I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasures to
find out what is good. “ But that also proved to be meaningless.
“Laughter,” I said, “is foolish. And what does pleasure
accomplish?” I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing
folly, my mind still guiding with wisdom. I wanted to see what was
worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their
lives.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted
vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kind of fruit
trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing
trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who
were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than
anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for
myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and
women singers and a harem as well, the delights of the hearts of
man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In
all my wisdom stayed before me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refuse my heart no
pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the
reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had
toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the
wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Date Published: Oct 14, 2009 - 5:48 am
I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is
done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on the
human race!
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:58 pm
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the
place the streams come from, there they return again.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:54 pm
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in
the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither
working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:54 pm
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of
trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no
pleasure in them"
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:52 pm
A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to
dance
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:52 pm
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:51 pm
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their
labor:
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:50 pm
What does anyone gain from all their labors at which they toil
under the sun?
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:49 pm
There is no remembrance of people of old, and even those who are
yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:48 pm
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set
eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has
done from beginning to end.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:47 pm
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity
under the heavens:
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:45 pm
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear
God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human
being.
Date Published: Feb 11, 2009 - 7:45 pm