Study Desk

Then I saw all the work of God—man is not able to discover the work that is done under the sun. Although man may toil in seeking, he cannot find it. Even if a wise man claims that he knows it, he cannot find it.

So all this I laid to my heart, and I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in the hand of God. So no one knows anything that will come to them, whether it will be love or hatred.

Go—eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart! For God already has approved your deeds.

Just as you do not know how the path of the wind goes, nor how the bones of a fetus form in a mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth! Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes— but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it.

Now that all has been heard, here is the final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Hear the word of Yahweh, rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, people of Gomorrah!

many peoples shall come. And they shall say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob, and may he teach us part of his ways, and let us walk in his paths." For instruction shall go out from Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

But Yahweh of hosts is exalted by justice, and the holy God shows himself holy by righteousness.

"Ask for a sign for yourself from Yahweh God; make it deep as Sheol or make it high as above."

Then he said, "Hear, house of David! Is it too little for you to make men weary, that you should also make my God weary?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! the virgin is with child and she is about to give birth to a son, and she shall call his name ‘God with us.'

And he will sweep into Judah; he will overflow and he will flood up to the neck. He will reach, and he will spread his wings out over your entire land, God with us."

Make a plan, but it will be frustrated! Speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us!

For a child has been born for us; a son has been given to us. And the dominion will be on his shoulder, and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

A remnant will return— the remnant of Jacob—to the mighty God.

Look! God is my salvation; I will trust, and I will not be afraid, for my strength and might is Yah, Yahweh; and he has become salvation for me."

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor of the Chaldeans' pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.