Study Desk

If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.

If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Whoever pampers his servant from childhood will in the end find him his heir.

The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,

What gain has the worker from his toil?

also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh.

one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!