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

For the youth has come from the prison to the kingship, though he was born poor in his own kingdom.

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.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

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.

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.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.

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

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

Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, and do not tell the messenger that your vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands?

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?

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?

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.

As a man came from his mother’s womb, so he will depart again, naked as he arrived. He takes nothing for his labor to carry in his hands.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

…even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

…even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?

What advantage, then, has the wise man over the fool? What gain comes to the poor man who knows how to conduct himself before others?

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

All this I tested by wisdom, saying, “I resolve to be wise.” But it was beyond me.

I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

I directed my mind to understand, to explore, to search out wisdom and explanations, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the folly of madness.

“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.

“Behold,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find an explanation.

Do not hasten to leave his presence, and do not persist in a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases.

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

Whoever keeps his command will come to no harm, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure.

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?

As no man has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has authority over his day of death. As no one can be discharged in wartime, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

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.

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.

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the task that one performs on the earth—though his eyes do not see sleep in the day or even in the night—

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.

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.

So I took all this to heart and concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it was great to me:

As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.

If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.

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

The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.

Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain upon the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

So if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is futile.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.

…when the doors to the street are shut and the sound of the mill fades away, when one rises at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song grow faint,

…when men fear the heights and dangers of the road, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper loses its spring, and the caper berry shrivels—for then man goes to his eternal home and mourners walk the streets.

…before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

…before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

The Teacher searched to find delightful sayings and to record accurate words of truth.

And by these, my son, be further warned: There is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

Take me away with you—let us hurry! May the king bring me to his chambers. We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. It is only right that they adore you.

I compare you, my darling, to a mare among Pharaoh’s chariots.

My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts.

My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.

My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.

I had just passed them when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let go until I had brought him to my mother’s house, to the chamber of the one who conceived me.