Study Desk

Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for mankind comes from the LORD.

There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

For the churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose produces blood; So the churning of anger produces strife.

It is not for kings, Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,

Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, For the rights of all the unfortunate.

An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels.

She looks for wool and linen, And works with her hands in delight.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new"? It has already existed for ages Which were before us.

I explored with my mind how to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives.

I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.

I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines.

All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor.

So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what will the man do who will come after the king, except what has already been done?

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, along with the fool, since in the coming days everything will soon be forgotten. And how the wise and the fool alike die!

So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.

So I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.