Study Desk

A Common Destiny for All

So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.^(a)

All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,^[a] the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.^(b)

This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all.^(c) The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live,^(d) and afterward they join the dead.^(e)

Anyone who is among the living has hope^[b]—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing;^(f) they have no further reward, and even their name^(g) is forgotten.^(h)

Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.⁽ⁱ⁾

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine^(j) with a joyful heart,^(k) for God has already approved what you do.

Always be clothed in white,^(l) and always anoint your head with oil.

Enjoy life with your wife,^(m) whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot⁽ⁿ⁾ in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.

Whatever^(o) your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,^(p) for in the realm of the dead,^(q) where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.^(r)

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong,^(s) nor does food come to the wise^(t) or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance^(u) happen to them all.^(v)

Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times^(w) that fall unexpectedly upon them.^(x)

I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom^(y) that greatly impressed me:

There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it.

Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.^(z)

So I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." But the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.^(aa)

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

Wisdom^(ab) is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly^(a) outweighs wisdom and honor.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone^(b) how stupid they are.

If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post;^(c) calmness can lay great offenses to rest.^(d)

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

Fools are put in many high positions,^(e) while the rich occupy the low ones.

I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.^(f)

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;^(g) whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.^(h)

Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.⁽ⁱ⁾

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.

If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.^(j)

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,^(k) but fools are consumed by their own lips.^(l)

At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—

and fools multiply words.^(m) No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?⁽ⁿ⁾

The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town.

Woe to the land whose king was a servant^[a](o) and whose princes feast in the morning.

Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.^(p)

Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.^(q)

A feast is made for laughter, wine^(r) makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything.

Do not revile the king^(s) even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Ship^(a) your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.^(b)

Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

As you do not know the path of the wind,^(c) or how the body is formed^[a] in a mother's womb,^(d) so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle,^(e) for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.^(f)

However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember^(g) the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.^(h)

So then, banish anxiety⁽ⁱ⁾ from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.^(j)

Remember^(a) your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble^(b) come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"—

before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;

when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint;^(c)

when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home^(d) and mourners^(e) go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well,

and the dust returns^(f) to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God^(g) who gave it.^(h)

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.^[a](i) "Everything is meaningless!^(j)"

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.^(k)

The Teacher^(l) searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.^(m)

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails⁽ⁿ⁾—given by one shepherd.^[b]

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.^(o)

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God^(p) and keep his commandments,^(q) for this is the duty of all mankind.^(r)

For God will bring every deed into judgment,^(s) including every hidden thing,^(t) whether it is good or evil.