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

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.

If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.