Study Desk

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living?

For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.

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 fools; this also is vanity.

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"

For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath.

But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.