"Vanityof vanities,"saysthe Preacher,"Vanityof vanities!Allis vanity."
Manis likea merebreath;His daysare like a passingshadow.
For the creationwas subjectedto futility,not willingly,but becauseof Him who subjectedit, in hope
He who lovesmoneywill not be satisfiedwith money,norhe wholovesabundance[with its] income.Thistoois vanity.
"Vanityof vanities,"saysthe Preacher,"allis 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.
And whoknowswhether he will be a wisemanora fool?Yet he will have controloverallthe fruitof my laborfor whichI have laboredby actingwiselyunderthe sun.Thistoois vanity.
Thus I consideredallmy activitieswhichmy handshad doneand the laborwhichI had exerted,and beholdallwas vanityand strivingafter windand therewas noprofitunderthe sun.
Becauseallhis dayshis taskis painfuland grievous;evenat nighthis minddoes not rest.Thistoois vanity.
So I hatedlife,for the workwhichhad been doneunderthe sunwas grievousto me; becauseeverythingis futilityand strivingafter wind.
Indeed,ifa manshould livemanyyears,let him rejoicein them all,and let him rememberthe daysof darkness,for they will be many.Everythingthat is to come[will be] futility.
For thereare manywordswhich increasefutility.What[then] is the advantageto a man?
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 have seenthat everylaborand everyskillwhich is doneis [the result of] rivalrybetween a manand his neighbor.Thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
For the fateof the sonsof menand the fateof beastsis the same.As onediessodiesthe other;indeed, they allhave the samebreathand thereis noadvantagefor manoverbeast,for allis vanity.
Whenthereis a manwhohas laboredwith wisdom,knowledgeand skill,then he giveshis legacyto onewhohas not laboredwith them. Thistoois vanityand a greatevil.
So, removegriefand angerfrom your heartand putawaypainfrom your body,becausechildhoodand the primeof lifeare fleeting.
Thereis noendto allthe people,to allwhowere beforethem, and eventhe oneswhowill comelaterwill not be happywith him, for thistoois vanityand strivingafter wind.
Then I saidto myself,"As is the fateof the fool,it will alsobefallme. Whythenhave I beenextremelywise?"So I saidto myself,"Thistoois vanity."
"An idiotwill becomeintelligentWhen the foalof a wilddonkeyis borna man.
Rememberwhatmy spanof lifeis; For whatvanityYou have createdallthe sonsof men!
Also,I collectedfor myself silverand goldand the treasureof kingsand provinces.I providedfor myself male and female singersand the pleasuresof men--manyconcubines.
