WhenI gavemy heartto knowwisdomand to seethe taskwhichhas been doneon the earth(eventhoughoneshould neversleepdayor night),
"[Thus] I was: by daythe heatconsumedme and the frostby night,and my sleepfledfrom my eyes.
It is vainfor you to riseup early,To retirelate,To eatthe breadof painfullabors;For He givesto His beloved[even in his] sleep.
And I setmy mindto seekand exploreby wisdomconcerningallthat has been doneunderheaven.[It] is a grievoustask[which] Godhas givento the sonsof mento be afflictedwith.
I have seenallthe workswhichhave been doneunderthe sun,and behold,allis vanityand strivingafter wind.
And I setmy mindto knowwisdomand to knowmadnessand folly;I realizedthat thisalsois strivingafter wind.
Becauseallhis dayshis taskis painfuland grievous;evenat nighthis minddoes not rest.Thistoois vanity.
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.
The sleepof the workingman is pleasant,whetherhe eatslittleor much;but the fullstomachof the richmandoes not allowhim to sleep.
I directedmy mindto know,to investigateand to seekwisdomand an explanation,and to knowthe evilof follyand the foolishnessof madness.
Ifnooneknowswhatwill happen,whocan tellhim whenit will happen?
AllthisI have seenand appliedmy mindto everydeedthat has been doneunderthe sunwhereina manhas exercisedauthorityover [another] manto his hurt.
