord will make sores come upon the heads of the daughters of Zion, and take the hair from their head.

For the grape-field of the Lord of All is the people of Israel, and the men of Judah are the vines He planted. So He looked for what is right and fair, but He saw blood poured out. He looked for what is right and good, but He heard a cry of those in trouble.

So My people are taken away to strange lands because they have not been wise. Their men of honor are dying because they are hungry. Their people are dried up because they are thirsty.