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Exact Match

All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

Verse ConceptsGeologyVapourClimates, TypesIncompletenessRiversGoing Through the MotionsThe OceanThe Sea

Is there anything about which someone can say, "Look at this! It is new!"? It was already done long ago, before our time.

Verse ConceptsInventionsNothing New

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

Verse ConceptsStudying InsanityUseless Endeavour

I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.

Verse ConceptsVanitySoliloquyUseless EndeavourBeing Happy And Enjoying Lifejournaling

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

Verse ConceptsAlcoholDrinking WineUnder The SunBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeEnjoying Lifeexploring

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

Verse ConceptsGreat Individuals

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

Verse ConceptsEvil EyesReward For WorksSelf LoveBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeEnjoying Life

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?

Verse ConceptsStudying InsanityNature Of Kings

The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

Verse ConceptsEquality Of FateSpiritual PerceptionDarkness Of Evilfate

So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"

Verse ConceptsEquality Of FateUseless EndeavourWise Man Or Foolfate

So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile -- like chasing the wind.

Verse ConceptsWeariness Of LifeUseless EndeavourUnder The Sunfootball

So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

Verse ConceptsLife DespisedHard WorkSuccess And Hard Workhardwork

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

Verse ConceptsUseless EndeavourUnder The SunWise Man Or Fool

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

Verse ConceptsUnder The SunDespair

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

Verse ConceptsBeautifulBeauty, In NatureAdaptabilityBeginning And EndBeing Found OutHeartbreakBeauty Of ThingsTime ManagementGod's Ways Beyond Human UnderstandingGod's TimingGods TimingBeing BeautifulWaiting For God's Timingeternity

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

Verse ConceptsAdding To GodSubtracting From God

I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

Verse ConceptsUnder The SunInjusticeSunfairnesswickedness

I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

Verse ConceptsGod Testing PeopleEverything Happening For A ReasonTestshumanityordermyself

For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.

Verse ConceptsEquality Of FateUniversality Of DeathVanityAdvantagesUseless EndeavourCondition Of The BodyAnimals Having A Soulnatural Lifenatural DeathEverything Happening For A ReasonPetsThe Environmentbreathinghumanityfatebreath

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

Verse ConceptsCareersWithheld KnowledgeUnknown FutureBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeEnjoying Lifeaccomplishments

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

Verse ConceptsOppression, Examples OfComfortless LivesWeariness Of LifeOppressorsNo ComfortUnder The Sunoppressionoverworking

So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

Verse ConceptsWeariness Of LifeDesire For DeathDyingLoss Of A Loved One

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

So I again considered another futile thing on earth:

Verse ConceptsUseless EndeavourUnder The Sun

Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, "It was a mistake!" Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?"

Verse ConceptsGod DestroyingMistakesGod Angry With IndividualsErrorGuiltMaking MistakesSpeechjoking

If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!

Verse ConceptsOppressorsAuthorityNot Helping The PoorInjusticeoppressionsurprises

When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

Verse ConceptsGrowth In WealthFinancesFamily ProblemsWealth And ProsperitySaving Money

Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.

Verse ConceptsNudityBabiesHow Death Is InevitableNaked In OriginNew Born

This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?

Verse ConceptsBad SituationsPhysical LabourLife And DeathTragedy

God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor -- instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.

Verse ConceptsUseless EndeavourSuffering From ForeignersGod Gives WealthTragedyBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeWealth And ProsperityEnjoying LifeMoney Blessingscatspossessionsempowerment

Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years -- even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity -- even if he were to live forever -- I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!"

Verse ConceptsUnburied BodiesOne HundredNo BurialsLiving LongMiscarriages And StillbornLack Of A Proper BurialThe More Children The BetterDadsDeath Of A ChildRaising ChildrenLiveBeing A Good FatherDeath Of A FatherHaving A Good DayBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeHaving A BabyLeaving Parents For Spousefatherhood

though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man --

Verse ConceptsThose Who Were Ignorant

All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach -- yet his appetite is never satisfied!

Verse ConceptsBeing UnsatisfiedFamine ComingWorking For FoodFamine Will ComeAddictioneffort

So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?

Verse ConceptsAdvantagesPoor PeopleWise Man Or Fool

It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile -- like chasing the wind.

Verse ConceptsUseless EndeavourThe Faculty Of SightFocusstrivingwanderingFutility Of Worldly Pursuits

For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.

Verse ConceptsVanityThornsUseless EndeavourWeedpot

Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these days?" for it is not wise to ask that.

Verse ConceptsHaving A Good DayThe Pastpastwise

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.

Verse ConceptsReceiving An InheritanceBenefits Of WisdomWisdom

Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

Verse ConceptsForgiving Ones EnemiesDo Not Listen!speakingSwearingAbuserumorscursesgossipingattention

I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.

Verse ConceptsSexual ChastityWomen Doing WrongMan TrappingGodly WomanBitternessBreaking Chainsnagging

Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.

Verse ConceptsRadiancyShining FacesCountenanceRadiant LivesAurasLight Of God's PeopleMan's WisdomBoldness

Obey the king's command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.

Verse ConceptsCivic DutiesCitizenshipSwearing OathsObeying People

Do not rush out of the king's presence in haste -- do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he can do whatever he pleases.

Verse ConceptsAuthorityTurning Against MenThe Presence Of God

Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, "What are you doing?"

Verse ConceptsWhat Do You Do?AuthorityPowerThe Power Of Words

Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, so no one has power over the day of his death. Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.

Verse ConceptsUniversality Of DeathEuthanasiaCoping With DeathHow Death Is InevitableEvil And FreedomPrinciples Of WarSalvation By Other ThingsDeathstruggleWarGod Being In Controlpractice

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

Verse ConceptsOblivionVanityUseless EndeavourBurying places

So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.

Verse ConceptsLifestylesExperience, of lifeEating And DrinkingUnder The SunSunFunStaying Strong During Hard TimesSleeping PeacefullyBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeSunshineEnjoying Liferelaxing

So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated -- no one knows what lies ahead.

Verse ConceptsGod's HandHateGodly ManEverything Happening For A Reasonaccomplishmentsaccomplishment

So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man's wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

Verse ConceptsLimitations Of StrengthBenefits Of WisdomPoor PeopleFamily StrengthSaving Moneystrengh

One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.

Verse ConceptsFliesflyingbugs

If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

Verse ConceptsAxesSharpeningBenefits Of WisdomSuccess Through GodSuccess And Hard Workenergy

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed -- whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.

Verse ConceptsBusynessVegetationNot Knowing The FutureAt Morning And EveningFrom Morning Till EveningCareer SuccessReaping What You SowPlanting SeedsSeedsSuccess And Hard WorkSowing Seedssowing

So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many -- all that is about to come is obscure.

Verse ConceptsDeath, Preparation ForDark DaysOvertaken By DarknessUseless EndeavourLiving LongBeing Happy And Enjoying LifeEnjoying Life