2:11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished 1
and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, 2
I concluded: 3 “All these 4 achievements and possessions 5 are ultimately 6 profitless 7 –
like chasing the wind!
There is nothing gained 8 from them 9 on earth.” 10
2:19 Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool?
Yet 11 he will be master over all the fruit of 12 my labor 13
for which I worked so wisely 14 on earth! 15
This also is futile!
4:3 But better than both is the one who has not been born 16
and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. 17
4:7 So 18 I again considered 19 another 20 futile thing on earth: 21
5:18 I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: 22
to eat and drink, 23 and find enjoyment in all their 24 hard work 25 on earth 26
during the few days of their life which God has given them,
for this is their reward. 27
6:12 For no one knows what is best for a person during his life 28 –
during the few days of his fleeting life –
for 29 they pass away 30 like a shadow.
Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth. 31
7:11 Wisdom, like 32 an inheritance, is a good thing;
it benefits those who see the light of day. 33
8:15 So I recommend the enjoyment of life, 34
for there is nothing better on earth 35 for a person to do 36 except 37 to eat, drink, and enjoy 38 life. 39
So 40 joy 41 will accompany him in his toil
during the days of his life which God gives him on earth. 42
8:16 When I tried 43 to gain 44 wisdom
and to observe the activity 45 on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 46 –
8:17 then I discerned all that God has done: 47
No one really comprehends what happens 48 on earth. 49
Despite all human 50 efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp 51 it. 52
Even if 53 a wise person claimed 54 that he understood,
he would not really comprehend 55 it. 56
9:3 This is the unfortunate fact 57 about everything that happens on earth: 58
the same fate awaits 59 everyone.
In addition to this, the hearts of all people 60 are full of evil,
and there is folly in their hearts during their lives – then they die. 61
9:6 What they loved, 62 as well as what they hated 63 and envied, 64 perished long ago,
and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth. 65
9:13 This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, 66
and it is a great burden 67 to me: