A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth stands forever.

All the streams flow to the sea, but the sea is never full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.

There is a thing [of] which it is said, "Look at this! This is new!" [But] it already existed in ages past before us.

I said {to myself}, "Come! I will test pleasure {to see whether it is worthwhile}." But look, "This also [is] vanity!"

{The wise man can see where he is walking}, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that both of them suffer the same fate.

For to the person who [is] good in his eyes, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and heaping up only to give [it] to [him who is] pleasing to him. This also [is] vanity and chasing wind!

But better [off] than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

For if one falls, his companion may help him up. But pity the one who falls and there is {no one} to help him up.

Also if two lie together, {they can keep each other warm}. But how can one person be warm?

A poor but wise youth [is] better than an old but foolish king who no longer knows {how to receive advice}.

The sleep of the laborer [is] pleasant, whether he eats little or much, but the wealth of the rich man does not allow him to rest.

The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools [is] in the house of mirth.

{For wisdom offers protection like money offers protection}. But knowledge [has] an advantage--wisdom restores life to its possessor.

In the day of prosperity, rejoice! But in the day of adversity, consider! For God made one in place of another so that mortals cannot find out what will happen {in the future}.

All this I have tested with wisdom. I said, "I will be wise!" but {it was beyond my grasp}.

I myself found [that] more bitter than death [is] the woman who [is] a trap, whose heart [is] a snare, and whose hands [are] bonds. The one who pleases God escapes from her, but the sinner is caught by her.

Look! This alone I found: God made mankind upright, but they have devised many schemes."

Meanwhile, I saw the wicked being [honorably] buried, but those who came and went from the holy place were forgotten in the city, even though they had done so. This also [is] vanity!

But it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not prolong [their] days, like the shadow; because there is no fearing {God's presence}.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything. They no longer have a reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten.

Wisdom [is] better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

The heart of the wise [inclines] to his right, but the heart of the fool [inclines] to his left.

The fool is set in many high places, but the rich sit in lowly places.

If the ax is blunt but one does not sharpen its edge, {he must exert more effort}, but the advantage of wisdom [is] it brings success.

The wise man [wins] favor by the words of his mouth, but the fool is devoured by his own lips.

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth! Follow the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes-- but know that God will bring you into judgment for all these things.