I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge."

And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

I have observed the burdens placed by God on human beings in order to perfect them.

I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life;

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.

Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless.

I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him,

There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings:

For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

Indeed, wisdom gives protection, just like money does, but it's better to know that wisdom gives life, to those who have mastered it.

I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

since you also know how often you have cursed others.

Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.

I have discovered only this: God made human beings for righteousness, but they seek many alternatives."

At least the living know they will die, but the dead know nothing; they no longer have a reward, since memory about them has been forgotten.

Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth.

And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.

Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts, because you don't know what disaster might befall the land.