Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already in the ages which were before us.

I said in my heart, Come now, I will try thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. But behold, this also is vanity.

I said of laughter, Madness! and of mirth, What availeth it?

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

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

I said in my heart, It is thus with the children of men, that God may prove them, and that they should see that they themselves are but beasts.

All this have I tried by 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 unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; and there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

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