David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land’s original inhabitants, lived there.)

Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.”

“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’

The deep says, ‘It is not with me.’ And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’

And he said to mankind, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest.

“O Lord, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!

When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields.

Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

He is your constant source of stability; he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; he gives all this to those who fear him.

They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, “Don’t respond to him.”

I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on.

He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’

A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Her people act like madmen because of those idols they fear.

They say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; the city is a cooking pot and we are the meat in it.’

For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.