Is

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel of a friend is sweetness to the soul.

Take the garment of him who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

…restraining her is like holding back the wind or grasping oil with one’s right hand.

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but a man is tested by the praise accorded him.

When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,

When hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered,

A destitute leader who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury lays it up for one who is kind to the poor.

Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.

He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with discernment sees through him.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

He who walks with integrity will be kept safe, but whoever is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.

An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.

An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion.

Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.

There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth.

There is a generation—how haughty are their eyes and pretentious are their glances—

…there is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, devouring the oppressed from the earth and the needy from among men.

This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

…a servant who becomes king, a fool who is filled with food,

…and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

…lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.

Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the bitter in soul.

A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants.

She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

She sees that her gain is good, and her lamp is not extinguished at night.

She makes coverings for her bed; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

All things are wearisome, more than one can describe; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear content with hearing.

What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.

Is there a case where one can say, “Look, this is new”? It has already existed in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance of those who came before, and those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow after.

And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a miserable task God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them!

What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile.

For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool!

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil.

Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good while they live,

…and also that every man should eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his labor—this is the gift of God.

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile.

I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?

But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

There is a man all alone, without even a son or brother. And though there is no end to his labor, his eyes are still not content with his wealth: “For whom do I toil and bereave my soul of enjoyment?” This too is futile—a miserable task.

And though one may be overpowered, two can resist. Moreover, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.