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 all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

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

So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!

I thought to myself, “I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.”

I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.

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

Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.

I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.

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

Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.

I thought to myself, “Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile.

What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.

Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.

So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many – all that is about to come is obscure.

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”;