And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I did not withhold my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my part of all my labor.

And I turned to cause my heart to despair over all the labor which I did under the sun.

And I commended the dead who already have died, more than the living who are living now.

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

For whoever is chosen, to all those living, there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they shall die; but the dead do not know anything, nor do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink and ferment; so a little folly is more rare than wisdom and than honor.