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Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

…to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.

The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.

Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who wanders from his home.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I can answer him who taunts me.

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

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him.

These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden that this man declared to Ithiel: “I am weary, O God, and worn out.

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

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

Sheol, the barren womb, land never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, ‘Enough!’

As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk:

These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:

She girds herself with strength and shows that her arms are strong.

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

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!

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

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

Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness:

The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.

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.

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.

So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun.

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.

I have seen the burden that God has laid upon the sons of men to occupy them.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning to end.

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.

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

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 to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

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.

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.

I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second one, the youth who succeeded the king.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?

…or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

The child, though neither seeing the sun nor knowing anything, has more rest than that man,

For the more words, the more futility—and how does that profit anyone?

For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

In the day of prosperity, be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider this: God has made one of these along with the other, so that a man cannot discover anything that will come after him.

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Only this have I found: I have discovered that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.

Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not rest your hands in the evening, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or if both will equally prosper.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.

Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.

How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?

Come back, come back, O Shulammite! Come back, come back, that we may gaze upon you. Why do you look at the Shulammite, as on the dance of Mahanaim?

The mandrakes send forth a fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, new as well as old, that I have treasured up for you, my beloved.