The wind goeth towards the south, and turneth about towards the north: it turneth about continually, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

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

So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.

I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?”

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.

For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end.

Then I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour wherewith I had laboured under the sun.

I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.

For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.

Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

I turned about, and my heart was set to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason of things , and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.

For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about?

And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.

This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives -- then they die.

At least the living know they will die, but the dead know nothing; they no longer have a reward, since memory about them has been forgotten.

Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it.

Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it.

So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many -- all that is about to come is obscure.

yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors'shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:

But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.