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.

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.

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!

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.

For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.

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

If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.

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.

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.

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.

What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.

No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.

Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: “All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.”

For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies – just like the fool!

There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

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?

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!