A Prayer for Wisdom and Guidance in Our Labor
"The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." - Ecclesiastes 10:15

Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, seeking wisdom and understanding as I reflect on the profound truth found in Ecclesiastes 10:15, which states, "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." Lord, I recognize that this verse is a poignant reminder of the futility of labor that lacks purpose and direction. It teaches me that without Your guidance, even the most diligent efforts can lead to weariness and disappointment.
Father, I acknowledge that I often get caught up in the busyness of life, attempting to accomplish tasks that may not necessarily align with Your will. I find myself laboring tirelessly, exhausting my energy and resources, yet feeling unfulfilled and weary. I pray for the wisdom to recognize the calling You have placed on my life, for the strength to follow Your path, and for the discernment to know how to labor effectively in a way that honors You.
As I ponder the lives of those around me, I see many who exhaust themselves with work that yields no lasting fruit. They strive for success, pursue ambitions driven by earthly desires, and often stumble because they lack the knowledge on how to navigate the complexities of life. Lord, I pray that You open their eyes, just as You are opening mine, to see that true labor is not merely about hard work, but about working in harmony with Your divine purpose. Help me to be a light in their lives, to encourage them to seek Your wisdom above all else, so that their efforts may not result in weariness but rather in a fulfilled and fruitful life.
Lord, I ask You to guide my footsteps. I desire to walk in Your ways and to be led by Your Spirit. I pray for clarity and direction in my decisions, especially concerning my work and daily responsibilities. May I not just do things for the sake of doing them, but rather, may I engage in labor that has eternal significance and reflects Your glory. Let my work be an extension of my worship, so that every task I undertake is done with intention and diligence, inspired by love and guided by wisdom.
Help me, Lord, to understand that true success is not measured by the amount of work I do or the recognition I receive, but by the quality of my efforts and the impact they have on others. Teach me to prioritize the things that truly matter—to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with You. Let my labor be rooted in service to others and a reflection of Your love.
As I face the challenges of each day, I pray for the strength to persevere, and when I feel weary, remind me to turn to You for rest and rejuvenation. May I never forget that my labor is not in vain when I align it with Your purpose. Help me to draw from the wellspring of Your wisdom, so that I may not just run aimlessly or labor in vain, but rather run with purpose, knowing where I am going—where You are leading me.
Lord, I give You my fears and doubts. I lay down the pressure I place on myself to succeed in the world’s eyes. Instead, fill my heart with peace as I trust in Your plan for my life. May I find comfort in knowing that with You as my guide, I will not wander aimlessly but rather, like a city set on a hill, I shall shine brightly, reflecting Your light in a world that desperately needs hope.
Thank You, dear Lord, for hearing my prayer. I trust in Your infinite wisdom and love, and I surrender my labor into Your capable hands. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
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Ecclesiastes 10:15 - "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city."
"The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city." - Ecclesiastes 10:15
Ecclesiastes 1:15 - "That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered."
Ecclesiastes 10:10 - "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct."
Ecclesiastes 10:6 - "Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place."
Ecclesiastes 10:11 - "Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better."
Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 3:15 - "That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past."
Ecclesiastes 10:18 - "¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."
Ecclesiastes 10:19 - "¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things."
Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 10:12 - "The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."
Ecclesiastes 10:13 - "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - "A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left."
[NRSVUE] Ecclesiastes 1:15 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 10:5 - "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:"
Ecclesiastes 12:10 - "The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth."
Ecclesiastes 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 10:7 - "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth."
Ecclesiastes 3:10 - "I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it."
[NRSVUE] Ecclesiastes 1:15 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
[NRSVUE] Ecclesiastes 1:15 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
[NRSVUE] Ecclesiastes 1:15 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecclesiastes 4:15 - "I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead."
Ecclesiastes 5:10 - "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
Ecclesiastes 10:16 - "¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!"
Ecclesiastes 10:8 - "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."
Ecclesiastes 10:9 - "Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby."