Study Desk

I thought in my heart to give myself to wine, but my heart reasoned with wisdom; and I laid hold upon understanding, till I might see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days of their lives.

The wise mans eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness; and I myself perceived also that one misfortune happens to them all.

The fool speaks superficially, but there is no remembrance of the wise man more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is, in the days to come shall be forgotten. And just as the wise man dies, so the fool.

For, to a man who is good in his presence, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives toil, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who is good in the presence of the LORD. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit,

I know that there is no good in worldly things, but for men to rejoice and to do good in their lives.

Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better in them but that man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

But, better is he who has not yet been born than both of them, because he has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

When there is but one man, and not a second, and he has neither son nor brother, there is no end to all his labor. Neither are his eves satisfied with riches; neither does he say, For whom am I laboring and denying myself good things? This is also vanity, and a grievous vexation.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls; for there is none to lift him up.

Again, if two sleep together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone?

When you vow a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools; but as for you, pay that which you have vowed.

For in the multitude of dreams and vain things and many words is false worship; but you should worship God.

Sweet is the sleep of a laboring man, whether he eat little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not let him sleep.

There is a man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of them; but a stranger eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but look after yourself in the day of adversity. God also has made one thing opposite to another, to the end that man should know nothing after he is gone.

I have tried all these things by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but wisdom was far from me.

And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands bind him who is good; he who is good in the presence of God shall escape from her; but he who sins shall be caught by her.

And again my soul sought but I found not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all these I have not found.

But behold, this thing I have found, that God has made men upright; but they have sought out many devices.