Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.

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

I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.

Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

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

The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.

Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.

Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.

Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.

Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock – both herds and flocks – than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.

In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!

Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,