Study Desk

Beer and wine are only for the dying or for those who have lost all hope.

She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and for her servants.

Show her respect— praise her in public for what she has done.

What is there to show for all of our hard work here on this earth?

With all my wisdom I tried to understand everything that happens here on earth. And God has made this so hard for us humans to do.

I wanted to find out what was best for us during the short time we have on this earth. So I decided to make myself happy with wine and find out what it means to be foolish, without really being foolish myself.

And I had pools where I could get water for the trees.

Foreign rulers brought me silver, gold, and precious treasures. Men and women sang for me, and I had many wives who gave me great pleasure.

Suddenly I realized that others would someday get everything I had worked for so hard, then I started hating it all.

When we use our wisdom, knowledge, and skill to get what we own, why do we have to leave it to someone who didn't work for it? This is senseless and wrong.

If we please God, he will make us wise, understanding, and happy. But if we sin, God will make us struggle for a living, then he will give all we own to someone who pleases him. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.

There is a time for birth and death, planting and reaping,

for killing and healing, destroying and building,

for crying and laughing, weeping and dancing,

for throwing stones and gathering stones, embracing and parting.

There is a time for finding and losing, keeping and giving,

for tearing and sewing, listening and speaking.

There is also a time for love and hate, for war and peace.

So I told myself that God has set a time and a place for everything. He will judge everyone, both the wicked and the good.

For example, some people don't have friends or family. But they are never satisfied with what they own, and they never stop working to get more. They should ask themselves, "Why am I always working to have more? Who will get what I leave behind?" What a senseless and miserable life!