But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than these my bones.

Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:

Work

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.

Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.

For

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!

General references

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.