Study Desk

For, oppression, maddeneth the wise, - and a bribe, destroyeth the understanding.

Better the latter end of a thing, than the beginning thereof, - Better a patient spirit, than a haughty spirit.

Do not be rash in thy spirit, to be indignant, - for, indignation, in the bosom of dullards, doth remain.

Do not say, What hath happened, that, the former days, were better than these? for, not wisely, askest thou concerning this.

Good is wisdom, with an inheritance, - and a profit, to such as see the sun.

For, a protection, is wisdom, and, a protection, is silver, - but, the advantage of knowledge, is, that, wisdom, giveth life to the possessors thereof.

Wisdom, bringeth more strength to a wise man, than ten heroes, that are in the city.

For, as for men, there is none righteous in the earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Moreover, not to all the words which men speak, do thou apply thy heart, - lest thou hear thine own servant reviling thee!

For truly, many times, thy heart knoweth, - that, even thou thyself, hast reviled others.

All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.

Far away, is that which hath been, - and deep, deep, who can find it out?

Resolved, I, in my heart, to know and search out, and to seek wisdom, and a conclusion, - and to know lawlessness to be stupidity, and folly to be madness.

I, could indeed find, to be, more bitter than death, the woman, whose heart is, snares and nets, and her hands, bonds, - whoso is pleasing before God, shall escape from her, but, he that sinneth, shall be captured by her.

Dead flies, cause to stink and ferment, the oil of the perfumer, - More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.

The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, - But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:

Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him - and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!

If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.

Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, - a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:

Folly placed in great dignity, - while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:

I had seen, servants, upon horses, - and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.

He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, - and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.

He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, - and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.

If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, - but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.

If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.

The words of a wise man's mouth, are pleasant, - but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:

The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, - but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.

Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, - though no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?

The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.

Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, - and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:

How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, - and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.

By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, - and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.

Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, - but, money, answereth all things.

Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, - for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.

Cast thy bread-corn, upon the face of the waters, - for, after many days, shalt thou find it:

Give a portion to seven, yea even to eight, - for thou canst not know, what there shall be of misfortune, upon the earth.

If the clouds be filled with a downpour, upon the earth, will they empty themselves, and, if a tree fall in the south or in the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there will it be found.

He that observeth the wind, will not sow, - and, he that watcheth the clouds, will not reap.

Just as thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, when the body is in the womb of her that is with child, even, so, canst thou not know the work of God, who maketh all.

In the morning, sow thy seed, and, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, - for thou knowest not - whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.