I also {explored} {the effects of indulging my flesh} with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, {I investigated} folly so that I might discover what [is] good under heaven for {humans} to do {during the days of their lives}.

I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all [sorts of] fruit trees in them.

I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.

He has made everything suitable in its time. He also has put {the past} in their hearts, yet no one can grasp what God does from the beginning to the end.

I know everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken from it, for God so acts that humans might stand in awe before him.

Sorrow [is] better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made good.

Consider the work of God. For who is able to make straight what he made crooked?

In the day of prosperity, rejoice! But in the day of adversity, consider! For God made one in place of another so that mortals cannot find out what will happen {in the future}.

Look! This alone I found: God made mankind upright, but they have devised many schemes."

Whatever your hand finds to do--do [it] with [all] your might; for in Sheol--where you are going--no one works, plans, knows, or thinks about anything.

So I concluded that wisdom [is] better than might, yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.