Study Desk

The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to ^(C1)see the sun.

Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him ^(C1)rejoice in them all; but let him remember the ^(C2)days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the ^(F1)impulses of your heart and the ^(F2)(C1)desires of your eyes. Yet know that ^(C2)God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

So remove ^(F1)sorrow from your heart and keep ^(F2)(C1)pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are ^(F3)fleeting.

^(C1)Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the ^(C2)evil days come and the years approach when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";

before the ^(C1)sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;

on the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and strong men are ^(C1)bent over, the grinders stop working because they are few, and ^(C2)those who look through ^(F1)windows grow ^(F2)dim;

and the doors on the street are shut as the ^(C1)sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the ^(C2)daughters of song will ^(F1)sing softly.

Furthermore, people are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal ^(C1)home while the ^(C2)mourners move around in the street.

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is ^(F1)broken and the ^(C1)golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the spring is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

then the ^(C1)dust will return to the earth as it was, and the ^(F1)(C2)spirit will return to ^(C3)God who gave it.

"^(C1)Futility of futilities," says the Preacher, "all is futility!"