Study Desk

For who can eat and who can find joy without Him?

For God has given wisdom and much learning and joy to the person who is good in God's eyes. But to the sinner He has given the work of gathering and getting many riches together to give to the one who pleases God. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven.

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

What does the worker get for his work?

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good as long as they live.

That which is, already has been. And that which will be, has already been. For God allows the same things to happen again.

I said to myself, "God will judge both the man who is right and good, and the sinful man." For there is a time for everything to be done and a time for every work.

For the same thing is to happen to both the sons of men and animals. As one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and to be a man is no better than to be an animal. Because all is for nothing.

So I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his work, for that is all he can do. Who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Then I saw all the bad powers that were ruling under the sun. I saw the tears of the people who were suffering under these powers, with no one to comfort them. Those who made it hard for them had the power. But the people had no one to comfort them.

I have seen that all the work done is because a man wants what his neighbor has. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

There was a certain man who lived alone. He did not have a son or a brother. Yet he worked all the time. His eyes were never happy with the riches he had, and he never asked, "For whom am I working and why am I keeping myself from happiness?" This also is for nothing. It is work that brings sorrow.

Two are better than one, because they have good pay for their work.

For if one of them falls, the other can help him up. But it is hard for the one who falls when there is no one to lift him up.

There was no end to all the people. He ruled over all of them. Yet those who come later will not be happy with him. For this also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

Watch your steps as you go to the house of God. Go near and listen but do not give the gift of fools. For they do not know they are sinning.

Do not hurry to speak or be in a hurry as you think what to tell God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth. So let your words be few.

For a dream comes with much work, and the voice of a fool comes with many words.

When you make a promise to God, do not be late in paying it, for He is not pleased with fools. Pay what you promise to pay!