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A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.

And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.

I said to myself, "Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself." But again, this also was vanity.

The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness. Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them.

For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.

but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.

For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.

Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.

With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God.

But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field.

When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.

those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.

A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.

I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters; one who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.