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

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

The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy life's goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself,

for who can eat or enjoy life apart from him?

a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes?

He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end.

moreover, every person should eat, drink, and enjoy the benefits of everything that he undertakes, since it is a gift from God.

I have concluded that everything that God undertakes will last for eternity nothing can be added to it nor taken away from it and that God acts this way so that people will fear him.

All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust.

Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much.

Just as he came naked from his mother's womb, he will leave as naked as he came; he will receive no profit from his efforts he cannot carry away even a handful.

Furthermore, for every person to whom God has given wealth, riches, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept this allotment, and to rejoice in his work this is a gift from God.

Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

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

I discovered for myself a bitterness that surpasses that of death: the woman whose heart is full of snares and nets, whose hands are chains of bondage. Whoever pleases God will escape from her, but the transgressor will be trapped by her.

Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer:

Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life are pointless.

Sayings from the wise are like cattle prods and well fastened nails; this masterful collection was given by one shepherd.

So learn from them, my son. There is no end to the crafting of many books, and too much study wearies the body.