Ketuvim Megillot Scrolls

Kohelet / קהלת

Ecclesiastes Chapter 2

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Go to Index Page

Proof continue:

Pleasure, simchah, and riches cannot satisfy

2:1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility.

2:2 "Laughter" I said, It is foolishness: and of simchah, What does it accomplish?

2:3 I searched in mine heart to give myself to 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.

2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees:

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 Yerushalayim before me:

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.

2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Yerushalayim: 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 in all my labour: and this was my portion of 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, hinnei, all was hevel (vanity) and striving after the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

2:12 And I turned myself to hinnei wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that comes after the king? even that which has been already done.

2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excells folly, as far as light excells darkness.

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 happens to them all.

2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is hevel (vanity).

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 dies the wise man? as the fool.

2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous to me: for all is hevel (vanity) and striving after the wind.

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.

2:19 And who knows 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 hevel (vanity).

2:20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that has not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is hevel (vanity) and a great evil.

2:22 For what has man of all his labour, and of the anxious striving, wherein he has laboured under the sun?

2:23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart takes not rest in the night. This is also hevel (vanity).

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 Elohim (אלהים).

2:25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereto, more than I?

2:26 For Elohim (אלהים) gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before Elohim (אלהים). This also is hevel (vanity) and striving after the wind.


1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Go to Index Page