¹¹ Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?

⁶ Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.

⁷ For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.

¹⁶ There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

⁸ There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, `saith he', do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

¹ Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

² Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;

³ yea, better than them both `did I esteem' him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

⁴ Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.

³ I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding `me' with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

⁴ I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;

⁵ I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;

⁶ I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;

⁷ I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;

⁸ I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

¹⁰ And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

¹¹ Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

¹⁷ And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.

¹⁸ For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.

⁶ The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.

⁷ All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.

⁸ All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter `it': the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

⁹ That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

¹ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.