Ecclesiastes

2:17, 24-26

So life came to mean nothing to me, because everything in it had brought me nothing but trouble. It had all been useless; I had been chasing the wind.

The best thing we can do is eat and drink and enjoy what we have earned. And yet, I realized that even this comes from God. How else could you have anything to eat or enjoy yourself at all?

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who please him, but he makes sinners work, earning and saving, so that what they get can be given to those who please him. It is all useless. It is like chasing the wind.

10:1, 10

Dead flies can make a whole bottle of perfume stink, and a little stupidity can cancel out the greatest wisdom.

If your ax is dull and you don’t sharpen it, you have to work harder to use it. It is smarter to plan ahead.

11:6-10

Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than he other.

It is good to be able enjoy the pleasant light of day. Be grateful for every year you live. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer. There is nothing at all to look forward to.

Young people enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do. Don’t let anything worry you or cause you pain. You aren’t going to be young very long.