⁸ All things are to no purpose, says the Preacher, all is to no purpose.

² All is to no purpose, said the Preacher, all the ways of man are to no purpose.

⁹ Truly men of low birth are nothing, and men of high position are not what they seem; if they are put in the scales together they are less than a breath.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; all is to no purpose, and desire for wind.

¹⁷ So I was hating life, because everything under the sun was evil to me: all is to no purpose and desire for wind.

⁴ And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man's envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind.

¹² Who is able to say what is good for man in life all the days of his foolish life which he goes through like a shade? who will say what is to be after him under the sun?

⁸ No man has authority over the wind, to keep the wind; or is ruler over the day of his death. In war no man's time is free, and evil will not keep the sinner safe.