This is what I have seen: it is good and fair for a man to take meat and drink and to have joy in all his work under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; that is his reward.

Every man to whom God has given money and wealth and the power to have pleasure in it and to do his part and have joy in his work: this is given by God.

Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

All this have I seen, and have given my heart to all the work which is done under the sun: there is a time when man has power over man for his destruction.

Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil.

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.

Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength, but the poor man's wisdom is not respected, and his words are not given a hearing.

The words of the wise are pointed, and sayings grouped together are like nails fixed with a hammer; they are given by one guide.