The Conclusion. Ch. ii., vv. 24-26.

12 Then I turned to compare wisdom with madness and folly-- And what can he do that cometh after the king Whom they made king long ago?-- 13 And I saw that wisdom excelleth folly As far as light excelleth darkness: 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, While the fool walketh blindly. Nevertheless I knew that the same fate will befall both. 15 Therefore I spake with my heart: "A fate like that of the fool will befall me, even me; To what end, then, am I wiser?" And I said to my heart: "This too is vanity, 16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise man than of the fool; For both will be forgotten, As in time past so also in days to come: And, alas, the wise man dieth even as the fool!" 17 So life became hateful to me, for a sore burden was upon me, Even the labour which I wrought under the sun; Since all is vanity and vexation of spirit: 18 Yea, I hated all the gain which I had gained under the sun, Because I must leave it to the man who shall come after me, 19 And who can tell whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he have power over all my gain Which I have wisely gained under the sun: This too is vanity. 20 Then I turned and gave my heart up to despair Concerning all the gain which I had gained under the sun; 21 For here is a man who hath laboured wisely, and prudently, and dexterously, And he must leave it as a portion to one who hath not laboured therein: This also is vanity and a great evil; 22 For man hath nothing of all his heavy labour, And the vexation of his heart under the sun, 23 Since his task grieveth and vexeth him all his days, And even at night his heart hath no rest: This too is vanity.

24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and to drink, And to let his soul take pleasure in his labour. But even this, I saw, cometh from God; 25 For who can eat, And who enjoy himself, apart from Him? 26 For to the man who is good before Him, He giveth wisdom and knowledge and joy; But to the sinner He giveth the task to gather and to heap up, That he may leave it to him who is good before God: This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.