<p class="poetry">The end of a matter<n id="1" /> is better than its beginning;p> <p class="poetry">likewise, patience<n id="2" /> is better than pride.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">He who watches the wind will not sow,p> <p class="poetry">and he who observes the clouds will not reap.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man<n id="1" /> on earth,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">and I concluded: Everything<n id="3" /> he has accomplished<n id="4" /> is futile<n id="5" /> &#8211; like chasing the wind!<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Better is one handful with some restp> <p class="poetry">than two hands full of toil<n id="1" /> and chasing the wind.p>

<p class="poetry">It is better to be content with<n id="1" /> what the eyes can see<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">than for one&#8217;s heart always to crave more.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">This continual longing<n id="4" /> is futile &#8211; like<n id="5" /> chasing the wind.p>

<p class="poetry">So I decided<n id="1" /> to discern the benefit of<n id="2" /> wisdom and knowledge over<n id="3" /> foolish behavior and ideas;<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">however, I concluded<n id="5" /> that even<n id="6" /> this endeavor<n id="7" /> is like<n id="8" /> trying to chase the wind!<n id="9" />p>

<p class="poetry">Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">I concluded:<n id="3" /> &#8220;All these<n id="4" /> achievements and possessions<n id="5" /> are ultimately<n id="6" /> profitless<n id="7" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">like chasing the wind!p> <p class="poetry">There is nothing gained<n id="8" /> from them<n id="9" /> on earth.&#8221;<n id="10" />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">Who really knows if the human spirit<n id="1" /> ascends upward,p> <p class="poetry">and the animal&#8217;s spirit descends into the earth?p>

<p class="poetry">If the anger<n id="1" /> of the ruler flares up<n id="2" /> against you, do not resign<n id="3" /> from your position,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">for a calm<n id="5" /> response<n id="6" /> can undo<n id="7" /> great offenses.p>

<p class="poetry">For to the one who pleases him,<n id="1" /> God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy,p> <p class="poetry">but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing<n id="2" /> wealth<n id="3" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">only to give<n id="4" /> it<n id="5" /> to the one who pleases God.p> <p class="poetry">This<n id="6" /> task of the wicked<n id="7" /> is futile &#8211; like chasing the wind!p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Then I considered<n id="1" /> all the skillful work<n id="2" /> that is done:p> <p class="poetry">Surely it is nothing more than<n id="3" /> competition<n id="4" /> between one person and another.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">This also is profitless &#8211; like<n id="6" /> chasing the wind.p>

<p class="poetry">There is no end to all the people<n id="1" /> nor to the past generations,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">yet future generations<n id="3" /> will not rejoice in him.p> <p class="poetry">This also is profitless and like<n id="4" /> chasing the wind.p>