Then I saw all the work of God, and that man may not get knowledge of the work which is done under the sun; because, if a man gives hard work to the search he will not get knowledge, and even if the wise man seems to be coming to the end of his search, still he will be without knowledge.

He who is watching the wind will not get the seed planted, and he who is looking at the clouds will not get in the grain.

I got together silver and gold and the wealth of kings and of countries. I got makers of song, male and female; and the delights of the sons of men--girls of all sorts to be my brides.

There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

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

And I gave my heart to getting knowledge of wisdom, and of the ways of the foolish. And I saw that this again was desire for wind.

I got men-servants and women-servants, and they gave birth to sons and daughters in my house. I had great wealth of herds and flocks, more than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

What does a man get for all his work, and for the weight of care with which he has done his work under the sun?

To the man with whom he is pleased, God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of getting goods together and storing up wealth, to give to him in whom God has pleasure. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind.

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

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.

Sorrow is better than joy; when the face is sad the mind gets better.

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.

Look! this I have seen, said the Preacher, taking one thing after another to get the true account,