Going unto the south, and circling unto the north, - circling, circling continually, is, the wind, and, over its own circuits, returneth the wind.

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have acquired wisdom more than all they that have been before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.

And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour at which I have laboured, and wherein I have been wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

So I turned aside and let my heart despair over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

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!

For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity.

There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.

For he will not brood much over the days of his life, since God will keep him occupied with the joys of his heart.

And though he goes on living a thousand years twice over and does not see good, are not the two going to the same place?

For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you?

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

No man has authority over the wind, to keep the wind; or is ruler over the day of his death. In war no man's time is free, and evil will not keep the sinner safe.

All this have I seen, and have given my heart to all the work which is done under the sun: there is a time when man has power over man for his destruction.

Because now that evil works are not hastily punished, the heart of man giveth himself over unto wickedness.

The words of the wise in quiet are heard, More than the cry of a ruler over fools.

Send thy victuals over the waters, and so shalt thou find them after many years.

when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim,