Study Desk

Then I looked again at all the acts of ^(C1)oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold, I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had ^(C2)no one to comfort them; and power was on the side of their oppressors, but they had no one to comfort them.

So ^(C1)I congratulated the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still living.

But ^(C1)better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.

I have seen that every labor and every ^(C1)skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a person and his neighbor. This too is ^(C2)futility and striving after wind.

The fool ^(C1)folds his hands and ^(C2)consumes his own flesh.

One hand full of rest is ^(C1)better than two fists full of labor and striving after wind.

Then I looked again at futility under the sun.

There was a man without a ^(F1)dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, ^(C1)his eyes were not satisfied with riches, and he never asked, "And ^(C2)for whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is futility, and it is an ^(C3)unhappy task.

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor;

for if ^(F1)either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not ^(F2)another to lift him up!

Furthermore, if two lie down together they ^(F1)keep warm, but ^(C1)how can one be warm alone?

And if ^(F1)one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

A ^(C1)poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive ^(F1)instruction—

for he has come ^(C1)out of prison to become king, even though he was born poor in his kingdom.

I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who ^(F1)replaces him.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before them. Even the ones who will come later will not be happy with him; for this too is ^(C1)futility and striving after wind.

^(F1)(C1)Guard your steps as you go to the house of God, and approach to listen rather than to offer the ^(C2)sacrifice of fools; for they do not know that they are doing evil.

^(F1)Do not be ^(C1)quick with your mouth or ^(F2)impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your ^(C2)words be few.

For the dream comes through much ^(F1)effort, and the voice of a ^(C1)fool through many words.

When you ^(C1)make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. ^(C2)Pay what you vow!

It is ^(C1)better that you not vow, than vow and not pay.

Do not let your ^(F1)speech cause ^(F2)you to sin, and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a ^(C1)mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

For in many dreams and in many words there is futility. Rather, ^(F1)(C1)fear God.

If you see ^(C1)oppression of the poor and ^(C2)denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be ^(C3)shocked at the ^(F1)sight; for one ^(F2)official watches over another ^(F2)official, and there are higher ^(F3)officials over them.

After all, a king who cultivates the field is beneficial to the land.

^(C1)One who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor one who loves abundance with its income. This too is futility.

^(C1)When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to ^(F1)look at them?

The sleep of the laborer is ^(C1)sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the ^(F1)full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.

There is a sickening evil which I have seen under the sun: ^(C1)wealth being ^(F1)hoarded by its owner to his detriment.

When that wealth was lost through bad business and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing ^(F1)to support him.

^(C1)As he came naked from his mother's womb, so he will return as he came. He will ^(C2)take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.

This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person ^(F1)is born, so will he ^(F2)die. ^(C1)What then is the advantage for him who ^(C2)labors for the wind?

All his life ^(C1)he also eats in darkness with ^(C2)great irritation, sickness, and anger.

Here is what I have seen to be ^(C1)good and ^(F1)fitting: to eat, to drink, and ^(F2)enjoy oneself in all one's labor in which he labors under the sun during the few ^(F3)years of his life which God has given him; for this is his ^(F4)(C2)reward.

Furthermore, as for every person to whom ^(C1)God has given riches and wealth, He has also ^(C2)given him the opportunity to ^(F1)enjoy them and to receive his ^(F2)reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the ^(C3)gift of God.

For he will not often call to mind the ^(F1)years of his life, because ^(C1)God keeps ^(F2)him busy with the joy of his heart.

There is an ^(C1)evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread ^(F1)among mankind:

a person to whom God has ^(C1)given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul ^(C2)lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to ^(F1)enjoy these things, but a foreigner ^(F2)enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction.

If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many ^(F1)they may be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper ^(C1)burial, then I say, "Better ^(C2)the miscarriage than he,

for a miscarriage comes in futility and goes into darkness; and its name is covered in darkness.

"It has not even seen the sun nor does it know it; yet ^(F1)it is better off than that man.

"Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—^(C1)do not all go to one and the same place?"

^(C1)All a person's labor is for his mouth, and yet ^(F1)his appetite is not ^(F2)satisfied.

For ^(C1)what advantage does the wise person have over the fool? What does the poor person have, knowing how to walk before the living?

What the eyes ^(C1)see is better than what the soul ^(F1)desires. This too is ^(C2)futility and striving after wind.

Whatever ^(C1)exists has already been named, and it is known what man is; for he ^(C2)cannot dispute with the ^(F1)one who is mightier than he is.

For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a person?

For who knows what is good for a person during his lifetime, during the few ^(F1)years of his futile life? He will ^(F2)spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a person ^(C1)what will happen after him under the sun?