Study Desk

All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.

See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.

But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

But there was found in it a poor, wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man's wisdom is despised and his words are not heard.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.

If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.

The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

She I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.

Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!