For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

Pleasures Are Meaningless

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?

for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

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.

There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.

All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded.

Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger.

It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.

Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them.

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.