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

Be not hasty with thy mouth,

and let not thine heart speak anything rashly before God. For God is in heaven, and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be few.

Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh for to sin, neither say thou before the angel that it is thy ignorance. For then God will be angry at thy voice, and destroy all the works of thine hands.

Be not hastily angry in thy mind, for wrath resteth in the bosom of a fool.

be neither too unrighteous also nor too foolish, lest thou die before thy time.

It is good for thee to take hold of this, and not to let that go out of thy hand. For he that feareth God shall escape them all.

Take not heed unto every word that is spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:

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

Let thy garments be always white, and let thy head want none ointment.

Use thy self to live joyfully with thy wife whom thou lovest, all the days of thy life which is but vanity, that God hath given thee under the Sun; all the days of thy vanity. For that is thy portion in this life, of all thy labor and travail that thou takest under the Sun.

Whatsoever thou takest in hand to do, that do with all thy power: for among the dead, where thou goest unto, there is neither work, counsel, knowledge nor wisdom.

Wish the king no evil in thy thought, and speak no hurt of the rich in thy privy chamber; for a bird of the air shall betray thy voice, and with her feathers shall she betray thy words.

Send thy victuals over the waters, and so shalt thou find them after many years.

Cease not thou therefore with thy hands to sow thy seed, whether it be in the morning or in the evening: for then knowest not whether this or that shall prosper, and if they both take, it is the better.

Be glad then, O thou young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart be merry in thy young days; follow the ways of thine own heart, and the lust of thine eyes: but be thou sure, that God shall bring thee into judgment for all these things.

Put away displeasure out of thine heart, and remove evil from thy body: for childhood and youth is but vanity.

Remember thy maker in thy youth, before the days of adversity come, and or 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.