I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life.

So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

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

The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy life's goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself,

for who can eat or enjoy life apart from him?

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

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

Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment.

For he will not brood much over the days of his life, since God will keep him occupied with the joys of his heart.

A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is,

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

Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

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.

But things will not go well for the wicked person: he will not lengthen his life like a shadow, since he has no fear before God.

So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.

In light of all of this, I committed myself to explain it this way: the righteous and the wise, along with everything they do, are in the hands of God. Furthermore, as to love and hate, no human being knows everything concerning them.

There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.

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

Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth.

Festivals are for laughter, wine makes life pleasant, and money speaks to everything.

So enjoy yourself in your youth, young man, and be encouraged during your younger days. Live as you like, consistent with your world view, but keep in mind that God will bring you to account for everything.

Banish sorrow from your heart, and evil from your body, since both childhood and the prime of life are pointless.