And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind.

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.

I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.”

For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God’s sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”

Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.

I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

Sorrow is better than laughter,
For when a face is sad a heart may be happy.

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.

folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.

Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.