Study Desk

I know that there is no good in them, except for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

I know that whatsoever things God has done, they shall be for ever: it is impossible to add to it, and it is impossible to take away from it: and God has done it, that men may fear before him.

And I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the ungodly: for there is a time there for every action and for every work.

Also to them is the event of the sons of man, and the event of the brute; one event befalls them: as is the death of the one, so also the death of the other; and there is one breath to all: and what has the man more than the brute? nothing; for all is vanity.

And I saw that there was no good, but that wherein a man shall rejoice in his works, for it is his portion, for who shall bring him to see any thing of that which shall be after him?

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother: yet there is no end to all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with wealth; and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble.

Two are better than one, seeing they have a good reward for their labour.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls, and there is not a second to lift him up.

For he shall come forth out of the house of the prisoners to reign, because he also that was in his kingdom has become poor.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them: and the last shall not rejoice in him: for this also is vanity and waywardness of spirit.

Be not hasty with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be swift to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven above, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

For through the multitude of trial a dream comes; and a fool’s voice is with a multitude of words.

Whenever thou shalt vow a vow to God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay thou therefore whatsoever thou shalt have vowed.

For there is evil in a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words: but fear thou God.

If thou shouldest see the oppression of the poor, and the wresting of judgment and of justice in the land, wonder not at the matter: for there is a high one to watch over him that is high, and high ones over them.

Also the abundance of the earth is for every one: the king is dependent on the tilled field.

There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, namely, wealth kept for its owner to his hurt.

As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, he shall return back as he came, and he shall receive nothing for his labour, that it should go with him in his hand.

And this is also an evil infirmity: for as he came, so also shall he return: and what is his gain, for which he vainly labours?

Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing for a man to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labour in which he may labour under the sun, all the number of the days of his life which God has given to him: for it is his portion.