'On Earth' in the Bible

What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?

Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth.

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.

So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

Then I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me.

And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

So I came to be in despair about everything I had accomplished on earth.

For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth?

For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

I also examined on earth: where the halls of justice were supposed to be, there was lawlessness; and where the righteous were supposed to be, there was lawlessness. 17I told myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work."

Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.

Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him,

Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment.

There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings:

Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

For no one knows what is best for a person during his life -- during the few days of his fleeting life -- for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment.

There [is] a vanity that happens on earth: sometimes the righteous suffer what the wicked deserve, and sometimes the wicked receive what the righteous deserve. I said, "This also [is] vanity!"

So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.

I applied my mind to know wisdom and to understand the business that is done on earth--how neither day nor night one's eyes see sleep.

I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out.

There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.

Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth.

Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth.

I considered and observed on earth the following: The race doesn't go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the smart, nor recognition to the skilled. Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.

I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me:

Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer:

Give a portion to seven or even to eight,for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.