Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. And, behold, this also was vanity.

I said of laughter, It is mad, and of mirth, What does it do?

Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it will happen even to me, and why then was I more wise? Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity.

I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous man and the wicked man, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are beasts.

All this I have proved in wisdom. I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that

Then I said, Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.