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.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is a sad task God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

I spoke within my own heart, saying, Lo, I have become great and have gathered more wisdom than all that have been before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge.

I sought in my heart to drag my flesh with wine, yet leading my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see where the good for the sons of men might be, what they should do under the heavens all the days of their life.

Is it not good that he should eat and drink and make his soul see good in his labor? This I also saw, that it was from the hand of God.

I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men to be humbled by it.

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.

Therefore I have seen that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

Yea, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter. For He who is higher than the highest watches; and there are some higher than they.

When the good thing increases, those who eat it increase; then what profit is it to its owners, except to see it with their eyes?

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for their owners to their hurt.

Behold that which I have seen. it is good and right for one to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor that he labors under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him; for it is his portion.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is great among men:

Also he has not seen the sun, nor known anything. This one has more rest than the other.

Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet he has seen no good. Do not all go to one place?

Wisdom is good with an inheritance; but it is gain to those who see the sun.

All things I have seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just one who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked one who prolongs life in his wickedness.

I set my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness;

All this I have seen, and I gave my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

When I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on the earth; for neither day nor night do men see sleep with their eyes.

Then I looked at all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labors to seek it out, yet he shall not find it. Yea, further, though a wise one speaks of knowing, yet he shall not be able to find it.

This wisdom I have seen also under the sun, and it seemed great to me.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like a sin which comes from a ruler's presence;

I have seen servants on horses and princes walking as servants on the earth.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know what shall be blessed, either this or that, or whether they both shall be fruitful in the same way.