The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.

Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.

Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, “It was a mistake!” Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?”

I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile – like chasing the wind!

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.

Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.

Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!

For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.

Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

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.

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.

When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth – even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night –