That which has been is that which shall be; and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been in days of old, which were before us.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is a sad task God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.

I spoke within my own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have gathered more wisdom than all that have been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

When there is a man whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and with success; yet to a man who has not labored in it, he shall leave it for his share. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For what has man from all his labor, and from the troubling of his heart, in which he has labored under the sun?

I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.

He has made everything beautiful in His time; also He has set eternity in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.

That which has been is now; and that which is to be has already been; and God requires that which is past.

For that which happens to the sons of men also happens to beasts, even one thing happens to them. As this one dies, so that one dies; yea, they all have one breath; so that a man has no advantage over a beast; for all is vanity.

Yea, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither son nor brother; yet there is no end to all his labor; and his eyes are not satisfied with riches; and he says, For whom do I labor and take good from my soul? This is also vanity. Yes, it is an evil business.

When you vow a vow to God, do not wait to pay it. For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you have vowed.

And the advantage of a land, it is for all; even a king has a field being tilled.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all, as he came, so shall he go; and what profit does he have who has labored for the wind?

Also all his days he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

Also every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat of it and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

a man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Also he has not seen the sun, nor known anything. This one has more rest than the other.

Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet he has seen no good. Do not all go to one place?

For what has the wise more than the fool? What gain has the poor who knows how to walk before the living?

That which has been is named already, and it is known that he is man. And he is not able to contend with Him who is mightier than he.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity take note that God also has set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Lo, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions.

Because the word of a king is that which has power; and who may say to him, What are you doing?

There is no man who has power over the spirit to keep the spirit; nor power in the day of death; and there is no discharge in that war; nor shall wickedness deliver its owners.

Then I praised gladness, because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be glad; for that shall go with him of his labor for the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

Look on life with the wife whom you love all the days of the life of your vanity, which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity. For that is your share in this life, and in your labor which you labor under the sun.

Do not curse a king, no, not in your thought; and do not curse the rich in your bedroom; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which has wings shall tell the matter.

And further, by these, my son, be warned: The making of many books has no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.