I was determined to learn the difference between knowledge and foolishness, wisdom and madness. But I found out that I might as well be chasing the wind.

But I devoted myself to knowledge and study; I was determined to find wisdom and the answers to my questions, and to learn how wicked and foolish stupidity is.

Whenever I tried to become wise and learn what goes on in the world, I realized that you could stay awake night and day

But because the Philosopher was wise, he kept on teaching the people what he knew. He studied proverbs and honestly tested their truth.

The Philosopher tried to find comforting words, but the words he wrote were honest.

But this is nonsense. Look at what happens in the world: sometimes the righteous get the punishment of the wicked, and the wicked get the reward of the righteous. I say it is useless.

The LORD loves his people and protects those who belong to him. So we bow at his feet and obey his commands.

"He protects the lives of his faithful people, but the wicked disappear in darkness; a man does not triumph by his own strength.

Then the king said to Zadok, "Take the Covenant Box back to the city. If the LORD is pleased with me, some day he will let me come back to see it and the place where it stays.

But if he isn't pleased with me---well, then, let him do to me what he wishes."

If I were you, I would turn to God and present my case to him.

But you do see; you take notice of trouble and suffering and are always ready to help. The helpless commit themselves to you; you have always helped the needy.

I place myself in your care. You will save me, LORD; you are a faithful God.

Give yourself to the LORD; trust in him, and he will help you;

he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.

Ask the LORD to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out.

You will give us prosperity, LORD; everything that we achieve is the result of what you do.

Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant.

He said to me, "Israel, you are my servant; because of you, people will praise me."

Listen, Jeremiah! Everyone in this land---the kings of Judah, the officials, the priests, and the people---will be against you. But today I am giving you the strength to resist them; you will be like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. They will not defeat you, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken."

(SEE 1:18)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

What my Father has given me is greater than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care.

After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do:

The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.

For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field. You are also God's building.

For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid.

And the quality of each person's work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone's work; the fire will test it and show its real quality.

But if your work is burnt up, then you will lose it; but you yourself will be saved, as if you had escaped through the fire.

and it is for this reason that I suffer these things. But I am still full of confidence, because I know whom I have trusted, and I am sure that he is able to keep safe until that Day what he has entrusted to me.

They are for you, who through faith are kept safe by God's power for the salvation which is ready to be revealed at the end of time.

My life has been useless, but in it I have seen everything. Some good people may die while others live on, even though they are evil.

because I was jealous of the proud when I saw that things go well for the wicked.

They say, "God will not know; the Most High will not find out."

Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure and have not committed sin?

As we see it, proud people are the ones who are happy. Evil people not only prosper, but they test God's patience with their evil deeds and get away with it.' "

"They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my very own. I will be merciful to them as parents are merciful to the children who serve them.