I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock -- both herds and flocks -- than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?

So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless -- like chasing the wind.

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

though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man --

All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach -- yet his appetite is never satisfied!

It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.

Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.

The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.