And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

But well is thee, O thou realm and land, whose king is come of nobles, and whose princes eat in due season, for strength and not for lust.

Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed;

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Better is sorrow than laughter, For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

Better is a handful with quietness, than both hands full with labour and pursuit of the wind.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.

Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Better is a name than good perfume, And the day of death than the day of birth.

Better is wisdom than weapons of conflict, And one sinner destroyeth much good!

Better are two, than one, - in that they have a good reward for their toil.

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

And I said, 'Better is wisdom than might, and the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.' --

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.

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

For what advantage has the wise man over the fool [for being worldly-wise is not the secret to happiness]? What advantage has the poor man who has learned how to walk [publicly] among the living [with men’s eyes on him; for being poor is not the secret to happiness either]?

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.

This an evil in all being done under the sun, thus one event is to all: and also the heart of the sons of man being full of evil, and folly in their heart in their living, and after it to their deaths.