7. I took male and female servants, and I had household, and I owned[42] a multitude of cattle and flocks, more than all that were before me in Jerusalem.

8. I have gathered up gold and silver[43] and the riches of kings and countries; He has had[44] singers and singers, and the delights of the sons of men, cupbearers and cupbearers[45].

9. And I was magnified, and gained wisdom[46] more than all that were before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom[47] dwelt with me.

10. And in all that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them, nor did I forbid my heart any of my joys,[48] for my heart rejoiced in all my labors[49]. And this was my share[50] of all my labor.

11. And I looked at all my works that my hands had done, and at the labor I had done to do them, and behold, all are vanity and turmoil of spirit, and there is no profit[51] under the sun!

12. And I have carefully examined[52] wisdom, error,[53] and foolishness (to know): if any man follows (wise) conscience, what will he achieve[54] under him[55]?

13. And I saw that wisdom has the advantage over foolishness, as the light has the advantage over darkness:

14. The wise man's eye is in his head,[56] but the fool walks in darkness, but at the same time[57] I have learned that the same fate[58] will befall them all.

15. And I said in my heart, "And I will suffer the same fate as the fool, and why have I become wise? "Then I spoke superfluously[59] in my heart, for even this is vanity, that a fool speaks superfluous[60],

16. Ибо и о мудромъ, (наравнѣ) съ безумнымъ, не будетъ памяти на вѣки, такъ какъ въ наступающіе дни все будетъ забыто[61]. Почему же мудрый умираетъ (одинаково) съ безумными[62]?

17. И возненавидѣлъ я жизнь, потому что худымъ (показалось) мнѣ дѣло, которое дѣлается подъ солнцемъ, ибо все — суета и волненіе духа.

18. И возненавидѣлъ я все въ мірѣ[63] и трудъ мой, которымъ я занимался подъ солнцемъ, потому что оставлю его человѣку, который будетъ послѣ меня.

19. И кто знаетъ: мудрый онъ будетъ или безумный? и будетъ-ли (разумно) обладать всѣмъ (что пріобрѣтено) моимъ трудомъ, которымъ я занятъ былъ и показалъ себя мудрымъ подъ солнцемъ? и это-суета.

20. И вознамѣрился я отречься[64] сердцемъ своимъ отъ всякаго труда, которымъ я занимался подъ солнцемъ,