When a wise man has a dispute with a fool, the fool either rages or laughs without relief.

The fool vents all his feelings, but the wise person keeps them to himself.

When a ruler is listening to lies, all of his officials tend to become wicked.

As the wicked grow powerful, transgression increases, but the righteous will observe their downfall.

Do you see a man who speaks hastily? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Fearing any human being is a trap, but confiding in the LORD keeps anyone safe.

The unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and whoever lives blamelessly is detestable to the wicked.

A discourse by the faithful collector. This is what this valiant man declared to the God with me, to the God with me, who then prevailed:

Who has ascended to heaven, and then descended? Who has collected the wind in his hands? Who has wrapped up waters in a garment? Who has established all the farthest points of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

Everything God says is pure; he is a shield for those who take refuge in him.

so that I don't become overfed and deny you by saying, "Who is the LORD?" or so that I don't become poor and steal, and then misuse the name of my God.

Some people view themselves as pure, but haven't been cleansed from their own filth.

This is what an immoral woman is like: she eats, wipes her mouth, then says "I've done nothing wrong."

Under a slave when he becomes a king, a fool when he is overfed,

Four things on earth are small, but they are very, very wise:

The strutting rooster, as well as the goat, and a king with his army.

Just as whipping milk produces butter, and twisting the nose causes bleeding, so also stirring up anger produces contention.

It is not for kings, Lemuel Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor.

Give liquor to someone who is perishing, and wine to someone who is deeply depressed.

Her husband has full confidence in her; as a result, he lacks nothing of value.

She is like a seagoing ship that brings her food from far away.

She rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants.

She is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out at night.

She is unafraid of winter's effect on her household, because all of them are warmly clothed.

Her husband is well known; he sits among the leaders of the land.

She looks discretely to the affairs of her household, and she is never lazy.

Her children stand up and encourage her, as does her husband, who praises her:

Charm is deceitful and beauty fades; but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.

"Utterly pointless," says the Teacher. "Absolutely pointless; everything is pointless."

All the rivers flow toward the sea, but the sea is never full; then rivers return to the headwaters where they began.

Everything is wearisome, more than man is able to express. The eye is never satisfied by seeing, nor the ear by hearing.

Whatever has happened, will happen again; whatever has been done, will be done again. There is nothing new on earth.

Does anything exist about which someone might say, "Look at this! Is this new?" It happened ages ago; it existed before we did.

I dedicated myself to using wisdom for study and discovery of everything that is done under heaven. God uses terrible things so human beings will struggle with life.

I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.

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

So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.

For with much wisdom there is much sorrow; the more someone adds to knowledge, the more someone adds to grief.

"Senseless," said I concerning laughter and pleasure, "How practical is this?"

So I became great, greater than anyone who had lived before me in Jerusalem. Throughout all of this, I remained wise.

I concluded that wisdom is more useful than foolishness, just as light is more useful than darkness.

The wise use their eyes, but the fool walks in darkness. I also perceived that the same outcome affects them all.

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 neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered, since in days to come everything will be forgotten. The wise man dies the same way as the fool, does he not?

So I hated life, because whatever is done on earth causes me trouble it's all pointless, like chasing after the wind.

Then I despised everything I had worked for on earth, that is, the things that I will leave to the person who will succeed me.

And who knows whether he will be wise or foolish? Either way, he will take possession of everything that I have done on earth, especially where I have excelled. This also is pointless.

For sometimes people who strive to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and equity leave everything as an inheritance to a person who never worked for it. This, too, is pointless and greatly troublesome.

Indeed, all of his days are filled with sorrow, and his struggles bring grief. In fact, his mind remains restless throughout the night. This is pointless, too!

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,

After all, to the person who is good in God's sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner he gives the troublesome task of acquiring and accumulating in order to leave it to someone who is good in the sight of God. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

There is a season for everything, and a time for every event under heaven:

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.

I have concluded that the only worthwhile thing for them is to take pleasure in doing good in life;

moreover, every person should eat, drink, and enjoy the benefits of everything that he undertakes, since it is a gift from God.

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

I also examined on earth: where the halls of justice were supposed to be, there was lawlessness; and where the righteous were supposed to be, there was lawlessness. 17I told myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked, because there is a time set to judge every event and every work."

"As for human beings," I told myself, "God puts them to the test, that they might see themselves as mere animals."

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?

Next I turned to consider all kinds of oppression that exists on earth. Look at the tears of the oppressed there is no one to comfort them. Power is on the side of their oppressors; so they have no comforters.

So I commended the dead who had already died as being happier than the living who are still alive.

Better than both of them is someone who has not yet been born, because he hasn't experienced evil on earth.

Then I examined all sorts of work, including all kinds of excellent achievements that create envy in others. This also is pointless and chasing after the wind.

Then I turned to re-examine something else that is pointless on earth:

Consider someone who is alone, having neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his work, and he is never satisfied with wealth. "So for whom do I work," he asks, "and deprive myself of pleasure?" This, too, is pointless and a terrible tragedy.

If they stumble, the first will lift up his friend but woe to anyone who is alone when he falls and there is no one to help him get up.

If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the tri-braided cord is not soon broken.

A poor but wise youth is better than an old but foolish king who will no longer accept correction.

There was no end to all of his subjects or to all of the people who had come before them. But those who come along afterward will not be happy with him. This is also pointless and a chasing after wind.

Don't be impulsive with your mouth nor be in a hurry to talk in God's presence. Since God is in heaven and you're on earth, keep your speech short.

Too many worries lead to nightmares, and a fool is known from talking too much.

In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, it is more important to fear God.

Also, the increase of the land belongs to everyone; the king himself is served by his field.

Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless.

Sweet is the sleep of a working man, whether he eats a little or a lot, but the excess wealth of the rich will not allow him to rest.

and that wealth is lost in troubled circumstances. Then a son is born, but there is nothing left for him.

Just as he came naked from his mother's womb, he will leave as naked as he came; he will receive no profit from his efforts he cannot carry away even a handful.

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

Look! I observed that it is good and prudent to eat, drink, and enjoy all that is good of a person's work that he does on earth during the limited days of his life, which God gives him, for this is his allotment.

Furthermore, for every person to whom God has given wealth, riches, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept this allotment, and to rejoice in his work this is a gift from God.

There exists another misfortune that I have observed on earth, and it is a heavy burden upon human beings:

a man to whom God gives wealth, riches, and honor, so that he lacks none of his heart's desires but God does not give him the capability to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger consumes them. This is pointless and a grievous affliction.

A man might father a hundred children, and live for many years, so that the length of his life is long but if his life does not overflow with goodness, and he doesn't receive a proper burial, I maintain that stillborn children are better off than he is,

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?

Sorrow is better than laughter, because the heart is made better through trouble.

For the wise person thinks carefully when in mourning, but fools focus their thoughts on pleasure.

It is better to listen to a wise person's rebuke than to listen to the praise of fools.

For as thorns burn to heat a pot, so also is the laughter of the fool even this is pointless.

Unjust gain makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

The conclusion of something is better than its beginning, and a patient attitude is more valuable than a proud one.

Wise use of possessions is good; it brings benefit to the living.

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

When times are good, be joyful; when times are bad, consider this: God made the one as well as the other, so people won't seek anything outside of his best.

I have seen it all during my pointless life: both a righteous person who dies while he is righteous, and a wicked person who lives to an old age, while remaining wicked.

Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise. Why be self-destructive?

It is good for you to grab hold of this and not let go, because whoever fears God will escape all of these extremes.