Study Desk

And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is futility.

Therefore I completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil.

For what does a person get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?

There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink, and show himself some good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is from the hand of God.

For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?

For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is futility and striving after wind.

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven—

A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.

What benefit is there for the worker from that in which he labors?

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime;

I said to myself, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked," for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

I said to myself regarding the sons of mankind, "God is testing them in order for them to see that they are as animals, they to themselves."

For the fate of the sons of mankind and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath, and there is no advantage for mankind over animals, for all is futility.

I have seen that nothing is better than when a person is happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

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

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

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

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

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 futility and striving after wind.