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

It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.

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

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

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

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?

So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.

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.

So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?

There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

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,

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 –