Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been in days of old, which were before us.

I said in my heart, Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore consider and behold goodness; this also is vanity.

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

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

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

I said in my heart concerning the matter of sons of men, that God might reveal them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

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

There is a vanity which is done on the earth: There are just ones to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked ones to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.

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