Does anything exist about which someone might say, "Look at this! Is this new?" It happened ages ago; it existed before we did.

I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge."

I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem.

So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise.

There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.

Do not excel at wickedness, nor be a fool. Why die before your time?

But things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.