by Solomon
FUTILITY
Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless! (1:2)
Everything is wearisome beyond description; we are never satisfied nor content. (1:8)
We don't remember the past, and future generations won't remember what we are doing now. (1:11)
I observed everything going on and it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind. (1:14)
The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow. (1:18)
Pleasure, too, is meaningless and laughter is silly. (2:1-2)
Seeking wisdom, I clutched foolishness. (2:3)
I tried to find meaning by building homes and planting vineyards, gardens, and parks. (2:5)
I built reservoirs to collect water, bought slaves, owned herds and flocks, collected silver and gold, and hired singers. I had everything a man could desire! (2:6-8)
I found great pleasure in hard work but it was all so meaningless; nothing was worthwhile. (2:10-11)
The wise and the foolish share the same fate--death, and both will be forgotten. (2:14-16)
I came to hate life. Everything is so troubling and meaningless. (2:17)
I gave up in despair. (2:20)
Leaving the fruit of all your efforts to one who hasn't earned it is a great tragedy. (2:21)
My days of labor are filled with anxiety, pain, and grief; it is all meaningless. (2:22-23)
Food, drink, and satisfaction in work are from God; from these pleasures He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy. (2:24-26)
There is a season and a time for everything... born/die, plant/harvest, kill/heal, tear down/build up, cry/laugh, grieve/dance, scatter/gather, embrace/turn away, search/quit, keep/throw away, tear/mend, quiet/speak, love/hate, war/peace. (3:1-8)
God has made everything beautiful for its own time; He has planted eternity in the human heart but we cannot see the whole scope of God's work. (3:11)
My conclusion: Be happy, eat, drink, enjoy the fruit of our labor for these are gifts from God. (3:12-13)
Whatever God does is final; nothing can be added to or taken from it. (3:14)
Even the courts of law are evil and corrupt. God will judge both good and bad for their deeds. (3:16-17)
People and animals share the same fate--both breathe and both die. They came from dust, they return to dust. (3:19-20)
I observed oppression and tears with no one to comfort; victims are helpless. (4:1)
Envy is meaningless. (4:4)
To work hard and gain wealth, to be alone and have no one to leave it to is meaningless and depressing. (4:8)
Two people are better than one for they can help each other. Three are even better for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (4:9-12)
It is better to be a poor but wise youth that can rise from poverty and succeed. Yet he can be replaced by another who rejects him so it is all meaningless. (4:13-16)
It is evil to make mindless offerings and rash promises to God, so let your words be few. (5:1-2)
When you make a promise to God, don't delay in keeping it. Don't let the words of your mouth make you sin. Talk is cheap, fear God instead. (5:4-7)
How meaningless to think wealth and the love of money brings true happiness. (5:10)
Hoarding riches harms the saver; we can't take it with us. (5:13-15)
It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work during their short life; receive wealth from God and good health to enjoy it. It is indeed a gift from God. (5:18-19)
God gives great wealth and honor to some but then they die and others enjoy it. This is a sickening tragedy. (6:1-2)
A man's birth may be meaningless and end in darkness--what's the use? (6:3-6)
Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. To dream about nice things is meaningless. (6:9)
Who knows how our meaningless days can be spent. Our lives are like a shadow. (6:12)
WISDOM
A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. (7:1)
Better to be criticized by a wise person than be praised by a fool. (7:5)
Finishing is better than starting and patience is better than pride. (7:8)
Control your temper; anger labels you a fool. (7:9)
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything but only wisdom saves your life. (7:12)
Accept the way God does things; who can straighten what He has made crooked. (7:13)
God created people to be virtuous but they each follow their own path. (7:29)
Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening its harshness. (8:1)
Obey your vow, do your duty, don't plot evil. (8:2-3)
None of us can prevent the day of our death. (8:8)
When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. (8:11)
No one can discover everything God is doing. Not even the wisest people discover everything. (8:17)
Live happily with the woman you love. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. (9:9-10)
Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. (9:16)
Better to have wisdom than weapons of war. (9:18)
A wise person chooses the right road. (10:2)
A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. (10:4)
It is a grave mistake to give low positions to people of proven worth. (10:6)
The value of wisdom helps you succeed. (10:10)
Wise words bring approval. (10:12)
Divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. (11:2)
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another--or both. (11:6)
It's wonderful to be young. Enjoy every minute. Do everything you want, take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. (11:9)
Refuse to worry and keep your body healthy. (11:10)
Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor Him. Remember Him while you are young. (12:1-6)
The words of the wise are like cattle prods--painful but helpful. (12:11)
Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. (12:13-14)
