Study Desk

I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be glad in his works, for that is his portion. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

I have seen that every labor and every success of the work is the result of jealousy between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands in embrace and consumes his own flesh.

There was a certain man without a second man, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches—"And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of good?" This too is vanity, and it is a grievous endeavor.

For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not a second one to lift him up.

For he has come out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their master to his own evil demise.

And those riches were lost through a bad endeavor; and he became the father of a son, but there was nothing in his hand for him.

As he had come naked from his mother's womb, so will he return as he came. He will carry nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can bring in his hand.

Also, all his days he eats in darkness with much vexation, and his sickness and anger.

Here is what I have seen to be good, which is beautiful: to eat, to drink, and to see good in all one's labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to take up his portion and be glad in his labor; this is the gift of God.

For he will not remember much the days of his life because God allows him to occupy himself with the gladness of his heart.

a man to whom God gives riches and wealth and honor so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires; yet God does not empower him to eat from them, for a foreigner eats from them. This is vanity and a sickening evil.

If a man becomes the father of one hundred children and lives many years, however many the days of his years may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things, and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,

All a man's labor is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not fulfilled.

For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few days of his vain life? He will make do with them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

Better to go to a house of mourningThan to go to a house of feastingBecause that is the end of all mankind,And the living puts this in his heart.

I have seen everything during my days of vanity; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.

Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man's wisdom illumines his face and causes his stern face to beam.