^9 (A)All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor

^8 (A)If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, ^(B)do not be amazed at the matter, ^(C)for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.

^13 (A)There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt,

^7 (A)Again, I saw vanity under the sun: ⁸ one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his ^(B)eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, ^(C)“For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy ^(D)business.

^25 (A)I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

¹⁰ I have seen ^(A)the business that ^(B)God has given to the children of man to be busy with.

¹⁴ I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is ^(A)vanity^[a] and a striving after wind.^[b]

¹⁰ You have indeed ^(A)struck down Edom, ^(B)and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah ^(C)faced one another in battle at ^(D)Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah. ¹² And Judah was defeated by Israel, ^(E)and every man fled to his home.

³⁰ But ^(A)Sihon the king of ^(B)Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God ^(C)hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.