Study Desk

So go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God has already accepted your deeds.

Enjoy life with the wife you have loved throughout your meaningless life that he has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for that is your allotted portion in life and in your labor that you work at under the sun.

For people don't know when their time will come any more than fish taken in the fatal net or birds caught in a snare; similarly, people are snared at an unfortunate time, when suddenly it falls on them.

Parties are made for having a good time, wine adds cheer to life, and money has an answer for everything.

Don't insult the king, not even in your thoughts; and don't insult the wealthy, not even in your bedroom; for a bird in the air might carry the news, a creature with wings might repeat what you said.

In the morning, sow your seed; and don't slack off until evening; for you don't know which sowing will succeed, this, or that, or if both will do well.

For if a person lives many years, let him take joy in them all; yet remembering that there will be many days of darkness, that all to come is futile.

Young person, if you spend your youth only having fun, if you use your early years just to entertain yourself, if you follow your heart as you live your life, and let your eyes be your guide; understand that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

Therefore, remove anger from your heart; and keep from harming your body; for neither adolescence nor youth has any lasting value.

when they will be afraid to go up a hill, and terrors will stalk the way, even though the almond tree is in bloom; when the locust can only drag itself along, and the caper berry has no [aphrodisiac] effect — because the person is headed for his eternal home, and the mourners are already gathering in the marketplace —

For God will bring to judgment everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad. [Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard everything: fear God, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.]

[She] Let him smother me with kisses from his mouth, for your love is better than wine.

"Take me with you. We will run after you." The king has brought me into his rooms. [Chorus] We will be glad and rejoice for you. We will praise your love more than wine. How right it is for them to love you!

Don't stare at me because I'm dark; it's the sun that tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me look after the vineyards. But I haven't cared for my own vineyard.

Tell me, my love, where you pasture your flock, where you have them rest at noon; for why should I veil myself [like a whore] beside the flocks of your friends?

Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.

For you see that the winter has passed, the rain is finished and gone,

the flowers are appearing in the countryside, the time has come for [the birds] to sing, and the cooing of doves can be heard in the land.

[He] My dove, hiding in holes in the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, let me see your face and hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

[She] "Catch the foxes for us, yes, the little foxes! They are ruining the vineyards when our vineyards are in bloom!"