The sleep of the laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich person does not allow him to sleep.

All his life he also eats in darkness with great irritation, sickness, and anger.

Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he labors under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.

a person to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that his soul lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God has not given him the opportunity to enjoy these things, but a foreigner enjoys them. This is futility and a severe affliction.

Even if the man lives a thousand years twice, but does not see good things—do not all go to one and the same place?”

All a person’s labor is for his mouth, and yet his appetite is not satisfied.

Also, do not take seriously all the words which are spoken, so that you do not hear your servant cursing you,

I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but wisdom was far from me.

which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these.

All this I have seen, and have applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun at a time when one person has exercised authority over another person to his detriment.

People Are in the Hand of God

For I have taken all this to my heart, even to examine it all, that righteous people, wise people, and their deeds are in the hand of God. People do not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits them.

It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and the unclean; for the person who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good person is, so is the sinner; the one who swears an oath is just as the one who is afraid to swear an oath.

For whoever is joined to all the living, there is hope; for better a live dog, than a dead lion.

Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.

See that your clothes are white all the time, and that there is no lack of oil on your head.

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your futile life which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your futility; for this is your reward in life and in your work which you have labored under the sun.

Whatever Your Hand Finds to Do

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to the skillful; for time and chance overtake them all.

Indeed, if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.

and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly.

“Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “all is futility!”