Everyone shares the same fate – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king has already done?

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.

The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.

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.

The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?

Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years – even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity – even if he were to live forever – I would say, “A stillborn child is better off than he is!”

Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.

A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is futile and a burdensome task!

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.”

What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

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.

Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.

Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

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

For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.

Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.

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

Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.