Study Desk

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

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

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

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

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

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

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

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

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

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

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

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

But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

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

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

This also is a sickening evil: exactly as a person is born, so will he die. What then is the advantage for him who labors for the wind?

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

All his life he also eats in darkness with great irritation, sickness, and anger.

All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

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

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

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

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

For he will not often call to mind the years of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.