I spoke within my own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have gathered more wisdom than all that have been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Is it not good that he should eat and drink and make his soul see good in his labor? This I also saw, that it was from the hand of God.

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Also all his days he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

For he shall not much remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart.

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked?

Do not be righteous overmuch, neither make yourself overwise; why destroy yourself?

But it shall not be well with the wicked, nor shall he make his days longer like a shadow; because he does not fear before God.

For all this I took to heart, even to make all this clear, that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. No man knows either love or hatred by all that is before them.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

And further, by these, my son, be warned: The making of many books has no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.