Home Master Index
←Prev   Ecclesiates 2 as rendered by/in  Next→ 


2:1  I SAID in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
2:2  I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
2:3  I searched in mine heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, mine heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
2:4  I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
2:5  I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit:
2:6  I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared:
2:7  I bought menservants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem:
2:8  I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, concubines very many.
2:9  So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
2:10  And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them: I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour; and this was my portion from all my labour.
2:11  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 a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
2:12  And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness and folly; for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
2:13  Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
2:14  The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
2:15  Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also was vanity.
2:16  For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been already forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
2:17  So I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me: for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
2:18  And I hated all my labour wherein I laboured under the sun: seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
2:19  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 wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.
2:20  Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour wherein I had laboured under the sun.
2:21  For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
2:22  For what hath a man of all his labour, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboureth under the sun?
2:23  For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
2:24  There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
2:25  For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
2:26  For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.