What is a man profited by all his work which he does under the sun?

Of laughing I said, It is foolish; and of joy--What use is it?

I made a search with my heart to give pleasure to my flesh with wine, still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to go after foolish things, so that I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under the heavens all the days of their life.

And I went again in search of wisdom and of foolish ways. What may the man do who comes after the king? The thing which he has done before.

What does a man get for all his work, and for the weight of care with which he has done his work under the sun?

What profit has the worker in the work which he does?

Whatever is has been before, and what is to be is now; because God makes search for the things which are past.

So I saw that there is nothing better than for a man to have joy in his work--because that is his reward. Who will make him see what will come after him?

Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.

When goods are increased, the number of those who take of them is increased; and what profit has the owner but to see them?

And this again is a great evil, that in all points as he came so will he go; and what profit has he in working for the wind?

This is what I have seen: it is good and fair for a man to take meat and drink and to have joy in all his work under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; that is his reward.

What have the wise more than the foolish? and what has the poor man by walking wisely before the living?

What the eyes see is better than the wandering of desire. This is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

That which is, has been named before, and of what man is there is knowledge. He has no power against one stronger than he.

There are words without number for increasing what is to no purpose, but what is man profited by them?

Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?

Give thought to the work of God. Who will make straight what he has made bent?

In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be after him.

The word of a king has authority; and who may say to him, What is this you are doing?

No one is certain what is to be, and who is able to say to him when it will be?

And then I saw evil men put to rest, taken even from the holy place; and they went about and were praised in the town because of what they had done. This again is to no purpose.

The foolish are full of words; man has no knowledge of what will be; and who is able to say what will be after him?