Daily Text and Bible Reading: Tuesday, July 29 [Press play below]

9.1 So I took all of this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hands of the true God. Men are not aware of the love and the hate that took place prior to them.
9.2 All have the very same outcome, the righteous and the wicked, the good and the clean and the unclean, those sacrificing and those not sacrificing. The good one is the same as the sinner; the one who swears an oath is the same as the one who is cautious about swearing an oath.
9.3 This is a distressing thing that happens under the sun: Because all have the same outcome, the heart of humans is also full of bad; and there is madness in their heart during their life, and then they die!
9.4 There is hope for whoever is among the living, because a live dog is better off than a dead lion.
9.5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all, nor do they have any more reward, because all memory of them is forgotten.
9.6 Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.
9.7 Go, eat your food with rejoicing, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for already the true God has found pleasure in your works.
9.8 May your clothing always be white, and do not fail to put oil on your head.
9.9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of your futile life, which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility, for that is your lot in life and in your hard work at which you toil under the sun.
9.10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might, for there is no work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave, where you are going.
9.11 I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all.
9.12 For man does not know his time. Just as fish are caught in an evil net and birds are caught in a trap, so the sons of men are ensnared in a time of disaster, when it suddenly overtakes them.
9.13 I also observed this about wisdom under the sun—and it impressed me:
9.14 There was a small city with a few men in it; and a mighty king came against it and surrounded it and built great siegeworks against it.
9.15 In it was found a poor but wise man, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But no one remembered that poor man.
9.16 And I said to myself: ‘Wisdom is better than mightiness; yet a poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.’
9.17 Better to heed the calm words of the wise than the shouts of the one ruling among fools.
9.18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but just one sinner can destroy much good.
10.1 As dead flies cause the perfumer’s oil to stink and bubble, so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and glory.
10.2 The heart of the wise one leads him in the right way, but the heart of the stupid one leads him in the wrong way.
10.3 In whatever way the fool walks, he is lacking good sense, and he lets everyone know that he is a fool.
10.4 If the anger of a ruler should flare up against you, do not leave your place, for calmness allays great sins.
10.5 There is something distressing that I have seen under the sun, the sort of mistake made by those in power:
10.6 Foolishness is put in many high positions, but the rich remain in low positions.
10.7 I have seen servants on horseback but princes walking on foot just like servants.
10.8 The one who digs a pit may fall into it; and the one who breaks through a stone wall may be bitten by a snake.
10.9 The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.
10.10 If an iron tool is dull and one does not sharpen its edge, he will need to exert much effort. But wisdom helps to achieve success.
10.11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage to the skilled charmer.
10.12 The words from the mouth of the wise one bring favor, but the lips of the stupid one are his ruin.
10.13 The first words out of his mouth are foolishness, and his last words are disastrous madness.
10.14 But the fool keeps on speaking. A man does not know what will happen; who can tell him what will come after him?
10.15 The hard work of the stupid one wears him out, for he does not even know how to find his way to the city.
10.16 How terrible for a land when the king is a boy and the princes start their feasting in the morning!
10.17 How happy for the land when the king is the son of nobles and the princes eat at the proper time for strength, not for drunkenness!
10.18 Because of extreme laziness the roof beams sag, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
10.19 Bread is made for laughter, and wine makes life enjoyable; but money answers every need.
10.20 Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird may convey the sound, or a creature with wings may repeat what was said.

11.1 Cast your bread on the waters, for after many days you will find it again.
11.2 Give a share to seven or even to eight, for you do not know what disaster will occur on the earth.
11.3 If the clouds are filled with water, they will pour down rain on the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, the place where the tree falls is where it will lie.
11.4 The one who watches the wind will not sow seed, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
11.5 Just as you do not know how the spirit operates in the bones of the child inside a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of the true God, who does all things.
11.6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not let your hand rest until the evening; for you do not know which will have success, whether this one or that one, or whether they will both do well.
11.7 Light is sweet, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
11.8 For if a man should live many years, let him enjoy them all. But he should remember that the days of darkness may be many; all that is to come is futility.
11.9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and go where your eyes lead you; but know that the true God will bring you into judgment for all these things.
11.10 So remove troublesome things from your heart, and ward off harmful things from your body, for youth and the prime of life are futility.

12.1 Remember, then, your Grand Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of distress come and the years arrive when you will say: “I have no pleasure in them”;
12.2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the downpour;
12.3 in the day when the guards of the house become shaky, and the strong men stoop over, and the women quit grinding because they have become few, and the ladies looking out the windows find it dark;
12.4 when the doors to the street have been closed, when the sound of the grinding mill becomes low, when one gets up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song grow faint.
12.5 Also, one is afraid of heights, and there are terrors in the street. And the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry bursts, because man is walking to his lasting house and the mourners walk about in the street;
12.6 before the silver cord is removed, and the golden bowl is crushed, and the jar at the spring is broken, and the waterwheel for the cistern is crushed.
12.7 Then the dust returns to the earth, just as it was, and the spirit returns to the true God who gave it.
12.8 “The greatest futility!” says the congregator. “Everything is futile.”
12.9 Not only had the congregator become wise but he continually taught the people what he knew, and he pondered and made a thorough search in order to compile many proverbs.
12.10 The congregator sought to find delightful words and to record accurate words of truth.
12.11 The words of the wise are like oxgoads, and their collected sayings are like firmly embedded nails; they have been given from one shepherd.
12.12 As for anything besides these, my son, be warned: To the making of many books there is no end, and much devotion to them is wearisome to the flesh.
12.13 The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole obligation of man.
12.14 For the true God will judge every deed, including every hidden thing, as to whether it is good or bad.