One generation passeth away, another cometh, but the earth abideth still.

Is there anything, whereof it may be said, "Lo, this is new?" For it was long ago in the times that have been before us.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, "Lo, I am come to a great estate, and have gotten more wisdom, than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem." Yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge,

Then said I thus in my heart, "Now go to, I will take mine ease and have good days." But lo, that was vanity also:

So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that among all the things which are under the Sun, I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.

I made me orchards and gardens of pleasure, and planted trees in them of all manner fruits.

I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.

Shortly, I was greater and in more worship, than all my predecessors in Jerusalem. For wisdom remained with me:

And look whatsoever mine eyes desired, I let them have it: and wherein soever my heart delighted, or had any pleasure, I withheld it not from it. Thus my heart rejoiced in all that I did, and this I took for the portion of all my travail.

But when I considered all the works that my hands had wrought, and all the labours that I had taken therein: Lo, all was vanity and vexation of mind, and nothing of any value under the Sun.

Then turned I me to consider wisdom, error and foolishness: for what is he among men, that might be compared to me the king in such work?

For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end.

Then thought I in my mind, "If it happeneth unto the fool as it doth unto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdom?" So I confessed within my heart, that this also was but vanity.

For the wise are ever as little in remembrance as the foolish, and all the days for to come shall be forgotten, yea the wise man dieth as well as the fool.

Thus began I to be weary of my life, in so much that I could away with nothing that is done under the Sun, for all was but vanity and vexation of mind:

but heaviness, sorrow and disquietness all the days of his life? Insomuch that his heart cannot rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing?

Is it not better then for a man to eat and drink, and his soul to be merry in his labour? Yea I saw that this also was a gift of God:

A time to win, and a time to lose; A time to spare, and a time to spend;

A time to cut in pieces, and a time to sew together; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

For as touching the travail and carefulness which God hath given unto men, I see that he hath given it them, to be exercised in it.

All this hath he ordained marvelous goodly, to every thing his due time. He hath planted ignorance also in the hearts of men, that they should not find out the ground of his works, which he doth from the beginning to the end.

So I perceived, that in these things there is nothing better for a man, then to be merry and to do well so long as he liveth.

Moreover, I saw under the sun ungodliness in the stead of judgment, and iniquity instead of righteousness.

Then thought I in my mind, "God shall separate the righteous from the ungodly, and then shall be the time and judgment of all counsels and works."

I communed with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appear as though they were beasts.

For it happeneth unto men as it doth unto beasts, and as the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, they have both one manner of breath, so that - in this - a man hath no preeminence above a beast, but all are subdued unto vanity.

They go all unto one place, for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turn unto dust again.

Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothing better for a man, than to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing that shall come after him?

The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth up his own flesh.

"One handful," sayeth he, "is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail."

There is one man, no more but himself alone, having neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of his careful travail, his eyes cannot be satisfied with riches. Yet, doth he not remember himself, and say, "For whom do I take such travail? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life?" This is also a vain and miserable thing.

Therefore two are better than one, for they may well enjoy the profit of their labour.

If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up.

Again, when two sleep together, they are warm: but how can a body be warm alone?

One may be overcome, but two may make resistance: A threefold cable is not lightly broken.

A poor child being wise, is better than an old king that doteth, and cannot beware in time to come.

Someone cometh out of prison, and is made a king; and another which is born in the kingdom, cometh unto poverty.

And I perceived, that all men living under the Sun, go with the second child, that cometh up in the stead of the other.

As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. (v17) When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do

and let not thine heart speak anything rashly before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.

If thou make a vow unto God, be not slack to perform it. As for foolish vows, he hath no pleasure in them.

If thou seest the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withal, so that equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou at such judgment, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together.

The whole land also with the fields and all that is therein, is in subjection and bondage unto the king.

He that loveth money, will never be satisfied with money: and whoso delighteth in riches, shall have no profit thereof. Is not this also a vain thing?

Yet is there a sore plague, which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession.

This is a miserable plague, that he shall go away even as he came. What helpeth him then, that he hath labored in the wind?

All the days of his life also must he eat in the dark, with great carefulness, sickness and sorrow.

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

If a man beget a hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet cannot enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

Yea, though he lived two thousand years, yet hath he no good life. Come not all to one place?

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man what shall happen after him under the Sun?

It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy the heart is joyful.

The heart of the wise is in the mourning house; but the heart of the foolish is in the house of mirth.

Be not hastily angry in thy mind, for wrath resteth in the bosom of a fool.

For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life to him that have it in possession.

Use well the time of prosperity and remember the time of misfortune: For God maketh one by the other, so that a man can find nothing else.

These two things also have I considered in the time of vanity: that the just man perisheth for his righteousness' sake, and the ungodly liveth in his wickedness.

For there is not one just upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

For thine own heart knoweth, that thou thyself also hast oft times spoken evil by other men.

Among a thousand men I have found one, but not one woman among all.

Who is wise? Who hath knowledge to make an answer? Wisdom maketh a man's face to shine, but malice putteth it out of favour.

Be not hasty to go out of his sight, and see thou continue in no evil thing: for whatsoever it pleaseth him, that doeth he.

Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"

Neither is there any man that hath power over the spirit, to keep still the spirit, nor to have any power in the time of death: it is not he also that can make an end of the battle, neither may ungodliness deliver him that meddleth withall.

All these things have I considered, and applied my mind unto every work that is under the Sun: how one man hath lordship upon another to his own harm.

For I have oft seen the ungodly brought to their graves, and fallen down from the high and glorious place; insomuch that they were forgotten in the city where they were had in so high and great reputation. This is also a vain thing.

But though an evil person offend a hundredth times, and have a long life: yet am I sure, that it shall go well with them that fear God, because they have him before their eyes.

And so I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world; and that of such a fashion that I suffered not my eyes to sleep neither day nor night.

For all these things purposed I in my mind to seek out. The righteous and wise, yea and their servants also are in the hand of God: and there is no man that knoweth either love or hate, but all things are before them.

It happeneth unto one as unto another; It goeth with the righteous as with the ungodly; with the good and clean as with the unclean; with him that offereth as with him that offereth not; like as it goeth with the virtuous, so goeth it also with the sinner; As it happeneth unto the perjured, so happeneth it also unto him that is afraid to be foresworn.

Among all things that come to pass under the Sun, this is a mystery, that it happeneth unto all alike. This is the cause also that the hearts of men are full of wickedness, and mad foolishness is in their hearts, as long as they live, until they die.

so that they be neither loved, hated nor envied: neither have they anymore part in the world, in all that is done under the Sun.

Go thou thy way then, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with gladness, for thy works please God.

Use thy self to live joyfully with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy life which is but vanity, that God hath given thee under the Sun; all the days of thy vanity. For that is thy portion in this life, of all thy labor and travail that thou takest under the Sun.

Whatsoever thou takest in hand to do, that do with all thy power: for among the dead, where thou goest unto, there is neither work, counsel, knowledge nor wisdom.

So I turned me unto other things under the Sun, and I saw that in running it helpeth not to be swift; in battle it helpeth not to be strong; to feeding it helpeth not to be wise; to riches, it helpeth not to be suttle; to be had in favour, it helpeth not to be cunning: but that all lieth in time and fortune.

For man knoweth not his time, but like as the fish are taken with the angle and as the birds are caught with the snare: Even so are men taken in the perilous time, when it cometh suddenly upon them.

And in the city there was found a poor man - but he was wise - which with his wisdom delivered the city: yet was there no body, that had any respect for such a simple man.

A wise man's counsel that is followed in silence, is far above the crying of a captain among fools.

For wisdom is better than harness: but one unthrifty alone destroyeth much good.

Dead flies corrupt sweet ointment and make it to stink. Even so, oft times, he that hath been had in estimation for wisdom and honour is abhorred because of a little foolishness.

If a principal spirit be given thee to bear rule, be not negligent then in thine office: for so shall great wickedness be put down, as it were with a medicine.

in that a fool sitteth in great dignity, and the rich are set down beneath.

When an iron is blunt, and the point not sharpened, it must be whet again, and that with might. Even so doth wisdom follow diligence.

The labour of the foolish is grievous unto them, while they know not how to go in to the city.

But well is thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust.

Through slothfulness the balks fall down, and through idle hands it raineth in at the house.

Meat maketh men to laugh, and wine maketh them merry; but unto money are all things obedient.

Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.

When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And when the tree falleth, whether it be toward the South or North, in what place soever it fall, there it lieth.

Now, like as thou knowest not the way of the wind, nor how the bones are filled in a mother's womb: Even so thou knowest not the works of God, which is the workmaster of all.

Cease not thou therefore with thy hands to sow thy seed, whether it be in the morning or in the evening: for then knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, and if they both take, it is the better.

If a man live many years, and be glad in them all, let him remember the days of darkness, which shall be many: And when they come, all things shall be but vanity.

Be glad then, O thou young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart be merry in thy young days; follow the ways of thine own heart, and the lust of thine eyes: but be thou sure, that God shall bring thee into judgment for all these things.

Remember thy maker in thy youth, before the days of adversity come, and or the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, "I have no pleasure in them";

when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and when the strong men shall bow themselves; when the millers stand still, because they be so few, and when the sight of the windows shall wax dim;

when the doors in the streets shall be shut, and when the voice of the miller shall be laid down; when men shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and when all the daughters of music shall be brought low;

When men shall fear in high places, and be afraid in the streets; when the Almond tree shall be despised, the grasshopper born out, and when great poverty shall break in; when man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

For the words of the wise are like pricks and nails that go through, wherewith men are kept together: for they are given of one shepherd only.

Therefore beware, my son, that above these thou make them not many and innumerable books, nor take divers doctrines in hand, to weary thy body withal.