Vanity of vanities

Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?

One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh:

but the earth abideth for ever.

I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom

concerning all things that are done under heaven:

this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man

to be exercised therewith.

I made me great works; I builded me houses;

I planted me vineyards:

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees

in them of all kind of fruits:

I made me pools of water

I gathered me also silver and gold,

and the peculiar treasure of kings

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions

that are done under the sun: and behold the tears

of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter;

and on the side of their oppressors there was power;

but they had no comforter.