“ And how must the wise man die even as the fool! 17So I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
18And I hated all my labour wherein I laboured under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shown myself wise under the sun. ”

“ Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
3What profit hath man of all his labour Wherein he laboureth under the sun? 4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; And the earth abideth for ever. 5The sun also ariseth, And the sun goeth down, And hasteth to his place where he ariseth. ”

“ And he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, Nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; Even so thou knowest not the work of God Who doeth all things. ”

“ And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; For anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 10Say not thou: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that thou inquirest concerning this.
11Wisdom is good with an inheritance, Yea, a profit to them that see the sun. 12For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it. ”

“ I say, that an untimely birth is better than he; 4for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness; 5moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath gratification rather than the other; 6yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and enjoy no good; do not all go to one place?
7All the labour of man is for his mouth, And yet the appetite is not filled. 8For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? or the poor man that hath understanding, in walking before the living? ”

“ It turneth about continually in its circuit, And the wind returneth again to its circuits. 7All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; Unto the place whither the rivers go, Thither they go again. 8All things toil to weariness; Man cannot utter it, The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. ”

“ And let thy head lack no oil. 9Enjoy life with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity; for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labour wherein thou labourest under the sun. 10Whatsoever thy hand attaineth to do by thy strength, that do; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. ”

“ God hath made even the one as well as the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
15All things have I seen in the days of my vanity; there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his evil-doing. 16Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise; why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish; why shouldest thou die before thy time? ”

“ For thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3If the clouds be full of rain, They empty themselves upon the earth; And if a tree fall in the south, or in the north, In the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be. ”