The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, "It was a mistake!" Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?"

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.

I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.

Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time -- with self-control and not in drunkenness.

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.

before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.