Study Desk

There is that hath appeared a fool after he was lifted up on high: for if he had understood, he would have laid his hand upon his mouth.

And he that strongly squeezeth the paps to bring out milk, straineth out butter: and he that violently bloweth his nose, bringeth out blood: and he that provoketh wrath, bringeth forth strife.

The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.

What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun?

The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again,

Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits.

I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?)

The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.

For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he hath been tormented under the sun?

All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity?

Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.

God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind.

What hath man more of his labour?

For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God.

And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him?

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh, saying:

There is but one, and he hath not a second, no child, no brother, and yet he ceaseth not to labour, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches, neither doth he reflect, saying: For whom do I labour, and defraud my soul of good things? in this also is vanity, and a grievous vexation.

I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.

(5-10) Where there are great riches, there are also many to eat them. And what doth it profit the owner, but that he seeth the riches with his eyes?

(5-14) As he came forth naked from his mother’s womb, so shall he return, and shall take nothing away with him of his labour.