and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.

So I again considered another futile thing on earth:

before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;

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

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.

Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.

Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.

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.

Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge – for time and chance may overcome them all.