Study Desk

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.

Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the justice of all the dispossessed.

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

When it snows, she is not afraid for her household; for they are all clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.

My mind, all the while guiding me with wisdom, sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly, until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men-many concubines.

Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king's successor do than what has already been accomplished?

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.