What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?

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

For neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered, since in days to come everything will be forgotten. The wise man dies the same way as the fool, does he not?

For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth?

What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes?

For what happens to people also happens to animals a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless.

When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them?

This is also a painful tragedy: However a person comes, he also departs; so what does he gain as he labors after the wind?

Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment.

a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.

A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is,

For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

Never ask "Why does the past seem so much better than now?" because this question does not come from wisdom.

Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it's better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

For there is not a single righteous man on earth who practices good and does not sin.

Don't be in a hurry to leave him, and don't persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases.

Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence.

Everyone shares the same experience: a single event affects the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, whoever sacrifices, and whoever does not sacrifice. As it is with the good person, so also it is with the sinner; as it is with someone who takes an oath, so also it is with someone who fears taking an oath.

I considered and observed on earth the following: The race doesn't go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the smart, nor recognition to the skilled. Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.

As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor.