Study Desk

For she employs all her living for her husband’s good.

She strongly girds her loins, and strengthens her arms for work.

Her husband is not anxious about those at home when he tarries anywhere abroad: for all her household are clothed.

She makes for her husband clothes of double texture, and garments for herself of fine linen and scarlet.

And her kindness to them sets up her children for them, and they grow rich, and her husband praises her.

Charms are false, and woman’s beauty is vain: for it is a wise woman that is blessed, and let her praise the fear the Lord.

A generation goes, and a generation comes: but the earth stands for ever.

And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men an evil trouble to be troubled therewith.

For in the abundance of wisdom is abundance of knowledge; and he that increases knowledge will increase sorrow.

Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.

And whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion of all my labour.

Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?

For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool for ever; forasmuch as now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with the fool?

So I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil before me: for all is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

For there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude; yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also vanity and great evil.

For it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein he labours under the sun.

For all his days are days of sorrows, and vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not. This is also vanity.

For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without him?

For God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.

To all things there is a time, and a season for every matter under heaven.