What does a man gain from all of the work that he undertakes on earth?

What is crooked cannot be made straight; what is not there cannot be counted.

I also accumulated silver, gold, and the wealth of kings and their kingdoms. I gathered around me both male and female singers, along with what delights a man all sorts of mistresses.

Whenever I wanted something I had seen, I never refused that desire. Instead, I enjoyed everything I did, and this became the reward in what I had undertaken.

Next I turned to examine wisdom, insanity, and foolishness, because what can a person do who succeeds the king except what has already been accomplished?

Then I told myself, "Whatever happens to the fool will happen also to me. Therefore what's the point in being so wise?" And I told myself that this also is pointless.

For what does a person gain from everything that he accomplishes and from his inner life struggles that he undergoes while working on earth?

The only worthwhile thing for a human being is to eat, drink, and enjoy life's goodness that he finds in what he accomplishes. This, I observed, is also from the hand of God himself,

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

What benefit does the worker gain from what he undertakes?

He made everything appropriate in its time. He also placed eternity within them yet, no person can fully comprehend what God is doing from beginning to end.

That which was, now is; and that which will be, already is; and God examines what has already taken place.

For what happens to people also happens to animals a single event happens to them: just as someone dies, so does the other. In fact, they all breathe the same way, so that a human being has no superiority over an animal. All of this is pointless.

I concluded that it is worthwhile for people to find joy in their accomplishments, because that is their inheritance, since who can see what will exist after them?

When you make a promise to God, don't fail to keep it, since he isn't pleased with fools. Keep what you promise

Never let your mouth cause you to sin and don't proclaim in the presence of the angel, "My promise was a mistake," for why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy what you've undertaken?

When possessions increase, so does the number of consumers; therefore what good are they to their owners, except to look at them?

This is also a painful tragedy: However a person comes, he also departs; so what does he gain as he labors after the wind?

For what advantage has the wise person over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have in knowing how to face life?

It is better to focus on what you can see than to meander after your self-interest; this also is pointless and a chasing after wind.

Whatever exists has been named already; people know what it means to be human and a person cannot defeat one who is more powerful than he.

Because many words lead to pointlessness, how do people benefit from this? 12Who knows what is best for people in this life, every day of their pointless lives that they pass through like a shadow? Who informs people on earth what will come along after them?

Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent?

I advise doing what the king says, especially regarding an oath to God.

Since a king's command is powerful, who is able to challenge him, asking, "What are you doing?"

For he has absolutely no knowledge what will happen, since who can declare to him when it will come about?

Even though a sinner does what is wrong a hundred times and still survives, nevertheless I also know that things will go well for those who fear God, who fear in his presence.

Here is a pointless thing that happens on earth: A righteous man receives what happens to the wicked, and a wicked man receives what happens to the righteous. I concluded that this, too, is pointless.

When I dedicated myself to experience wisdom and to observe what is undertaken on earth even going without sleep day and night

I saw all of it as the activity of God. Frankly, a human being cannot understand what happens on earth, because however hard a man works to discover it, he will not find out. Despite what he thinks he knows, he will not be able to figure it out.

Furthermore, their love, their hate, and their envy have been long lost. Never again will they have a part in what happens on earth.

The fool overflows with words, and no one can predict what will happen. As to what will happen after him, who can explain it?

Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts. Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom. For a bird will fly by and tell what you say, or something with wings may talk about it.

Apportion what you have into seven, or even eight parts, because you don't know what disaster might befall the land.

Just as you do not understand the way of the spirit in the womb of a pregnant mother, so also you do not know what God is doing in everything he makes.

then man's dust will go back to the earth, returning to what it was, and the spirit will return to the God who gave it.

Moreover, besides being wise himself, the Teacher taught people what he had learned by listening, making inquiries, and composing many proverbs.

The Teacher searched to find appropriate expressions, and what is written here is right and truthful.

Let the conclusion of all of these thoughts be heard: Fear God and obey his commandments, for this is what it means to be human.