Is there a thing of which it may be said, See, this is new? It has already been in days of old, which were before us.

I bought slaves and slave women, and sons of the house were mine; also livestock, a herd and a great flock were mine, above all that were before me in Jerusalem.

I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.

Do not say, Why was it that the former days were better than these? For you do not ask wisely in regard to this.

And so I saw the wicked buried, and they came and went from the holy place. And they were forgotten in the city, these things that they had done. This is also vanity.