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and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--it is the gift of God.

So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The fool folds his hands And consumes his own flesh.

There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, Nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.

For he comes out of prison to be king, Although he was born poor in his kingdom.

I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.

For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words.

There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand.

As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.

All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.

Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.

As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.

For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he--

All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?

I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.