The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.

There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

That wealth was lost in a bad venture, so when he fathered a son, he was empty-handed.

It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person
than to listen to the song of fools,

Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles
and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.

the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.

But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.