I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

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.

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile -- like chasing the wind.

So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this" -- but it was beyond my grasp.

While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge -- for time and chance may overcome them all.

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.