Study Desk

God, I ask you to do two things for me before I die.

Don't let me tell lies. And don't make me too rich or too poor—give me only enough food for each day.

Never say bad things about a slave to his master. If you do, he will curse you, and you will suffer for it.

There are three things that are hard for me to understand—really, four things that I don't understand:

I prayed for a son, and you are the son I gave birth to.

Lemuel, it is not wise for kings to drink wine. It is not wise for rulers to want beer.

Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Help people who are in trouble.

Stand up for what you know is right, and judge all people fairly. Protect the rights of the poor and those who need help.

She does good for her husband all her life. She never causes him trouble.

She wakes up early in the morning, cooks food for her family, and gives the servants their share.

She makes sheets and spreads for the beds, and she wears clothes of fine linen.

Give her the reward she deserves. Praise her in public for what she has done.

So I decided to fill my body with wine while I filled my mind with wisdom. I tried this foolishness because I wanted to find a way to be happy. I wanted to see what was good for people to do during their few days of life.

Then I began doing great things. I built houses, and I planted vineyards for myself.

I made pools of water for myself, and I used them to water my growing trees.

I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I took treasures from kings and their nations. I had men and women singing for me. I had everything any man could want.

Anything my eyes saw and wanted, I got for myself. My mind was pleased with everything I did. And this happiness was the reward for all my hard work.

Wise people use their minds like eyes to see where they are going. But for fools, it is as if they are walking in the dark. I also saw that fools and wise people both end the same way.

I began to hate all the hard work I had done, because I saw that the people who live after me would get the things that I worked for. I will not be able to take them with me.

Some other person will control everything I worked and studied for. And I don't know if that person will be wise or foolish. This is also senseless.