Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:

Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.

Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, “This also is an enigma.”

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

Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.

The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.

This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:

I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.

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.

While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward – and even the memory of them disappears.

What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

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?

Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!