<p class="poetry">So I perceived there is nothing better than for people<n id="1" /> to enjoy their work,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because that is their<n id="3" /> reward;p> <p class="poetry">for who can show them what the future holds?<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">I have concluded<n id="1" /> that there is nothing better for people<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">than<n id="3" /> to be happy and to enjoyp> <p class="poetry">themselves<n id="4" /> as long as they live,p>

<p class="poetry">For he came out of prison<n id="1" /> to become king,p> <p class="poetry">even though he had been born poor in what would become his<n id="2" /> kingdom.p>

<p class="poetry">Just as there is futility in many dreams,p> <p class="poetry">so also in many words.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Therefore, fear God!p>

<p class="poetry">For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,p> <p class="poetry">for the oppression<n id="1" /> of the king<n id="2" /> is severe upon his victim.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Surely no one knows the future,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and no one can tell another person what will happen.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">So I loathed<n id="1" /> life<n id="2" /> because whatp> <p class="poetry">happens<n id="3" /> on earth<n id="4" /> seems awful to me;p> <p class="poetry">for all the benefits of wisdom<n id="5" /> are futile &#8211; like chasing the wind.p>

<p class="poetry">For he does not think<n id="1" /> much about the fleeting<n id="2" /> days of his lifep> <p class="poetry">because God keeps him preoccupied<n id="3" /> with the joy he derives from his activity.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">But whoever is among<n id="1" /> the living<n id="2" /> has hope;p> <p class="poetry">a live dog is better than a dead lion.p>

<p class="poetry">For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything;p> <p class="poetry">they have no further reward &#8211; and even the memory of them disappears.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all,p> <p class="poetry">but let him remember that the days of darkness<n id="1" /> will be many &#8211; all that is about to come is obscure.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">For no one<n id="1" /> can eat and drink<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">or experience joy<n id="3" /> apart from him.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Though the stillborn child<n id="1" /> came into the world<n id="2" /> for no reason<n id="3" /> and departed into darkness,p> <p class="poetry">though its name is shrouded in darkness,<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Sorrow<n id="1" /> is better than laughter,p> <p class="poetry">because sober reflection<n id="2" /> is good for the heart.<n id="3" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Surely oppression<n id="1" /> can turn a wise person into a fool;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">likewise,<n id="3" /> a bribe corrupts<n id="4" /> the heart.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">For with great wisdom comes<n id="1" /> great frustration;p> <p class="poetry">whoever increases his<n id="2" /> knowledge merely<n id="3" /> increases his<n id="4" /> heartache.p> <p class="poetry">

<t /><p class="poetry">What does a man acquire from all his laborp> <p class="poetry">and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">Just as dreams come when there are many cares,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">so<n id="2" /> the rash vow<n id="3" /> of a fool occurs<n id="4" /> when there are many words.p>

<p class="poetry">So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool?<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">And what advantage<n id="2" /> does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">How does that benefit him?<n id="2" />p>