With all my heart I used wisdom to study and explore everything done under heaven.

The Spokesman’s General Conclusion

Mortals are weighed down with a terrible burden that Elohim has placed on them.

With God Even the Simplest Things Have a Point

There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of Elohim.

Who can eat or enjoy themselves without Elohim?

Elohim gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to anyone who pleases him. But to the person who continues to sin, he gives the job of gathering and collecting wealth. The sinner must turn his wealth over to the person who pleases Elohim. Even this is pointless. It’s like trying to catch the wind.

I have seen mortals weighed down with a burden that Elohim has placed on them.

It is beautiful how Elohim has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people’s minds. Yet, mortals still can’t grasp what Elohim is doing from the beginning to the end of time.

It is a gift from Elohim to be able to eat and drink and experience the good that comes from every kind of hard work.

I realize that whatever Elohim does will last forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. Elohim does this so that people will fear him.

Whatever has happened in the past is present now. Whatever is going to happen in the future has already happened in the past. Elohim will call the past to account.

I thought to myself, “Elohim will judge righteous people as well as wicked people, because there is a specific time for every activity and every work that is done.”

I thought to myself, “Elohim is going to test humans in order to show them that they are like animals.”

Don’t Daydream or Speak Carelessly When You Worship

Watch your step when you go to the house of Elohim. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are unaware that they are doing something evil.

Don’t be in a hurry to talk. Don’t be eager to speak in the presence of Elohim. Since Elohim is in heaven and you are on earth, limit the number of your words.

When you make a promise to Elohim, don’t be slow to keep it because Elohim doesn’t like fools. Keep your promise.

Don’t let your mouth talk you into committing a sin. Don’t say in the presence of a temple messenger, “My promise was a mistake!” Why should Elohim become angry at your excuse and destroy what you’ve accomplished?

In spite of many daydreams, pointless actions, and empty words, you should still fear Elohim.

Conclusion: God Alone Gives Contentment

At last I have seen what is good and beautiful: It is to eat and drink and to enjoy the good in all our hard work under the sun during the brief lives Elohim gives us. That is our lot in life.

It is a gift from Elohim when Elohim gives some people wealth and possessions, the power to enjoy them, the ability to accept their lot in life, and the ability to rejoice in their own hard work.

These people won’t give much thought to their brief lives because Elohim keeps them occupied with the joy in their hearts.

Elohim gives one person riches, wealth, and honor so that he doesn’t lack anything he wants. Yet, Elohim doesn’t give him the power to enjoy any of them. Instead, a stranger enjoys them. This is pointless and is a painful tragedy.

Consider what Elohim has done! Who can straighten what Elohim has bent?

A Truth for Every Situation

When times are good, be happy. But when times are bad, consider this: Elohim has made the one time as well as the other so that mortals cannot predict their future.

It’s good to hold on to the one and not let go of the other, because the one who fears Elohim will be able to avoid both extremes.

I find that a woman whose thoughts are like traps and snares is more bitter than death itself. Even her hands are like chains. Whoever pleases Elohim will escape her, but she will catch whoever continues to sin.

I have found only this: Elohim made people decent, but they looked for many ways to avoid being decent.”