12
And I turned myself to beholdwisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comethafter the king? even that which hath been alreadydone .
13
Then I sawthatwisdomexcellethfolly, as far as lightexcellethdarkness.
14
The wise man'seyes are in his head; but the foolwalketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that oneeventhappeneth to them all.
15
Thensaid I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then morewise ? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten . And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
17
Therefore I hatedlife; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
18
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
19
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured , and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a greatevil.
22
For what hathman of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart,wherein he hath laboured under the sun?