I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.”

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility.

I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is vanity.”

I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous man and the wicked man,” for a time for every matter and for every deed is there.

I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.”

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.