All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

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

The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness -- and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold, the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

Therefore I praised the dead who have been long dead more than the living who are yet alive.

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. "For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment?" This also is vanity. Yes, it is a miserable business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don't marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

When goods increase, those who eat them are increased; and what advantage is there to its owner, except to feast on them with his eyes?

If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that a stillborn child is better than he:

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.

Also don't take heed to all words that are spoken, lest you hear your servant curse you;

I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.

for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

There is a vanity which is done on the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked. Again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn't know it; all is before them.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.

For man also doesn't know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.

Then I said, "Wisdom is better than strength." Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him who rules among fools.

The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.

Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;

in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,

The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.