Is there a thing, of which it can be said, See here, it is, new? Already, hath it been, for ages, it is something which was before us.

Said, I, in my heart, Come now! I will prove thee with gladness, and look thou on blessedness, - but lo! even that, was vanity.

Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?

I made me pools of water, - to irrigate therefrom the thick-set saplings growing up into trees:

Then said, I, in my heart, As it happeneth to the dullard, even to me, will it happen, but wherefore, then, became, I, wise to excess? Therefore spake I, in my heart, Even this, is vanity.

Said, I, in my heart, Both the righteous and the lawless, will God judge, - for there will be a time for every pursuit, and concerning every work - there.

Said, I, in my heart, as concerning the sons of men, That God was minded to prove them, - and that they might see, that they were beasts, of themselves.

Then again, I, considered all the oppressive deeds which were done under the sun, - and lo! the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter, and, on the side of their oppressing, is power, and they have no comforter.

When blessings are increased, increased are the eaters thereof, - what profit, then, to the owner of them saving the sight of his eyes?

Sweet the sleep of the labourer, whether, little or much, he eat, - but, the surfeit of the rich man, will not suffer him to sleep.

Even all his days, are spent in darkness and mourning, - and he is very morose, and is sad and angry.

Though a man should beget a hundred children, and live, many years, so that many should be the days of his years but, his own soul, should not be satisfied with the good, and he should not even have, a burial, I said, Better than he, is an untimely birth!

All this, have I proved by wisdom, - I said, I will be wise, but, that, was far from me.

I said , The bidding of the king, observe thou, even out of regard to the oath of God.

Because sentence against a wicked work is not executed speedily - on this account, the heart of the sons of men is fully set within them, to commit wickedness.

Here was a vain thing which was done upon the earth - that there were righteous men unto whom it happened according to the work of the lawless, and there were lawless men, unto whom it happened according to the work of the righteous, - I said, that, even this, was vanity.

Then said, I, Better is wisdom than strength, - although, the wisdom of the poor man, be despised, and, his words, not heard.

Folly placed in great dignity, - while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:

In the morning, sow thy seed, and, until evening, do not withhold thy hand, - for thou knowest not - whether shall thrive, either this or that, or whether, both alike, shall be fruitful.

Truly sweet is the light, - and, pleasant to the eyes, to see the sun: