I made my works great; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

I made pools of water for myself, to water the forest springing up with trees.

I also gathered silver and gold to myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got men singers and women singers for myself, and the delights of the sons of men, wives and concubines.

And I have given my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that which is done under the heavens. It is an evil task which God has given to the sons of men to be busied with.

Yea, better than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

Behold that which I have seen: It is good and right for one to eat and to drink, and to see good in all his labor that he labors under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him; for it is his portion.

Look on life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life, which He has given you under the sun, all the days of your vanity. For that is your share in this life, and in your labor which you labor under the sun.

For God gives wisdom, and knowledge, and joy to a man who is good in His sight. But to the sinner He gives labor, to collect and gather, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and striving of spirit.

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owners to their hurt.

But those riches perish by evil use. And he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Therefore Jehovah said to Solomon, Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have charged you, I will rend to tear the kingdom away from you, and have given it to your servant.

However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I shall give one tribe to your son for the sake of my servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.

from men by Your hand, O Jehovah, from men of the world whose portion is in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave an abundance to their infants.

Surely every man walks about like a shadow! Surely they are stirred up in vain. He heaps up the produce, and does not know who shall gather it.

For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish ones perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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

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

for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, that they not also come to this place of torment.

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

Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

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