The wiseman'seyesare in his head,but the foolwalksin darkness.And yetI knowthat onefatebefallsthem both.
They are moredesirablethangold,yes, thanmuchfinegold;Sweeteralso thanhoneyand the drippingsof the honeycomb.
For he sees[that even] wisemendie;The stupidand the senselessalikeperishAnd leavetheir wealthto others.
Their innerthoughtis [that] their housesare forever[And] their dwellingplacesto allgenerations;They have calledtheir landsafter their own names.
The wisdomof the sensibleis to understandhis way,But the foolishnessof foolsis deceit.
Wisdomis in the presenceof the one who hasunderstanding,But the eyesof a foolare on the endsof the earth.
For thereis nolastingremembranceof the wiseman[as] with the fool,inasmuchas [in] the comingdaysallwill be forgotten.And howthe wisemanand the foolalikedie!
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.
"Even ifthe [other] man livesa thousandyearstwiceand does not enjoygoodthings--do not allgoto oneplace?"
For whatadvantagedoes the wisemanhave overthe fool?What[advantage] does the poormanhave, knowing[how] to walkbeforethe living?
It is betterto goto a houseof mourningThanto goto a houseof feasting,Becausethat is the endof everyman,And the livingtakes[it] to heart.
Whois like the wisemanand whoknowsthe interpretationof a matter?A man'swisdomillumineshim and causes his sternfaceto beam.
I againsawunderthe sunthat the raceis not to the swiftand the battleis not to the warriors,and neitheris breadto the wisenorwealthto the discerningnorfavorto men of ability;for timeand chanceovertakethem all.
So I said,"Wisdomis betterthanstrength."But the wisdomof the poormanis despisedand his wordsare not heeded.
But the one who hateshis brotheris in the darknessand walksin the darkness,and does not knowwherehe is goingbecausethe darknesshas blindedhis eyes.
