I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it is vanity.

insomuch that I said unto laughter, "Thou art mad," and to mirth, "What doest thou?"

As for the people that have been before him, and that come after him, they are innumerable: yet is not their joy the greater through him. This is also a vain thing and a vexation of mind. (v17) When thou comest into the house of God, keep thy foot and draw nigh, that thou mayest hear: that is better than the offerings of fools, for they know not what evil they do

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.

Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

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?

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

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.

Thou shalt not be hastened in thy spirit to be angry, for anger shall rest in the bosom of fools.

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

In the day of good, be in good; and in the day of evil, see thou: also God made this over against this, to the end that man shall not find anything after him.

Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?

Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.

Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;

for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

I said , The bidding of the king, observe thou, even out of regard to the oath of God.

Be not troubled at his presence, thou mayest go, stand not in an evil thing, for all that he pleaseth he doth.

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

Go thou thy way then, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with gladness, for thy works please God.

Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.

If the spirit of him ruling shall go up against thee, thou shalt not leave thy place; for quietness will put down great sins.

Woe be unto thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is but a child, and whose princes are early at their banquets.

Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!

Thou shalt not curse the king in thy consciousness, and in thy bed-chamber thou shalt not curse the rich for the bird of the heavens will bring the voice, and the possessor of wings shall announce the word.

Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Therefore remove thou vexation from thy heart, and put away discomfort from thy flesh, - for, youth and dawn, are vanity!

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;

Therefore beware, my son, that above these thou make them not many and innumerable books, nor take divers doctrines in hand, to weary thy body withal.

We will hear the end of all the word: Fear thou God, and watch his commands: for this is all man.