Study Desk

when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.

So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?

one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.