All the labour that man taketh is for himself, and yet his desire is never filled after his mind.

For what hath the wise more than the fool? What helpeth it the poor, that he knoweth to walk before the living?

The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit, this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind.

The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

There is yet a plague under the Sun, and it is a general thing among men:

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man what shall happen after him under the Sun?

Many things there be that increase vanity, and what hath a man else?

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

If a man beget a hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet cannot enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

Yea, though he lived two thousand years, yet hath he no good life. Come not all to one place?

Moreover, he seeth not the Sun, and knoweth of no rest neither here nor there:

For he cometh to naught, and goeth his way into darkness, and his name is forgotten.