Study Desk

For when there are many dreams, there are many empty words. Instead of this, honor God with fear.

In one part of a land if you see a bad power held over the poor, and what is right and fair and good taken away, do not be surprised by what you see. For one leader watches over another leader, and more important leaders watch over them.

He who loves money will never have enough money to make him happy. It is the same for the one who loves to get many things. This also is for nothing.

When those riches are lost because he used them in a wrong way, and he had become the father of a son, there was nothing left for him.

This also is very wrong: As a man is born, this is the way he will leave. So what does the man get who works for the wind?

This is what I have seen to be good and right: to eat and to drink and be happy in all the work one does under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him. For this is his reward.

As for every man to whom God has given riches and many good things, He has also given him the power to eat from them, receive his reward and be happy in his work. This is the gift of God.

For he will not think much about the years of his life, because God keeps him happy in his heart.

There is another bad thing which I have seen under the sun, and it is hard for men:

God gives a man riches and many good things and honor, so that he has everything he wants. But He does not allow him to have joy from them, for a stranger has joy from them. This is for nothing, and is very bad.

For this child comes for nothing and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered.

All a man's work is for his mouth, and yet his hunger is not filled.

For what is better for the wise man than for the fool? And what good does the poor man have who knows how to walk among the living?

What the eyes see is better than what there is a desire for. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.

For who knows what is good for a man during his life, during the few years of his living for nothing? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will happen after he is gone under the sun?

It is better to go to a house of sorrow than to go to a house of much eating. For this is the end of all men, and the living takes it to heart.

For the laughing of a fool is like the sound of a thorn bush burning under a pot. This also is for nothing.

For sure a bad power makes the wise man angry. And to get paid in secret for wrong-doing destroys the heart.

Do not be quick in spirit to be angry. For anger is in the heart of fools.

Do not say, "Why were the days of the past better than these?" For it is not wise to ask this.