I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

I acquired servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that had been in Jerusalem before me.

And I became great, and increased more than all that had been before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

For there is a man whose labour hath been with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill, and who leaveth it to a man that hath not laboured therein, to be his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

And if a man overpower the one, the two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

For to every purpose there is time and manner. For the misery of man is great upon him;

This also have I seen as wisdom under the sun, and it was great unto me.

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and encompassed it, and built great bulwarks against it:

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.

folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.

before the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be shattered at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern;