Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;

I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, "It was a mistake!" Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?"

Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this" -- but it was beyond my grasp.

There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.

and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it.

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.