Study Desk

Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.

Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.

After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.

She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.

She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.

She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.

She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.

Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.

One generation goes and another comes; but the earth is for ever.

The wind goes to the south, turning back again to the north; circling round for ever.

There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them.

I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

I said in my heart, I will give you joy for a test; so take your pleasure--but it was to no purpose.

I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.

Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!

So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.

Hate had I for all my work which I had done, because the man who comes after me will have its fruits.