I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting my heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

There are many that say, Who will show us any good? LORD, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.

The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: you maintain my lot.

As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.

He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.

Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in any thing that is done under the sun.

For we are strangers before you, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.

Behold, you have made my days as a handbreadth; and my age is as nothing before you: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

Surely every man walks in a vain show: surely they are in turmoil in vain: he heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.

Remember how short my time is: why have you made all men in vain?

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

My days are like a shadow that declines; and I am withered like grass.

I am gone like the shadow when it declines: I am shaken off like the locust.

Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.

Whereas you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Therefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his lot: for who can bring him to see what shall be after him?

For he knows not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; and they are brought low, but he perceives it not of them.