Ecclesiastes

Chapter 2

1  The vanity of human courses in the works of pleasure.  12  Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event.  18  The vanity of human labour, in leaving it they know not to whom.  24  Nothing better than joy in our labour; but that is God's gift.

2:1 ¶ I (589) said {559} <8804> in mine heart, {3820} Go to (1980) now, [3212] <8798> (4994) I will prove {5254} <8762> thee with mirth, {8057} therefore enjoy {7200} <8798> pleasure: {2896} and, behold, (2009) this (1931) also (1571) [is] vanity. {1892}

2:2 I said {559} <8804> of laughter, {7814} [It is] mad: {1984} <8781> and of mirth, {8057} What [2090] (4100) doeth {6213} <8802> it? (2090)

2:3 I sought {8446} <8804> in mine heart {3820} to give {4900} <8800> (853) myself {1320} unto wine, {3196} yet acquainting {5090} <8802> mine heart {3820} with wisdom; {2451} and to lay hold {270} <8800> on folly, {5531} till (5704) (834) I might see {7200} <8799> what (335) [was] that (2088) good {2896} for the sons {1121} of men, {120} which (834) they should do {6213} <8799> under (8478) the heaven {8064} all {4557} the days {3117} of their life. {2416}

2:4 I made me great {1431} <8689> works; {4639} I builded {1129} <8804> me houses; {1004} I planted {5193} <8804> me vineyards: {3754}

2:5 I made {6213} <8804> me gardens {1593} and orchards, {6508} and I planted {5193} <8804> trees {6086} in them of all (3605) [kind of] fruits: {6529}

2:6 I made {6213} <8804> me pools {1295} of water, {4325} to water {8248} <8687> therewith (4480) the wood {3293} that bringeth forth {6779} <8802> trees: {6086}

2:7 I got {7069} <8804> [me] servants {5650} and maidens, {8198} and had (1961) servants born {1121} in my house; {1004} also (1571) I had (1961) great {7235} <8687> possessions {4735} of great {1241} and small cattle {6629} above all (4480) (3605) that were (7945) (1961) in Jerusalem {3389} before {6440} me:

2:8 I gathered {3664} <8804> me also (1571) silver {3701} and gold, {2091} and the peculiar treasure {5459} of kings {4428} and of the provinces: {4082} I gat {6213} <8804> me men singers {7891} <8802> and women singers, {7891} <8802> and the delights {8588} of the sons {1121} of men, {120} [as] musical instruments, {7705} and that of all sorts.

2:9 So I was great, {1431} <8804> and increased [3254] <8689> more (3254) than all (4480) (3605) that were (7945) (1961) before {6440} me in Jerusalem: {3389} also (637) my wisdom {2451} remained {5975} <8804> with me.

2:10 And whatsoever (3605) (834) mine eyes {5869} desired {7592} <8804> I kept {680} <8804> not (3808) from (4480) them, I withheld {4513} <8804> not (3808) (853) my heart {3820} from any (4480) (3605) joy; {8057} for (3588) my heart {3820} rejoiced {8056} in all (4480) (3605) my labour: {5999} and this (2088) was (1961) my portion {2506} of all (4480) (3605) my labour. {5999}

2:11 Then I (589) looked {6437} <8804> on all (3605) the works {4639} that my hands [3027] had wrought, {6213} <8804> (7945) (3027) and on the labour {5999} that I had laboured {5998} <8804> (7945) to do: {6213} <8800> and, behold, (2009) all (3605) [was] vanity {1892} and vexation {7469} of spirit, {7307} and [there was] no (369) profit {3504} under (8478) the sun. {8121}

2:12 ¶ And I (589) turned {6437} <8804> myself to behold {7200} <8800> wisdom, {2451} and madness, {1947} and folly: {5531} for (3588) what (4100) [can] the man {120} [do] that cometh {935} <8799> (7945) after {310} the king? {4428} [even] (853) that which (834) hath been already {3528} done. {6213} <8804>

2:13 Then I (589) saw {7200} <8804> that {3426} (7945) wisdom {2451} excelleth {3504} folly, {5531} (4480) as far as light {216} excelleth {3504} darkness. {2822} (4480)

2:14 The wise man's {2450} eyes {5869} [are] in his head; {7218} but the fool {3684} walketh {1980} <8802> in darkness: {2822} and I myself (589) perceived {3045} <8804> also (1571) that one [259] event {4745} (7945) (259) happeneth {7136} <8799> to (854) them all. (3605)

2:15 Then [227] said {559} <8804> I (589) in my heart, {3820} As it happeneth {4745} to the fool, {3684} so it happeneth {7136} <8799> even (1571) to me; [1571] and why (4100) was I (589) then (227) more {3148} wise? {2449} <8804> Then I said {1696} <8765> in my heart, {3820} that this (2088) also (7945) (1571) [is] vanity. {1892}

2:16 For (3588) [there is] no (369) remembrance {2146} of the wise {2450} more than {5973} of the fool {3684} for ever; {5769} seeing that which now {3528} (7945) [is] in the days {3117} to come {935} <8802> shall all (3605) be forgotten. {7911} <8738> And how (349) dieth {4191} <8799> the wise {2450} [man]? as (5973) the fool. {3684}

2:17 Therefore I hated {8130} <8804> (853) life; {2416} because (3588) the work {4639} that is wrought {6213} <8738> (7945) under (8478) the sun {8121} [is] grievous {7451} unto (5921) me: for (3588) all (3605) [is] vanity {1892} and vexation {7469} of spirit. {7307}

2:18 ¶ Yea, I (589) hated {8130} <8804> (853) all (3605) my labour {5999} which I (7945) (589) had taken {6001} under (8478) the sun: {8121} because I should leave [3240] <8686> (7945) (5117) it unto the man {120} that shall be (7945) (1961) after {310} me.

2:19 And who (4310) knoweth {3045} <8802> whether he shall be (1961) a wise {2450} [man] or (176) a fool? {5530} yet shall he have rule {7980} <8799> over all (3605) my labour {5999} wherein I have laboured, {5998} <8804> (7945) and wherein I have shewed myself wise {2449} <8804> (7945) under (8478) the sun. {8121} This (2088) [is] also (1571) vanity. {1892}

2:20 Therefore I (589) went about {5437} <8804> to cause [2976] <0> (853) my heart {3820} to despair {2976} <8763> of (5921) all (3605) the labour {5999} which I took {5998} <8804> (7945) under (8478) the sun. {8121}

2:21 For (3588) there is {3426} a man {120} whose labour {5999} (7945) [is] in wisdom, {2451} and in knowledge, {1847} and in equity; {3788} yet to a man {120} that hath not (7945) (3808) laboured {5998} <8804> therein shall he leave {5414} <8799> it [for] his portion. {2506} This (2088) also (1571) [is] vanity {1892} and a great {7227} evil. {7451}

2:22 For (3588) what (4100) hath {1933} <8802> man {120} of all (3605) his labour, {5999} and of the vexation {7475} of his heart, {3820} wherein [1931] he (7945) (1931) hath laboured {6001} under (8478) the sun? {8121}

2:23 For (3588) all (3605) his days {3117} [are] sorrows, {4341} and his travail {6045} grief; {3708} yea, (1571) his heart {3820} taketh not (3808) rest {7901} <8804> in the night. {3915} This (2088) is also (1571) vanity. {1892}

2:24 ¶ [There is] nothing (369) better {2896} for a man, {120} [than] that he should eat {398} <8799> (7945) and drink, {8354} <8804> and [that] he should make his soul {5315} (7200) (853) enjoy [7200] <8689> good {2896} in his labour. {5999} This {2090} also (1571) I (589) saw, {7200} <8804> that (3588) it (1931) [was] from the hand {3027} (4480) of Elohim. {430}

2:25 For (3588) who (4310) can eat, {398} <8799> or who (4310) else can hasten {2363} <8799> [hereunto], more {2351} than (4480) I?

2:26 For (3588) [Elohim] giveth {5414} <8804> to a man {120} that [is] good {2896} (7945) in his sight {6440} wisdom, {2451} and knowledge, {1847} and joy: {8057} but to the sinner {2398} <8802> he giveth {5414} <8804> travail, {6045} to gather {622} <8800> and to heap up, {3664} <8800> that he may give {5414} <8800> to [him that is] good {2896} before {6440} Elohim. {430} This (2088) also (1571) [is] vanity {1892} and vexation {7469} of spirit. {7307}