Study Desk

The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

What profit hath a man of all his labor, which he taketh under the sun?

The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

The wise man's eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.

For there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not labored in it, shall he leave it [for] his portion. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.

For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, in which he hath labored under the sun?

For all his days [are] sorrows, and his labor grief; yes, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

[There is] nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it [was] from the hand of God.

For [God] giveth to a man who [is] good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth toil, to gather, and to amass, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it [is] the gift of God.

Wherefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Again, I considered all labor, and every right work, that for this a man is envied by his neighbor. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yes, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labor, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yes, it [is] a grievous labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him to rise.

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also [he that is] born in his kingdom becometh poor.

I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

But those riches perish by evil labor: and he begetteth a son, and [there is] nothing in his hand.