Eccl.2.1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Eccl.2.1
I said to myself, "Let's go for it--experiment with pleasure, have a good time!" But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke.
Eccl.2.1
I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless.
Eccl.2.1
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity.
Eccl.2.1
I said to myself, "Come now, let's give pleasure a try. Let's look for the `good things' in life." But I found that this, too, was meaningless.
Eccl.2.2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
Eccl.2.2
What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?
Eccl.2.2
"Laughter," I said, "is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?"
Eccl.2.2
I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"
Eccl.2.2
"It is silly to be laughing all the time," I said. "What good does it do to seek only pleasure?"
Eccl.2.3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Eccl.2.3
With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth.
Eccl.2.3
I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly-my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
Eccl.2.3
I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.
Eccl.2.3
After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. While still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I hoped to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.
Eccl.2.4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Eccl.2.4
Oh, I did great things: built houses, planted vineyards,
Eccl.2.4
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
Eccl.2.4
I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.
Eccl.2.4
I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards.
Eccl.2.5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
Eccl.2.5
designed gardens and parks and planted a variety of fruit trees in them,
Eccl.2.5
I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
Eccl.2.5
I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
Eccl.2.5
I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees.
Eccl.2.6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Eccl.2.6
made pools of water to irrigate the groves of trees.
Eccl.2.6
I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
Eccl.2.6
I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.
Eccl.2.6
I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves.
Eccl.2.7
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Eccl.2.7
I bought slaves, male and female, OSOSwho had children, giving me even more slaves; then I acquired large herds and flocks, larger than any before me in Jerusalem.
Eccl.2.7
I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
Eccl.2.7
I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.
Eccl.2.7
I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned great herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who lived in Jerusalem before me.
Eccl.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, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Eccl.2.8
I piled up silver and gold, loot from kings and kingdoms. I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song, and--most exquisite of all pleasures--voluptuous maidens for my bed.
Eccl.2.8
I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man.
Eccl.2.8
I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.
Eccl.2.8
I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!
Eccl.2.9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Eccl.2.9
Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What's more, I kept a clear head through it all.
Eccl.2.9
I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
Eccl.2.9
So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
Eccl.2.9
So I became greater than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. And with it all, I remained clear-eyed so that I could evaluate all these things.
Eccl.2.10
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Eccl.2.10
Everything I wanted I took--I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task--my reward to myself for a hard day's work!
Eccl.2.10
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.
Eccl.2.10
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.
Eccl.2.10
Anything I wanted, I took. I did not restrain myself from any joy. I even found great pleasure in hard work, an additional reward for all my labors.
Eccl.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 vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Eccl.2.11
Then I took a good look at everything I'd done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.
Eccl.2.11
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
Eccl.2.11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.
Eccl.2.11
But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless. It was like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
Eccl.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.
Eccl.2.12
And then I took a hard look at what's smart and what's stupid. What's left to do after you've been king? That's a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that's it.
Eccl.2.12
Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king's successor do than what has already been done?
Eccl.2.12
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly; For what can the man do who succeeds the king?-- Only what he has already done.
Eccl.2.12
So I decided to compare wisdom and folly, and anyone else would come to the same conclusions I did.
Eccl.2.13
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
Eccl.2.13
But I did see that it's better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness.
Eccl.2.13
I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
Eccl.2.13
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.
Eccl.2.13
Wisdom is of more value than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.
Eccl.2.14
The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
Eccl.2.14
Even so, though the smart ones see where they're going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they're all the same in the end. One fate for all--and that's it.
Eccl.2.14
The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
Eccl.2.14
The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.
Eccl.2.14
For the wise person sees, while the fool is blind. Yet I saw that wise and foolish people share the same fate.
Eccl.2.15
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Eccl.2.15
When I realized that my fate's the same as the fool's, I had to ask myself, "So why bother being wise?" It's all smoke, nothing but smoke.
Eccl.2.15
Then I thought in my heart, "The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?" I said in my heart, "This too is meaningless."
Eccl.2.15
So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool, It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?" Then I said in my heart, "This also is vanity."
Eccl.2.15
Both of them die. Just as the fool will die, so will I. So of what value is all my wisdom? Then I said to myself, "This is all so meaningless!"
Eccl.2.16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Eccl.2.16
The smart and the stupid both disappear out of sight. In a day or two they're both forgotten. Yes, both the smart and the stupid die, and that's it.
Eccl.2.16
For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long remembered; in days to come both will be forgotten. Like the fool, the wise man too must die!
Eccl.2.16
For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever, Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come. And how does a wise man die? As the fool!
Eccl.2.16
For the wise person and the fool both die, and in the days to come, both will be forgotten.
Eccl.2.17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl.2.17
I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It's smoke--and spitting into the wind.
Eccl.2.17
So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Eccl.2.17
Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Eccl.2.17
So now I hate life because everything done here under the sun is so irrational. Everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind.
Eccl.2.18
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Eccl.2.18
And I hated everything I'd accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can't take it with me--no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me.
Eccl.2.18
I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.
Eccl.2.18
Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
Eccl.2.18
I am disgusted that I must leave the fruits of my hard work to others.
Eccl.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 myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
Eccl.2.19
Whether they're worthy or worthless--and who's to tell?-they'll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.
Eccl.2.19
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.
Eccl.2.19
And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Eccl.2.19
And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? And yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work. How meaningless!
Eccl.2.20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Eccl.2.20
That's when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth.
Eccl.2.20
So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.
Eccl.2.20
Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun.
Eccl.2.20
So I turned in despair from hard work. It was not the answer to my search for satisfaction in this life.
Eccl.2.21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Eccl.2.21
What's the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that's what it is. A bad business from start to finish.
Eccl.2.21
For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
Eccl.2.21
For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Eccl.2.21
For though I do my work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, I must leave everything I gain to people who haven't worked to earn it. This is not only foolish but highly unfair.
Eccl.2.22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
Eccl.2.22
So what do you get from a life of hard labor?
Eccl.2.22
What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?
Eccl.2.22
For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?
Eccl.2.22
So what do people get for all their hard work?
Eccl.2.23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Eccl.2.23
Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night's rest. Nothing but smoke.
Eccl.2.23
All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
Eccl.2.23
For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
Eccl.2.23
Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night they cannot rest. It is all utterly meaningless.
Eccl.2.24
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Eccl.2.24
The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that's it--divine fate.
Eccl.2.24
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
Eccl.2.24
Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.
Eccl.2.24
So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God.
Eccl.2.25
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
Eccl.2.25
Whether we feast or fast, it's up to God.
Eccl.2.25
for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
Eccl.2.25
For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
Eccl.2.25
For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?
Eccl.2.26
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight 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 is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl.2.26
God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God's favorites. Nothing but smoke--and spitting into the wind.
Eccl.2.26
To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Eccl.2.26
For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Eccl.2.26
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. Even this, however, is meaningless, like chasing the wind.
