And nothing which was desired by my eyes did I keep from them; I did not keep any joy from my heart, because my heart took pleasure in all my work, and this was my reward.

Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!

There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.

A time to take stones away and a time to get stones together; a time for kissing and a time to keep from kissing;

He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to the last.

And for every man to take food and drink, and have joy in all his work, is a reward from God.

I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that man may be in fear before him.

And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter.

It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth. For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work.

As a dream comes from much business, so the voice of a foolish man comes with words in great number.

Because much talk comes from dreams and things of no purpose. But let the fear of God be in you.

As he came from his mother at birth, so does he go again; he gets from his work no reward which he may take away in his hand.

Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom.

Wisdom keeps a man from danger even as money does; but the value of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to its owner.

It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two.

There is no man on earth of such righteousness that he does good and is free from sin all his days.

All this I have put to the test by wisdom; I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

And I saw a thing more bitter than death, even the woman whose heart is full of tricks and nets, and whose hands are as bands. He with whom God is pleased will get free from her, but the sinner will be taken by her.

I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God.

Be not quick to go from before him. Be not fixed in an evil design, because he does whatever is pleasing to him.

And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which comes by chance from a ruler:

He who gets out stones from the earth will be damaged by them, and in the cutting of wood there is danger.

So put away trouble from your heart, and sorrow from your flesh; because the early years and the best years are to no purpose.