Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.

Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

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

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

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

When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.

When someone’s prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?

and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint,

when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim,

Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time – with self-control and not in drunkenness.

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 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”;

Do not rush out of the king’s presence in haste – do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he can do whatever he pleases.

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.”

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

Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare – just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.

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.

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

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

and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets –