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

Keep thy feet when thou goest unto a house of God, and draw near to hear rather than to give of fools the sacrifice, for they do not know they do evil.

Cause not thy mouth to hasten, and let not thy heart hasten to bring out a word before God, for God is in the heavens, and thou on the earth, therefore let thy words be few.

When thou vowest a vow to God, delay not to complete it, for there is no pleasure in fools; that which thou vowest -- complete.

Better that thou do not vow, than that thou dost vow and dost not complete.

For, in the abundance of dreams both vanities and words abound; but fear thou God.

If oppression of the poor, and violent taking away of judgment and righteousness thou seest in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for a higher than the high is observing, and high ones are over them.

Say not thou, 'What was it, That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

Be not over-righteous, nor show thyself too wise, why art thou desolate?

Do not much wrong, neither be thou a fool, why dost thou die within thy time?

It is good that thou dost lay hold on this, and also, from that withdrawest not thy hand, for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart, that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

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

Where the word of a king is power is, and who saith to him, 'What dost thou?'

See life with the wife whom thou hast loved, all the days of the life of thy vanity, that He hath given to thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity, for it is thy portion in life, even of thy labour that thou art labouring at under the sun.

All that thy hand findeth to do, with thy power do, for there is no work, and device, and knowledge, and wisdom in Sheol whither thou art going.

Happy art thou, O land, When thy king is a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.

Send forth thy bread on the face of the waters, For in the multitude of the days thou dost find it.

Give a portion to seven, and even to eight, For thou knowest not what evil is on the earth.

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, How -- bones in the womb of the full one, So thou knowest not the work of God who maketh the whole.

In the morning sow thy seed, And at even withdraw not thy hand, For thou knowest not which is right, this or that, Or whether both of them alike are good.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy childhood, And let thy heart gladden thee in days of thy youth, And walk in the ways of thy heart, And in the sight of thine eyes, And know thou that for all these, Doth God bring thee into judgment.

Remember also thy Creators in days of thy youth, While that the evil days come not, Nor the years have arrived, that thou sayest, 'I have no pleasure in them.'