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

I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."

For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies -- just like the fool!

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this" -- but it was beyond my grasp.

What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.

While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward -- and even the memory of them disappears.

What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.

I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth -- before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.