All is but vanity - sayeth the Preacher - all is but plain vanity.

All floods run into the sea, and yet the sea is not filled: for look, unto what place the waters run, thence they come again.

All things are so hard, that no man can express them. The eye is not satisfied with sight; the ear is not filled with hearing.

The thing that hath been, cometh to pass again; and the thing that hath been done, again is done - there is nothing new under the Sun.

Is there anything, whereof it may be said, "Lo, this is new?" For it was long ago in the times that have been before us.

The thing that is past, is out of remembrance; Even so the things that are for to come, shall no more be thought upon among them that come after.

For where much wisdom is, there is also great travail and disquietness; and the more knowledge a man hath, the more is his care.

So I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, to apply my mind unto wisdom, and to comprehend foolishness until the time that among all the things which are under the Sun, I might see what were best for men to do, so long as they live under heaven.

I bought servants and maidens, and had a great household. As for cattle and sheep, I had more substance of them than all they that were before me in Jerusalem.

Then turned I me to consider wisdom, error and foolishness: for what is he among men, that might be compared to me the king in such work?

And I saw that wisdom excelleth foolishness, as far as light doth darkness.

For a wise man beareth his eyes about in his head, but the fool goeth in the darkness. I perceived also that they both had one end.

Then thought I in my mind, "If it happeneth unto the fool as it doth unto me, what needeth me then to labour any more for wisdom?" So I confessed within my heart, that this also was but vanity.

For the wise are ever as little in remembrance as the foolish, and all the days for to come shall be forgotten, yea the wise man dieth as well as the fool.

Thus began I to be weary of my life, in so much that I could away with nothing that is done under the Sun, for all was but vanity and vexation of mind:

For who knoweth, whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? And yet shall he be lord of all my labours, which I with such wisdom have taken under the Sun. Is not this a vain thing?

So I turned me to refrain my mind from all such travail, as I took under the Sun:

Forsomuch as a man should weary himself with wisdom, with understanding and opportunity, and yet be fain to leave his labours unto another, that never sweat for them. This is also a vain thing and a great misery.

but heaviness, sorrow and disquietness all the days of his life? Insomuch that his heart cannot rest in the night. Is not this also a vain thing?

Is it not better then for a man to eat and drink, and his soul to be merry in his labour? Yea I saw that this also was a gift of God:

He giveth unto man, what it pleaseth him; whether it be wisdom, understanding, or gladness. But unto the sinner he giveth weariness and sorrow, that he may gather and heap together the thing, that afterward shall be given unto him whom it pleaseth God. This is now a vain thing, yea a very disquietness and vexation of mind.

Every thing hath a time; yea, all that is under the heaven, hath his convenient season.

There is a time to be born, and a time to die. There is a time to plant, and a time to pluck up the thing, that is planted;

For as touching the travail and carefulness which God hath given unto men, I see that he hath given it them, to be exercised in it.

So I perceived, that in these things there is nothing better for a man, then to be merry and to do well so long as he liveth.

For all that a man eateth and drinketh, yea whatsoever a man enjoyeth of all his labor, the same is a gift of God.

The thing that hath been, is now; and the thing that is for to come, hath been afore time: for God restoreth again the thing that was past.

I communed with mine own heart also concerning the children of men: how God hath chosen them, and yet letteth them appear as though they were beasts.

For it happeneth unto men as it doth unto beasts, and as the one dieth, so dieth the other. Yea, they have both one manner of breath, so that - in this - a man hath no preeminence above a beast, but all are subdued unto vanity.

They go all unto one place, for as they be all of dust, so shall they all turn unto dust again.

Wherefore I perceive, that there is nothing better for a man, than to be joyful in his labour, for that is his portion. But who will bring him to see the thing that shall come after him?

So I turned me, and considered all the violent wrong that is done under the Sun, and beheld the tears of such as were oppressed; and there was no man to comfort them or that would deliver and defend them from the violence of their oppressors.

Wherefore I judged those that are dead, to be more happy than such as be alive.

Yea, him that is yet unborn to be better at ease than they both, because he seeth not the miserable works that are done under the Sun.

Again, I saw that all travail and diligence of labour was hated of every man. This is also a vain thing, and a vexation of mind.

"One handful," sayeth he, "is better with rest, than both the hands full with labor and travail."

There is one man, no more but himself alone, having neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of his careful travail, his eyes cannot be satisfied with riches. Yet, doth he not remember himself, and say, "For whom do I take such travail? For whose pleasure do I thus consume away my life?" This is also a vain and miserable thing.

If one of them fall, his companion helpeth him up again: But woe is him that is alone, for if he fall, he hath not another to help him up.

One may be overcome, but two may make resistance: A threefold cable is not lightly broken.

A poor child being wise, is better than an old king that doteth, and cannot beware in time to come.

Someone cometh out of prison, and is made a king; and another which is born in the kingdom, cometh unto poverty.

As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. (v17) When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do

and let not thine heart speak anything rashly before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.

For where much carefulness is, there are many dreams: and where many words are, there men may hear fools.

If thou make a vow unto God, be not slack to perform it. As for foolish vows, he hath no pleasure in them.

If thou promise anything, pay it; for better it is that thou make no vow than that thou shouldest promise, and not pay.

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh for to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it is thy ignorance. For then God will be angry at thy voice, and destroy all the works of thine hands.

If thou seest the poor to be oppressed and wrongfully dealt withal, so that equity and the right of the law is wrested in the land: marvel not thou at such judgment, for one great man keepeth touch with another, and the mighty help themselves together.

The whole land also with the fields and all that is therein, is in subjection and bondage unto the king.

He that loveth money, will never be satisfied with money: and whoso delighteth in riches, shall have no profit thereof. Is not this also a vain thing?

Yet is there a sore plague, which I have seen under the sun: namely, riches kept to the hurt of him that hath them in possession.

Like as he came naked out of his mother's womb, so goeth he thither again, and carryeth nothing away with him of all his labour.

This is a miserable plague, that he shall go away even as he came. What helpeth him then, that he hath labored in the wind?

Therefore me think it a better and fairer thing, a man to eat and drink, and to be refreshed of all his labour that he taketh under the Sun all the days of his life which God giveth him: for this is his portion.

For unto whomsoever God giveth riches, goods and power, he giveth it him to enjoy it, to take it for his portion, and to be refreshed of his labour: this is now the gift of God.

For he thinketh not much how long he shall live, forsomuch as God filleth his heart with gladness.

There is yet a plague under the Sun, and it is a general thing among men:

When God giveth a man riches, goods and honour, so that he wanteth nothing of all that his heart can desire, and yet God giveth him not leave to enjoy the same, but another man spendeth them. This is a vain thing and a miserable plague.

If a man beget a hundredth children, and live many years, so that his days are many in number, and yet cannot enjoy his good, neither be buried: as for him I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.

For he cometh to naught, and goeth his way into darkness, and his name is forgotten.

All the labour that man taketh is for himself, and yet his desire is never filled after his mind.

For what hath the wise more than the fool? What helpeth it the poor, that he knoweth to walk before the living?

The sight of the eyes is better, then that the soul should so depart away. Howbeit, this is also a vain thing and a disquietness of mind.

The thing that hath been is named already, and known - that it is man himself: neither may he go to law with him that is mightier than he.

For who knoweth what is good for man living, in the days of his vain life, which is but a shadow? Or, who will tell a man what shall happen after him under the Sun?

A good name is more worth than a precious ointment, and the day of death is better than the day of birth.

It is better to go into a house of mourning, than into a banquet house: For there is the end of all men, and he that is living taketh it to heart.

It is better to be sorry than to laugh, for when the countenance is heavy the heart is joyful.

The heart of the wise is in the mourning house; but the heart of the foolish is in the house of mirth.

It is better to give ear to the chastening of a wise man, than to hear the song of fools.

For the laughing of fools is like the crackling of thorns under a pot. And that is but a vain thing.

Whoso doeth wrong, maketh a wise man to go out of his wit, and destroyeth a gentle heart.

The end of a thing is better than the beginning. The patient of spirit is better than the high minded.

Say not thou, "What is the cause that the days of the old time were better than they that be now?" For that were no wise question.

Wisdom is better than riches; yea, much more worth than the eyesight.

For wisdom defendeth as well as money, and the excellent knowledge and wisdom giveth life to him that have it in possession.

Use well the time of prosperity and remember the time of misfortune: For God maketh one by the other, so that a man can find nothing else.

Therefore be thou neither too righteous nor over wise, that thou perish not:

It is good for thee to take hold of this, and not to let that go out of thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape them all.

Wisdom giveth more courage unto the wise, than ten mighty men of the city.

For there is not one just upon earth, that doth good, and sinneth not.

Take not heed unto every word that is spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

All these things have I proved because of wisdom: For I thought to be wise, but she went farther from me than she was before;

And I found, that a woman is bitterer than death: for she is a very angle, her heart is a net, and her hands are chains. Who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner will be taken with her.

Behold - sayeth the preacher - this have I diligently searched out and proved, that I might come by knowledge: which as yet I seek, and find it not.

Who is wise? Who hath knowledge to make an answer? Wisdom maketh a man's face to shine, but malice putteth it out of favour.

Like as when a king giveth a charge, his commandment is mighty: Even so whom may say unto him, "What doest thou?"

Whoso keepeth the commandment, shall feel no harm: but a wise man's heart discerneth time and manner.

And why? A man knoweth not what is for to come: for who will tell him?

Neither is there any man that hath power over the spirit, to keep still the spirit, nor to have any power in the time of death: it is not he also that can make an end of the battle, neither may ungodliness deliver him that meddleth withall.

All these things have I considered, and applied my mind unto every work that is under the Sun: how one man hath lordship upon another to his own harm.

For I have oft seen the ungodly brought to their graves, and fallen down from the high and glorious place; insomuch that they were forgotten in the city where they were had in so high and great reputation. This is also a vain thing.

Again, as for the ungodly, it shall not be well with him, neither shall he prolong his days: but even as a shadow, so shall he be that feareth not God.

Yet is there a vanity upon earth: there be just men, unto whom it happeneth, as though they had the works of the ungodly; Again, there be ungodly, with whom it goeth as though they had the works of the righteous. This me think also a vain thing.

And so I applied my mind to learn wisdom, and to know the travail that is in the world; and that of such a fashion that I suffered not my eyes to sleep neither day nor night.

I understood of all the works of God, that it is not possible for a man, to attain unto works that are done under the Sun: and though he bestow his labour to seek them out, yet can he not reach unto them: yea, though a wise man would undertake to know them, yet might he not find them.

For all these things purposed I in my mind to seek out. The righteous and wise, yea and their servants also are in the hand of God: and there is no man that knoweth either love or hate, but all things are before them.

It happeneth unto one as unto another; It goeth with the righteous as with the ungodly; with the good and clean as with the unclean; with him that offereth as with him that offereth not; like as it goeth with the virtuous, so goeth it also with the sinner; As it happeneth unto the perjured, so happeneth it also unto him that is afraid to be foresworn.

Among all things that come to pass under the Sun, this is a mystery, that it happeneth unto all alike. This is the cause also that the hearts of men are full of wickedness, and mad foolishness is in their hearts, as long as they live, until they die.

And why? As long as a man liveth, he is careless: for a quick dog, say they, is better than a dead lion.