Ecclesiastes 1:1; Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 2:8; Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 4:13; Ecclesiastes 5:9; Ecclesiastes 8:2; Ecclesiastes 8:4; Ecclesiastes 9:14; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17; Ecclesiastes 10:20 (New American Standard)

The Futility of All Endeavor

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

The Futility of Wisdom

12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men -many concubines.

Wisdom Excels Folly

12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly ; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done ? 13 A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. 9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land. 2 I say, "Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. 4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing ?" 14 There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. 16 Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. 17 Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time -for strength and not for drunkenness. 20 Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known.