Proverbs 31

Speak Out for Justice

1 The words of King Lemuel, the strong advice his mother gave him:

2 "Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of! Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!3 Don't dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women, promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.

4 "Leaders can't afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer,5 Lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt.6 Use wine and beer only as sedatives, to kill the pain and dull the ache7 Of the terminally ill, for whom life is a living death.

8 "Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers.9 Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!"

Hymn to a Good Wife

10 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.11 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.12 Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.13 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing.14 She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.15 She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.16 She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.17 First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.18 She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.19 She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.20 She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.21 She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.22 She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks.23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.24 She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.25 Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.26 When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly.27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive.28 Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise:29 "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!"30 Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.31 Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

Ecclesiastes 1

The Quester

1 These are the words of the Quester, David's son and king in Jerusalem:

2 Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That's what the Quester says.] There's nothing to anything-it's all smoke.3 What's there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?4 One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes-it's business as usual for old planet earth.5 The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again-the same old round.6 The wind blows south, the wind blows north. Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that-the whirling, erratic wind.7 All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again.8 Everything's boring, utterly boring-no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear.9 What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There's nothing new on this earth. Year after year it's the same old thing.10 Does someone call out, "Hey, this is new"? Don't get excited-it's the same old story.11 Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody'll remember them either. Don't count on being remembered.

I've Seen It All

12 Call me "the Quester." I've been king over Israel in Jerusalem.13 I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there's not much to write home about. God hasn't made it easy for us.14 I've seen it all and it's nothing but smoke-smoke, and spitting into the wind.

15 Life's a corkscrew that can't be straightened, A minus that won't add up.

16 I said to myself, "I know more and I'm wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I've stockpiled wisdom and knowledge."17 What I've finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless-nothing but spitting into the wind.

18 Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt.

Ecclesiastes 2

1 I said to myself, "Let's go for it-experiment with pleasure, have a good time!" But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke.2 What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?3 With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth. I Never Said No to Myself

I Never Said No to Myself

4 Oh, I did great things: built houses, planted vineyards,5 designed gardens and parks and planted a variety of fruit trees in them,6 made pools of water to irrigate the groves of trees.7 I bought slaves, male and female, who had children, giving me even more slaves; then I acquired large herds and flocks, larger than any before me in Jerusalem.8 I piled up silver and gold, loot from kings and kingdoms. I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song, and-most exquisite of all pleasures-voluptuous maidens for my bed.

9 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all.10 Everything I wanted I took-I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task-my reward to myself for a hard day's work!

I Hate Life

11 Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

12 And then I took a hard look at what's smart and what's stupid. What's left to do after you've been king? That's a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that's it.13 But I did see that it's better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness.14 Even so, though the smart ones see where they're going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they're all the same in the end. One fate for all-and that's it.

15 When I realized that my fate's the same as the fool's, I had to ask myself, "So why bother being wise?" It's all smoke, nothing but smoke.16 The smart and the stupid both disappear out of sight. In a day or two they're both forgotten. Yes, both the smart and the stupid die, and that's it.

17 I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It's smoke-and spitting into the wind.

18 And I hated everything I'd accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can't take it with me-no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me.19 Whether they're worthy or worthless-and who's to tell?-they'll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.

20 That's when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth.21 What's the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that's what it is. A bad business from start to finish.22 So what do you get from a life of hard labor?23 Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night's rest. Nothing but smoke.

24 The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that's it-divine fate.25 Whether we feast or fast, it's up to God.26 God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God's favorites. Nothing but smoke-and spitting into the wind.