What does a person gain in all his toil with which he toils under the sun?

What has been--it is what will be; what has been done--it is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.

I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It [is] a grievous task God has given to {humans}.

I saw all the works that are done under the sun. Look! Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind.

I also {explored} {the effects of indulging my flesh} with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, {I investigated} folly so that I might discover what [is] good under heaven for {humans} to do {during the days of their lives}.

Yet when I considered all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, "Everything [is] vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!"

So I hated life because the work done under the sun [is] grievous to me. For everything [is] vanity and chasing wind!

So I hated all my toil with which I have toiled under the sun, for I must leave it behind to someone who will be after me.

And who knows [whether] he will be wise or foolish? Yet he will exercise control of all [the fruit of] my toil with which I toiled wisely under the sun. This also [is] vanity!

So {I began to despair} of all the toil with which I toiled under the sun.

For what does a person receive for all his toil and in the longing of his heart with which he toils under the sun?

For everything there [is] an appointed time, a time for every matter under heaven:

I saw something else under the sun: instead of justice [there was] evil; instead of righteousness [there was] wickedness.

I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. {I saw the tears of the oppressed-- no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful-- no one can comfort them}!

But better [off] than both of them is the one who has not yet been born and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun.

I saw all the living who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place.

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: wealth {hoarded} by its owner to his harm.

Look! I have discovered what is good and fitting: to eat and to drink and {to enjoy} all [the fruit of] the toil with which one toils under the sun during the number of the days of his life that God gives to him--for this [is] his lot.

Here is another misfortune that I have seen under the sun, and it [is] prevalent among humankind.

For who knows what [is] good for a man in his life during the few days of his fleeting life, which are fleeting as a shadow? For who can tell anyone what will happen {in the future} under the sun?

Like the sound of thorns under a pot, so also the laughter of fools. This also [is] vanity!

I saw all this as I applied my heart to all the deeds done under the sun: {sometimes those in authority harm others}.

So I recommend enjoyment. For there [is] nothing better for man under the sun than to eat and to drink and to rejoice. This will accompany him in his toil the days of his life that God gives to him under the sun.

Then I saw all the work of God--man [is] not able to discover the work that is done under the sun. Although man may toil in seeking, he cannot find it. Even if a wise man claims [that he] knows it, he cannot find it.

This [is] the {injustice} that is done under the sun: the same fate [comes] to everyone. Also the hearts of {humans} are full [of] evil; delusion [is] in their hearts during their lives, and then they die.

What they loved and hated, as well as what they desired, has already perished. They no longer have any share in what is done under the sun.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which he gives you under the sun, because this [is] your lot in life and in the toil with which you toil under the sun.

I looked again and saw under the sun that the race [does] not [belong] to the swift, the battle [does] not [belong] to the mighty, food [does] not [belong] to the wise, wealth [does] not [belong] to the intelligent, and success [does] not [belong] to the skillful, for time and chance befalls all of them.

I have also seen this [example of] wisdom under the sun, and it [seemed] great to me.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun-- [it is] an error that proceeds from a ruler!