I said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men?musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was?yet those who come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Also, they are afraid of heights, and of terrors in the way; and the almond tree blossoms, and the grasshopper is burdened, and the caper bush fails; because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets:

This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.