Study Desk

And I have seen that there is nothing better than that man rejoice in his works, for it [is] his portion; for who doth bring him in to look on that which is after him?

And I have seen all the labour, and all the benefit of the work, because for it a man is the envy of his neighbour. Even this [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and [he saith not], `For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?' This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

For if they fall, the one raiseth up his companion, but wo to the one who falleth and there is not a second to raise him up!

For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor.

Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.

Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

For the dream hath come by abundance of business, and the voice of a fool by abundance of words.

When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.

For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones [are] over them.

And the abundance of a land is for all. A king for a field is served.

There is a painful evil I have seen under the sun: wealth kept for its possessor, for his evil.

And this also [is] a painful evil, just as he came, so he goeth, and what advantage [is] to him who laboureth for wind?

Lo, that which I have seen: [It is] good, because beautiful, to eat, and to drink, and to see good in all one's labour that he laboureth at under the sun, the number of the days of his life that God hath given to him, for it [is] his portion.

For he doth not much remember the days of his life, for God is answering through the joy of his heart.

For in vanity he came in, and in darkness he goeth, and in darkness his name is covered,

All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.

For what advantage [is] to the wise above the fool? What to the poor who knoweth to walk before the living?

For there are many things multiplying vanity; what advantage [is] to man?