I enlarged my work; I built myself houses; I planted myself vineyards.

I made myself pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.

Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold, and the peculiar treasures of kings and provinces. I procured for myself singing men and singing women, and delights of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.

And I applied my heart to seek out and examine by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven, for God has given to the sons of men a burdensome task to be afflicted with.

Better also than both these is he who has not yet been, who has not seen all the evil work that is done under the sun.

Behold, I have seen good, that it is a fine thing [for a man] to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor in which he may labor under the sun; [all] the number of the days of his life which God has given to him; for it is his portion.

And see life with the wife whom you love, all the days of the life of your vanity, which are given to you under the sun; for that is your portion in your life, and in your labor in which you labor under the sun.

For [God] has given wisdom, knowledge, and joy to the man who is good in His sight, but He has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that He may give to him that is good before God; for this is also vanity and grasping for the wind.

There is an infirmity which I have seen under the sun, [namely], wealth kept for its owner to his [own] hurt.

And that wealth shall perish in an evil trouble, and [the man] begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

And the Lord said to Solomon, Because it has been thus with you, and you has not kept My commandments and My ordinances which I commanded you, I will surely tear your kingdom out of your hand, and give it to your servant.

Only I will not take away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for David My servant's sake, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen.

because of the enemies of Your hand. O Lord, destroy them from the earth; scatter them in their life, though their belly has been filled with Your hidden [treasures]; they have been satisfied with uncleanness, and have left the remnant [of their possessions] to their babes.

Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain; he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

But God said to him, ['You] fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have prepared?'

Then he said, 'Therefore I beseech you, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

for I have five brothers, so that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

For I know this, that savage wolves will come in after my departure, not sparing the flock.

Also from among you yourselves will arise men speaking things having been distorted, [in order] to draw away the disciples after them.

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise architect I have laid the foundation, but another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.