Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Is there anything of which men say, See, this is new? It has been in the old time which was before us.

And who is to say if that man will be wise or foolish? But he will have power over all my work which I have done and in which I have been wise under the sun. This again is to no purpose.

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he has neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labor; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither says he, For whom do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a heavy travail.

Be not unwise with your mouth, and let not your heart be quick to say anything before God, because God is in heaven and you are on the earth--so let not the number of your words be great.

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that is was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?

If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:

Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Do not give ear to all the words which men say, for fear of hearing the curses of your servant.

Behold, this have I found, says the preacher, adding one thing to another, to find out the reason:

I say to you, Keep the king's law, from respect for the oath of God.

For the king's word hath power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

No one is certain what is to be, and who is able to say to him when it will be?

There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

And I saw all the work of God, that no man shall be able to find out the work that was done under the sun in whatsoever a man shall labor to seek out, and he shall not find: and also if the wise one shall say to know, he shall not be able to find.

And why? As long as a man liveth, he is careless: for a quick dog, say they, is better than a dead lion.

But I say that wisdom is better than strength, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heeded.

Yea also, when he that is a fool walks by the way, his wisdom fails him, and he says to every one that he is a fool.

The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?

Say not a curse against the king, even in your thoughts; and even secretly say not a curse against the man of wealth; because a bird of the air will take the voice, and that which has wings will give news of it.

Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity.