And I setmy mindto seekand exploreby wisdomconcerningallthat has been doneunderheaven.[It] is a grievoustask[which] Godhas givento the sonsof mento be afflictedwith.
I have seenthe taskwhichGodhas giventhe sonsof menwith which to occupythemselves.
By the sweatof your faceYou will eatbread,Tillyou returnto the ground,Becausefrom it you were taken;For you are dust,And to dustyou shall return."
And I setmy mindto knowwisdomand to knowmadnessand folly;I realizedthat thisalsois strivingafter wind.
Take painswith these things;be [absorbed] in them, sothat your progresswill be evidentto all.
But beyondthis,my son,be warned:the writingof manybooksis endless,and excessivedevotion[to books] is wearyingto the body.
I directedmy mindto know,to investigateand to seekwisdomand an explanation,and to knowthe evilof follyand the foolishnessof madness.
AllthisI have seenand appliedmy mindto everydeedthat has been doneunderthe sunwhereina manhas exercisedauthorityover [another] manto his hurt.
I have seenthat everylaborand everyskillwhich is doneis [the result of] rivalrybetween a manand his neighbor.Thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
For to a personwhois goodin His sightHe has givenwisdomand knowledgeand joy,while to the sinnerHe has giventhe taskof gatheringand collectingso that he may giveto onewhois goodin God'ssight.Thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
Becauseallhis dayshis taskis painfuland grievous;evenat nighthis minddoes not rest.Thistoois vanity.
Giveme your heart,my son,And let your eyesdelightin my ways.
The mindof the prudentacquiresknowledge,And the earof the wiseseeksknowledge.
He who separateshimself seeks[his own] desire,He quarrelsagainst allsoundwisdom.
"The beginningof wisdom[is]: Acquirewisdom;And with allyour acquiring,getunderstanding.
Greatare the worksof the LORD;[They are] studiedby allwho delightin them.
"[Man] putsan endto darkness,And to the farthestlimithe searchesout The rockin gloomand deepshadow.
He has madeeverythingappropriatein its time.He has alsoseteternityin their heart,yetsothat manwill not findout the workwhichGodhas donefrom the beginningeven to the end.
Therewas a certainmanwithouta dependent,havingneithera sonnora brother,yet therewas noendto allhis labor.Indeed,his eyeswere not satisfiedwith riches[and he never asked], "And for whomam I laboringand deprivingmyselfof pleasure?"Thistoois vanityand it is a grievoustask.
Justas you do not knowthe pathof the windand how bones[are formed] in the wombof the pregnantwoman,soyou do not knowthe activityof Godwhomakesallthings.
It is the gloryof Godto conceala matter,But the gloryof kingsis to searchout a matter.
