That which is bent may not be made straight, and that which is not there may not be numbered.

I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

I made myself gardens and fruit gardens, planting in them fruit-trees of all sorts.

I made pools to give water for the woods with their young trees.

Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

There is nothing better for a man than taking meat and drink, and having delight in his work. This again I saw was from the hand of God.

He has made everything right in its time; but he has made their hearts without knowledge, so that man is unable to see the works of God, from the first to the last.

I am certain that whatever God does will be for ever. No addition may be made to it, nothing may be taken from it; and God has done it so that man may be in fear before him.

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.

Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent?

This only have I seen, that God made men upright, but they have been searching out all sorts of inventions.

So I gave praise to joy, because there is nothing better for a man to do under the sun than to take meat and drink and be happy; for that will be with him in his work all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

There was a little town and the number of its men was small, and there came a great king against it and made an attack on it, building works of war round about it.

As you have no knowledge of the way of the wind, or of the growth of the bones in the body of her who is with child, even so you have no knowledge of the works of God who has made all.

When the doors are shut in the street, and the sound of the crushing is low, and the voice of the bird is soft, and the daughters of music will be made low;

The Preacher made search for words which were pleasing, but his writing was in words upright and true.