The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?

The wind blows southward, then northward, constantly circulating, and the wind comes back again in its courses.

Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth.

No one remembers those in the past, nor will they be remembered by those who come after them.

I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.

I told myself, "I have become greater and wiser than anyone who ruled before me in Jerusalem yes, I have acquired a great deal of wisdom and knowledge."

I decided to indulge in wine, while still remaining committed to wisdom. I also tried to indulge in foolishness, just enough to determine whether it was good for human beings under heaven given the short time of their lives.

I acquired male and female slaves, and had other slaves born in my house. I also acquired for myself increasing numbers of herds and flocks more than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem.

So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise.

Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken.

Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.

The wise use their eyes, but the fool walks in darkness. I also perceived that the same outcome affects them all.

Then I told myself, "Whatever happens to the fool will happen also to me. Therefore what's the point in being so wise?" And I told myself that this also is pointless.

For neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered, since in days to come everything will be forgotten. The wise man dies the same way as the fool, does he not?

So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

Then I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me.

And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

So I came to be in despair about everything I had accomplished on earth.

For sometimes people who strive to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and equity leave everything as an inheritance to a person who never worked for it. This, too, is pointless and greatly troublesome.

For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth?

Indeed, all of his days are filled with sorrow, and his struggles bring grief. In fact, his mind remains restless throughout the night. This is pointless, too!

The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy life's goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself,

After all, to the person who is good in God's sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

I have observed the burdens placed by God on human beings in order to perfect them.

He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end.

I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life;

I also examined on earth: where the halls of justice were supposed to be, there was lawlessness; and where the righteous were supposed to be, there was lawlessness. 17I told myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work."

For what happens to people also happens to animals a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless.

All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust.

I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?

Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.

Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

It's better to have one handful of tranquility than to have two handfuls of trouble and to chase after the wind.

Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.

If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up.

Again, if two lie close together, they will keep warm, but how can only one stay warm?

If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

I observed everyone who lives and walks on earth, along with the youth who will take the king's place.

Don't be impulsive with your mouth nor be in a hurry to talk in God's presence. Since God is in heaven and you're on earth, keep your speech short.

When you make a promise to God, don't fail to keep it, since he isn't pleased with fools. Keep what you promise

Never let your mouth cause you to sin and don't proclaim in the presence of the angel, "My promise was a mistake," for why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy what you've undertaken?

In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God.

Don't be surprised when you see the poor oppressed and the violent perverting both justice and verdicts in a province, for one high official watches another, and there are ones higher still over them.

When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them?

I have observed a painful tragedy on earth: Wealth hoarded by its owner harms him,

and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him.

Furthermore, all his days he lives in darkness with great sorrow, anger, and affliction.

Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment.

Furthermore, for every person to whom God has given wealth, riches, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept this allotment, and to rejoice in his work this is a gift from God.

There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings:

because stillborn children arrive in pointlessness, leave in darkness, and their names are covered in darkness.

Every person works for his own self-interests, but his desires remain unsatisfied.

For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.

Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning, but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.

The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.

Never be in a hurry to become internally angry, since anger settles down in the lap of fools.

When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won't seek anything outside of his best.

I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

Wisdom given as strength to a wise person is better than having ten powerful men in the city.

For there is not a single righteous man on earth who practices good and does not sin.

"Look at this," says the Teacher. "Linking one thing to another, I reached this conclusion:

Among the things I seek but have not found: one man among a thousand I did find, but I have not found one woman to be wise among all these.

I advise doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God.

Don't be in a hurry to leave him, and don't persist in evil, for he does whatever he pleases.

Whoever obeys his commands will not experience harm, and the wise in heart will discern both the appropriate time and response.

Indeed, there is an appropriate time and a response for every circumstance, since human misery weighs heavily upon him.

For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about?

Just as no human being has control over the wind to restrain it, so also no human being has control over the day of his death. Just as no one is discharged during war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

I observed all this, and carefully considered everything that is undertaken on earth, especially the time when someone dominates another to his detriment.

So I watched the wicked being entombed. They used to come in and out of the Holy Place, but now they are forgotten in the city, where they used to work. This, too, is pointless.

Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence.

Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless.

So then I recommended enjoyment of life, because it is better on earth for a man to eat, drink, and be happy, since this will stay with him throughout his struggle all the days of his life, which God grants him on earth.

When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth even going without sleep day and night

I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out.

In light of all of this, I committed myself to explain it this way: the righteous and the wise, along with everything they do, are in the hands of God. Furthermore, as to love and hate, no human being knows everything concerning them.

Everyone shares the same experience: a single event affects the righteous, the wicked, the good, the clean, the unclean, whoever sacrifices, and whoever does not sacrifice. As it is with the good person, so also it is with the sinner; as it is with someone who takes an oath, so also it is with someone who fears taking an oath.

There is a tragedy that infects everything that happens on earth: a common event happens to everyone. In fact, the hearts of human beings are full of evil. Madness remains in their hearts while they live, and afterwards they join the dead.

Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth.

Go ahead and enjoy your meals as you eat. Drink your wine with a joyful attitude, because God already has approved your actions.

Find joy in living with your wife whom you love every day of your pointless life that God gave you on earth, because this is your life assignment and your work to do on earth.

Whatever the activity in which you engage, do it with all your ability, because there is no work, no planning, no learning, and no wisdom in the next world where you're going.

I considered and observed on earth the following: The race doesn't go to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the smart, nor recognition to the skilled. Instead, timing and circumstances meet them all.

In addition, no human being knows his time: Like fish captured in a cruel net, or as birds caught in a snare, so also are human beings caught by bad timing that surprises them.

I also observed this example of wisdom on earth, and it seemed important to me:

There was a little city with few men in it. A great king came against it, surrounded it, and built massive siege ramps against it.

Now there was found within it a poor, but wise man. He delivered the city by his wisdom, but not one person remembered that poor man.

As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink, so also does a little foolishness to one's reputation of wisdom and honor.

Here's another tragedy that I've observed on earth, a kind of error that comes from an overseer:

Foolishness is given great honor, while the prosperous sit in lowly places.

And I have observed servants riding on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.

If a serpent strikes despite being charmed, there's no point in being a snake charmer.