All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place from where the rivers come, there they go again.

That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done. And there is no new thing under the sun.

Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

There is no remembrance of the former [things], nor shall there be any remembrance of the latter that are to come, among those who shall come after.

I made for me pools of water, to water from there the forest where trees were reared.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do, and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance forever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how the wise man dies even as the fool!

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skillfulness, yet he shall leave it to a man who has not labored in it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven:

I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

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

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words. But fear thou God.

If thou see the oppression of a poor man, and the violent wresting of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter. For [a man] higher than the high is observing, and there are higher [men] than they.

When goods increase, they are increased who eat them. And what advantage is there to the owner of it, except the beholding [of them] with his eyes?

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches [were] kept by the owner of it to his hurt.

And those riches perish in a bad venture. And if he has begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.

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

Since there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

All this I have seen in my days of vanity. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs [his life] in his evil-doing.

Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth that does good, and sins not.

For to every purpose there is a time and decision, although the distress of man is great upon him.

There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, nor has he power over the day of death. And there is no discharge in war. Neither shall wickedness deliver him who is given to it.

All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun. [There is] a time in which one man has power over another to his hurt.

There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked, again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is he who sees sleep with his eyes neither day nor night),

All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous man and to the wicked man, to the good man and to the clean man and to the unclean man, to him who sacrifices and to him who does not sacrifice, as is the good man,

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.

Because to him who is joined with all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

Whatever thy hand finds to do, do with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where thou go.

There was a little city, and few men within it. And there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.

Now there was found in it a poor wise man. And he by his wisdom delivered the city, yet no man remembered that same poor man.

There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceeds from the ruler:

If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.

If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth, and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.

And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.