There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless— a miserable business!

The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

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

Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man—

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

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt.

Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun.

Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.