¹¹ The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?

¹⁶ there was no end to all those people whom he led.^[a] Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.^(A)

⁷ With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words,^[a] but fear God.^(A)

⁸ the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. “For whom am I toiling,” they ask, “and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.^(A)

4 Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed—with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power—with no one to comfort them.^{(A) 2} And I commended the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive, ³ but better than both is the one who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.^(B)

⁴ Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.^(C)

¹⁹ For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.^(A)

³ I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life. ⁴ I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;^{(A) 5} I made myself gardens and parks and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.^{(B) 6} I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. ⁷ I bought male and female slaves and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, many concubines.^[a](C)

⁹ So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.^{(D) 10} Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure from all my toil, and this was my reward from all my toil.^{(E) 11} Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(F)

¹⁷ And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind.^(A)