Is

Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take a warning.

There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

There is no limit to all the people who were before them. Yet the successor will not be celebrated by those who come even later. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and others higher still are over them.

The produce of the earth is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

When good things increase, so do those who consume them; what then is the profit to the owner, except to behold them with his eyes?

The sleep of the worker is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich man permits him no sleep.

There is a grievous evil I have seen under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,

…or wealth lost in a failed venture, so when that man has a son there is nothing to pass on.

This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

This too is a grievous affliction: Exactly as a man is born, so he will depart. What does he gain as he toils for the wind?

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of life that God has given him—for this is his lot.

Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

There is another evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily upon mankind:

God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

A man may father a hundred children and live for many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he is unsatisfied with his prosperity and does not even receive a proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.

For a stillborn child enters in futility and departs in darkness, and his name is shrouded in obscurity.

All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

All a man’s labor is for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.

Better what the eye can see than the wandering of desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

Whatever exists was named long ago, and it is known what man is; but he cannot contend with one stronger than he.

For who knows what is good for a man during the few days in which he passes through his fleeting life like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will come after him under the sun?

A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.

A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.

It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter, for a sad countenance is good for the heart.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song of fools.

For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

For like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This too is futile.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is unwise of you to ask about this.

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is good, and it benefits those who see the sun.

For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

For wisdom, like money, is a shelter, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

It is good to grasp the one and not let the other slip from your hand. For he who fears God will follow both warnings.

Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you.

What exists is out of reach and very deep. Who can fathom it?

And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.

Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

Who is like the wise man? Who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed.

For the king’s word is supreme, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.

Since no one knows what will happen, who can tell him what is to come?

All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

Then too, I saw the burial of the wicked who used to go in and out of the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they had done so. This too is futile.

When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

I saw every work of God, and that a man is unable to comprehend the work that is done under the sun. Despite his efforts to search it out, he cannot find its meaning; even if the wise man claims to know, he is unable to comprehend.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow.

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.

Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.

Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.

Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither is the bread to the wise, nor the wealth to the intelligent, nor the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun—an error that proceeds from the ruler:

Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.

If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.