And I setmy mindto seekand exploreby wisdomconcerningallthat has been doneunderheaven.[It] is a grievoustask[which] Godhas givento the sonsof mento be afflictedwith.
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."
"[Man] putsan endto darkness,And to the farthestlimithe searchesout The rockin gloomand deepshadow.
Greatare the worksof the LORD;[They are] studiedby allwho delightin them.
He who separateshimself seeks[his own] desire,He quarrelsagainst allsoundwisdom.
The mindof the prudentacquiresknowledge,And the earof the wiseseeksknowledge.
Giveme your heart,my son,And let your eyesdelightin my ways.
It is the gloryof Godto conceala matter,But the gloryof kingsis to searchout a matter.
"The beginningof wisdom[is]: Acquirewisdom;And with allyour acquiring,getunderstanding.
And I setmy mindto knowwisdomand to knowmadnessand folly;I realizedthat thisalsois strivingafter wind.
Justas you do not knowthe pathof the windand how bones[are formed] in the wombof the pregnantwoman,soyou do not knowthe activityof Godwhomakesallthings.
But beyondthis,my son,be warned:the writingof manybooksis endless,and excessivedevotion[to books] is wearyingto the body.
Becauseallhis dayshis taskis painfuland grievous;evenat nighthis minddoes not rest.Thistoois vanity.
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.
I have seenthe taskwhichGodhas giventhe sonsof menwith which to occupythemselves.
He has madeeverythingappropriatein its time.He has alsoseteternityin their heart,yetsothat manwill not findout the workwhichGodhas donefrom the beginningeven to the end.
I have seenthat everylaborand everyskillwhich is doneis [the result of] rivalrybetween a manand his neighbor.Thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
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.
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.
Take painswith these things;be [absorbed] in them, sothat your progresswill be evidentto all.
