Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?'

I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives.

and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun!

Better to go unto a house of mourning, Than to go unto a house of banqueting, For that is the end of all men, And the living layeth it unto his heart.

Better is the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better is the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.

I have turned round, also my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and reason, and to know the wrong of folly, and of foolishness the madness.

The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly, And the latter end of his mouth Is mischievous madness.

Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.

The end of the whole matter let us hear: -- 'Fear God, and keep His commands, for this is the whole of man.