Study Desk

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he,

"Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—do not all go to one and the same place?"

For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps its possessors alive.

On the day of prosperity be happy, But on the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other So that a person will not discover anything that will come after him.

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, "I will be wise," but wisdom was far from me.

And I discovered as more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.

"Behold, I have found only this, that God made people upright, but they have sought out many schemes."

But it will not go well for the evil person and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.

For the living know that they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have a reward any longer, for their memory is forgotten.

But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are ignored.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

A wise person's heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish person's heart directs him toward the left.

Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.

"Do not stare at me because I am dark, For the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me caretaker of the vineyards, But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.

"On my bed night after night I sought him Whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him.

'I must arise now and go around in the city; In the streets and in the public squares I must seek him whom my soul loves.' I sought him but did not find him.

"I was asleep but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: 'Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the dew drops of the night.'