Study Desk

May the LORD bless you from Zion [His holy mountain], And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;

Indeed, may you see your [family perpetuated in your] children's children. Peace be upon Israel!

They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see;

And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Look to the right [the point of attack] and see; For there is no one who has regard for me [to act in my favor]. Escape has failed me and I have nowhere to run; No one cares about my life.

Every prudent and self-disciplined man acts with knowledge, But a [closed-minded] fool [who refuses to learn] displays his foolishness [for all to see].

He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control], But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].

All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the LORD weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].

Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

Your [drunken] eyes will see strange things And your mind will utter perverse things [untrue things, twisted things].

If you [claim ignorance and] say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives? And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul? And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?

Or the LORD will see your gloating and be displeased, And turn His anger away from your enemy.

Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes, But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.

When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, But the righteous will see the downfall of the wicked.

Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]? There is more hope for a [thickheaded] fool than for him.

Is there anything of which it can be said, "See this, it is new"? It has already existed for [the vast] ages [of time recorded or unrecorded] Which were before us.

I explored with my mind how to gratify myself with wine while [at the same time] having my mind remain steady and guide me wisely; and how to take control of foolishness, until I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

I said to myself regarding the sons of men, "God is surely testing them in order for them to see that [by themselves, without God] they are [only] animals."