My name is Solomon, I'm King of Israel
I say this hollering, this thing is critical
Before me lived my father David and Saul
But my enormous kingdom was honored greatest of all
The Scriptures define me as the richest and wisest
Compared to others, my kingdom's the widest
Consider my wisdom, 'cause I wrote some Proverbs
Which was breathed by the Lord, I'm quotin' God's Word
Now as an old man, looking back on my years
Here's what I've learned, now I ask you to hear
I seek laughter and pleasure and cash as my treasure
As if its happiness was lasting forever
But I had to have better, I seek convenient leisure
My wisdom and riches impressed the Queen of Sheba
But then I realized that my time had an end
And all of it was vanity and striving after wind
The world would honor this and think I've conquered it
Now check out all of my accomplishments
I built houses for myself
Planted vineyards, gardens, and parks, I had bountiful wealth
All kinds of fruit trees, tall vines, and spruce leaves
Married foreign women, all fine with beauty
Made ponds of water to irrigate my forest
So many attractions, it'd irritate a tourist
I'd fiend for merchandise, keep me splurging
Donald Trump and Bill Gates would be my servants
Sheeps and herds and flocks and gold and silver
I drank the finest wine to (?) my liver
I had singers and slaves, every abundant prize
Not to mention, I had 700 wives
Son, I conquered tribes, drunk the bombest wine
And sex servants - 300 concubines
Whatever my eyes desired, no refusing them
Besides, I was Sire over Jerusalem
But did this satisfy? I'm so glad you're askin'
'Cause all of this brought no satisfaction
Take it from a king's son who had a big sum
It brings none satisfaction with its income
See, sensuous women with plentiness
And many gifts in the end is only bringing emptiness
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
What does man gain by his work under the Sun?
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
A generation goes and a generation comes
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
Whatever has been done is what will be done
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
There's nothing new under the Sun
Check it
Then it occurred to me, every person on earth around
Will eventually return to the dirt and ground
Do consider this
The one who spent his life in school dies just like the fool who's illiterate
See the president or the homeless man
Or drug dealer or entrepreneur who owns the land
Or the wisest of men or guys who rhyme with the pen
'Cause of Adam's sin, we'll all die in the end
Compared to God, man's just a mere breath
The moment we're born, we're already near death
Surely, we certainly depart like wind
But God's put eternity in the hearts of men
So we know there's life after hearin' of this proof
So kids, remember God and fear Him in your youth
However, since I traveled the weathered ends
Of this cursed earth, there's not one person who never sins
And 'cause the sentence against an evil deed
Doesn't come right away, then we proceed
To fiend in greed and spend our life astray
From Him who lights the day and feeds our needs
So I grieve for humanity whose deeds are a vanity
The hearts of men are full of evil insanity
And the world's pleasures, they're lies in a delusion
So listen closely to my final conclusion
Fear God and keep His commandments
Believe in Jesus, our ransom, please understand this
God will bring every act into judgement
He demands perfection, but we lack in substance
We're trapped from the start of life
And the only thing that can fill the gap in your heart is Christ
This rich wisdom, the simple can afford
Take it from the one who built the temple of the Lord
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
God will bring every single act into judgment
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
He demands perfection, but we lack in substance
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
So fear God and keep His commandments
Vanity of vanities, all is vanity
Please understand, believe in Jesus, our ransom