Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time.

The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.

Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all.

lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.

I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile – like chasing the wind!

I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

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

Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, “I am determined to comprehend this” – but it was beyond my grasp.

Your neck is like the tower of David built with courses of stones; one thousand shields are hung on it – all shields of valiant warriors.

Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak.

I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag.

Those remaining in Zion, those left in Jerusalem, will be called “holy,” all in Jerusalem who are destined to live.

With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers.

You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered!

The sovereign master, the Lord who commands armies, is certainly ready to carry out the decreed destruction throughout the land.

They come from a distant land, from the horizon. It is the Lord with his instruments of judgment, coming to destroy the whole earth.

For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage.