Study Desk

As the door turns on its hinges, So does the sluggard on his bed.

As coals are to hot embers, And wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

As a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; So does earnest counsel from a man's friend.

Iron sharpens iron; So a man sharpens his friend's countenance.

As water reflects a face, So a man's heart reflects the man.

As a roaring lion or a charging bear, So is a wicked ruler over helpless people.

Lest I be full, deny you, and say, 'Who is Yahweh?' Or lest I be poor, and steal, And so dishonor the name of my God.

So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, 'I have done nothing wrong.'

For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."

So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

Then said I in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?" Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity.

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can't find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he: