What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?

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

The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.

All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.

No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

I thought to myself, "I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge."

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless -- like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?

I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:

The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies -- just like the fool!

So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile -- like chasing the wind.

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

I thought to myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.

I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is futile and a burdensome task!

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.

There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.

Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!

It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.

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?"

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

The sleep of the laborer is pleasant -- whether he eats little or much -- but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

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.

Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

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.

To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor -- instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years -- even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity -- even if he were to live forever -- I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!"

though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man --

if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!

All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach -- yet his appetite is never satisfied!

So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.

Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.

It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.

It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these days?" for it is not wise to ask that.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.

Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.

It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this" -- but it was beyond my grasp.

I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.

Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

Obey the king's command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

Do not rush out of the king's presence in haste -- do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he can do whatever he pleases.

Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"

Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, so no one has power over the day of his death. Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.

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.

When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.

So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth -- even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night --

then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.

So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated -- no one knows what lies ahead.

Everyone shares the same fate -- the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.

This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives -- then they die.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward -- and even the memory of them disappears.

Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.