Study Desk

So shall come in, as a highwayman, thy poverty, and, thy want, as one armed with a shield.

As splendour of dress on a cold day - vinegar upon nitre, so is a singer with songs, unto a sad heart.

As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is a good report from a far country.

As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so, unbecoming to a dullard is honour.

As a sparrow in wandering, as a swallow in flying, so, a causeless curse, shall not alight.

Like tying a stone to a sling, so, is he that giveth honour, to a dullard.

As an archer who woundeth every thing, so one who hireth a dullard, and a drunkard crossing the sea.

So, is a man who deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Was not, I, in sport?

Black coal to burning blocks, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man, for kindling strife.

Dross silver overlaid upon earthenware, so are burning lips, with a mischievous heart:

As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.

As in water, face answereth to face, so, the heart of man to man.

So, is the way of a woman committing adultery, - she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no iniquity!

So I became great, and increased, more than any one who had been before me in Jerusalem, - moreover, my wisdom, remained with me;

and, nothing that mine eyes asked, withheld I from them, - I did not keep back my heart from any gladness, for, my heart, obtained gladness out of all my toil, and so, this, was my portion, out of all my toil.

For who could eat and who could enjoy, so well as I?

For, as regardeth the destiny of the sons of men and the destiny of beasts, one fate, have they, as dieth the one, so, dieth the other, and, one spirit, have they all, - and, the pre-eminence of man over beast, is nothing, for, all, were vanity:

So I saw, that there was nothing better than that a man should be glad in his works, for, that, is his portion, - for who can bring him in, to look upon that which shall be after him?

So, I, pronounced happy the dead, who were, already, dead, - more than the living, who were living, still;

Even this, moreover, is an incurable evil, altogether as he came, so, shall he depart, - what profit then shall he have who toileth for the wind?