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Whoever gives to the poor will not be in need, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.

When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous flourish.

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

By justice a king brings stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it.

If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.

If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be wicked.

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.

A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.

A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath but does not testify.

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.

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.

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.

Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will bear the guilt.

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.

…a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;

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,

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

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

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

She stretches out her hands to the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She opens her arms to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.

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

The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

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.

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!

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.

I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

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

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.

I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees.

…and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men—many concubines.

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.

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.

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.

Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?

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.

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.

I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

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

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.

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 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:

…a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

…a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

…a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

…a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

…a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build,

…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

…a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

…a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

…a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

…a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

…a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

…a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

…a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

…a time to search and a time to count as lost, a time to keep and a time to discard,

…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

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,

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.

What exists has already been, and what will be has already been, for God will call to account what has passed.

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.”

All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

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?

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.

For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!