I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, her heart a net, and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

“Look,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation,

which my soul continually searches for but does not find: among a thousand people I have found one true man, but among all these I have not found a true woman.

I observed all the work of God and concluded that man is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a man labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if the wise man claims to know it, he is unable to discover it.

Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.

Send your bread on the surface of the waters,
for after many days you may find it.

the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.

The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.