Study Desk

Go then, eat your bread in gladness and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.

See life with the woman whom you love all the days of your vain life, which He has given to you under the sun—all the days of your vanity; for this is your portion in life and in your labor in which you have labored under the sun.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no working or explaining or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the mighty, and neither is bread to the wise nor riches to the discerning nor favor to men who know; for time and misfortune overtake them all.

But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he provided a way of escape for the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no advantage for the charmer.

Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for might and not for drinking.

Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine makes life glad, and money is the answer to everything.

Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the sky will bring the sound and the winged creature will tell the matter.

Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what calamity may occur on the earth.

Sow your seed in the morning and do not put your hands down in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.

The light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.

Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him be glad in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be vanity.

Be glad, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be merry during the days of young manhood. And walk in the ways of your heart and in the sights of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road; the almond tree blooms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caperberry is ineffective. For man goes to his eternal home, but the mourners go about in the street.

The end of the matter, all that has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for all mankind.

For God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

"May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!For your love is better than wine.

Do not look at me because I am swarthy,For the sun has burned me.My mother's sons were angry with me;They made me caretaker of the vineyards,But I have not taken care of my own vineyard.