Study Desk

Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name?—if you know!

Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.

Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.

a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him.

The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?

and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.

I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.

The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.

When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.