those who deal in material goods, as though they were not fully occupied with them. For this world, as it is now, will not last much longer.

You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.

I have seen everything done in this world, and I tell you, it is all useless. It is like chasing the wind.

So life came to mean nothing to me, because everything in it had brought me nothing but trouble. It had all been useless; I had been chasing the wind.

Nothing that I had worked for and earned meant a thing to me, because I knew that I would have to leave it to my successor,

So I came to regret that I had worked so hard.

You work for something with all your wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then you have to leave it all to someone who hasn't had to work for it. It is useless, and it isn't right!

I have noticed something else in life that is useless.

Here is someone who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too---and a miserable way to live.

The longer you argue, the more useless it is, and you are no better off.

How can anyone know what is best for us in this short, useless life of ours---a life that passes like a shadow? How can we know what will happen in the world after we die?

Useless, useless, said the Philosopher. It is all useless.

After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.

Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and do what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all.

Martha was upset over all the work she had to do, so she came and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself ? Tell her to come and help me!"

but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her."

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? ' "

And Jesus concluded, "This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight."

"So don't be all upset, always concerned about what you will eat and drink.

Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

Anyone can see that even the wise die, as well as the foolish and stupid. They all leave their riches to their descendants.

Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.

The wicked may have too much silver to count and more clothes than anyone needs;

but some good person will wear the clothes, and someone honest will get the silver.

Good people will have wealth to leave to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners will go to the righteous.

Your money can be gone in a flash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.

because wealth is not permanent. Not even nations last forever.

I also piled up silver and gold from the royal treasuries of the lands I ruled. Men and women sang to entertain me, and I had all the women a man could want.

Nothing that I had worked for and earned meant a thing to me, because I knew that I would have to leave it to my successor,

So I came to regret that I had worked so hard.

and then lose it all in some bad deal and end up with nothing left to pass on to their children.

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself ? ' "

And Jesus concluded, "This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God's sight."

Your gold and silver are covered with rust, and this rust will be a witness against you and will eat up your flesh like fire. You have piled up riches in these last days.