Study Desk

Like one who takes a dog by the ears, So is one who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

So is a person who deceives his neighbor, And says, "Was I not joking?"

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious person to kindle strife.

Like a bird that wanders from its nest, So is a person who wanders from his home.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may reply to one who taunts me.

As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.

As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.

Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many, But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

So that I will not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" And that I will not become impoverished and steal, And profane the name of my God.

For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose produces blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.

So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun.

So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except what has already been done?

Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also happen to me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is futility."

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

So I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is futility and striving after wind.

I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it. And God has so worked, that people will fear Him.

For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility.