Study Desk

For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged?

For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.

Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.

For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatever pleaseth him,

For to every purpose there is time and manner. For the misery of man is great upon him;

for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?

And I commended mirth, because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry; for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God hath given him under the sun.

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),

For all this I laid to my heart and [indeed] to investigate all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; man knoweth neither love nor hatred: all is before them.

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Their love also, and their hatred, and their envy is already perished; neither have they any more for ever a portion in all that is done under the sun.