What does a person gain in all his toil with which he toils under the sun?

Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there.

All things are full of toil; none can express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

Can one say about anything,
“Look, this is new”?
It has already existed in the ages before us.

There is no memory of those who have gone before, and of those who come after there will be no memory for those who are still to come after them.

That which is crooked can't be made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted.

Of laughter, I said, Madness! and, of mirth, What can it do?

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

{The wise man can see where he is walking}, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that both of them suffer the same fate.

So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

Of the wise man, as of the foolish man, there is no memory for ever, seeing that those who now are will have gone from memory in the days to come. See how death comes to the wise as to the foolish!

For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth?

For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

What does the worker gain in his toil?

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

So I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should be happy in his own works and activities, for that is his portion (share). For who will bring him [back] to see what will happen after he is gone?

I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. {I saw the tears of the oppressed-- no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful-- no one can comfort them}!

So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life.

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).

When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what advantage is there to their owners except to see them with their eyes?

As he came naked from his mother’s womb, so he will return as he came; and he will take away nothing from all his labor that he can carry in his hand.

This also is a grievous evil—exactly as he was born, so he shall die. So what advantage has he who labors for the wind?

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

So do the wise [really] have an advantage over fools? {Can the poor [really] gain anything by knowing how to act in front of others}?

It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

Say not, Why were the days which have gone by better than these? Such a question comes not from wisdom.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance; but it is gain to those who see the sun.

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

Do not be terrified of his presence! Go at once and do not delay when a matter [is] unpleasant, for he can do anything that he desires.

For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful,
And who will say to him, “What are you doing?”

For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

Just as no one can control the wind to restrain the wind, so also no one can control the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not deliver the wicked.

And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth -- even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night --

then I saw all the work of God, that man can't find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man labors to seek it out, yet he won't find it. Yes even though a wise man thinks he can comprehend it, he won't be able to find it.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner can destroy much good.

One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.

If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness can undo great offenses.

Someone who quarries stone might be injured; someone splitting logs can fall into danger.

A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

The work of a fool so wears him out that he can't even find his way to town.

Blessed are you, O land, when your king is a son of nobility and your princes feast at the proper time-- to gain strength and not to get drunk.

Also of that which is high they are afraid, And of the low places in the way, And the almond-tree is despised, And the grasshopper is become a burden, And want is increased, For man is going unto his home age-during, And the mourners have gone round through the street.