Eccl 2
1
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove you with mirth, and behold you good: and,
behold, this is also vanity.
2
I said to laughter, Madness: and to mirth, Why do you this:
3
And I examined whether my heart would excite my flesh as with wine, (though my heart
guided me in wisdom,) and I desired to lay hold of mirth, until I should see of what
kind is the good to the sons of men, which they should do under the sun all the days
of their life.
4
I enlarged my work; I built me houses; I planted me vineyards.
5
I made me gardens and orchards, and planted in them every kind of fruit-tree.
6
I made me Lit. baths pools of water, to water from them the timber-bearing wood.
7
I got servants and maidens, and servants were born to me in the house: also I had
abundant possession of flocks and herds, beyond all who were before me in Jerusalem.
8
Moreover I collected for myself both silver and gold also, and the peculiar treasures
of kings and provinces: I procured me singing men and singing women, and delights
of the sons of men, a butler and female cupbearers.
9
So I became great, and advanced beyond all that were before in Jerusalem: also my
wisdom was established to me.
10
And whatever mine eyes desired, I withheld not from them, I withheld not my heart
from all my mirth: for my heart rejoiced in all my labour; and this was my portion
of all my labour.
11
And I looked on all my works which my hands had wrought, and on my labour which I
laboured to perform: and behold, all was vanity and waywardness of spirit, and there
is no advantage under the sun.
12
Then I looked on to see wisdom, and madness, and folly: for who is the man who will
follow after counsel, in all things where in he employs it?
13
And I saw that wisdom excels folly, as much as light excels darkness.
14
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in darkness: and I perceived,
even I, that one event shall happen to them all.
15
And I said in my heart, As the event of the fool is, so shall it be to me, even to
me: and to what purpose have I gained wisdom? I said moreover in my heart, This is
also vanity, because the fool speaks of his abundance.
16
For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool for ever; seeing that as
now in the coming days all things are forgotten: and how shall the wise man die with
the fool?
17
So I hated life; because the work that was wrought under the sun was evil Gr. toward, or, upon me before me: for all is vanity
and waywardness of spirit.
18
And I hated the whole of my labour which I took under the sun; because I must leave
it to the man who will come after me.
19
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? and whether he will have power
over all my labour in which I laboured, and wherein I grew wise under the sun? this
is also vanity.
20
so I went about to dismiss from my heart all my labour wherein I had laboured under
the sun.
21
For there is such a man that his labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in fortitude;
yet this man shall give his portion to one who has not laboured therein. This is also
vanity and great Gr. wickedness evil.
22
For it happens to a man in all his labour, and in the purpose of his heart wherein
he labours under the sun.
23
For all his days are days of sorrows, and Or, distraction vexation of spirit is his; in the night also his heart rests not.
This is also vanity.
24
A man has nothing really good Gr. which he shall eat and which, etc. to eat, and to drink, and to shew his soul as good in
his trouble. This also I saw,
that it is from the hand of God.
25
For who shall eat, or who shall drink, without i. e. God him?
26
For God has given to the man who is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and
joy: but he has given to the sinner trouble, to add and to heap up, that he may give
to him whom is good before God; for this is also vanity and waywardness of spirit.