Ecclesiastes 2

1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

1I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity.

1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.

2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

2Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived?

2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my 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 heaven all the days of their life.

3I 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.

3I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life.

3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my 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 heaven all the days of their life.

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

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

4I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards,

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

5I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;

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

5I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds,

5I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;

6I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;

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

6And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees,

6I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;

7I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;

7I 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:

7I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem:

7I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;

8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

8I 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.

8I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine:

8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

9And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me.

9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

10And 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 labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

10And 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.

10And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour.

10And 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 labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.

11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

11Then 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.

11And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun.

11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.

12And 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.

12I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I that he can follow the King his maker?)

12And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for whatcanthe mandothat cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.

13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

13And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness.

13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

14The 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.

14The 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.

14The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike.

14The 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.

15Then 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 said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

15Then 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.

15And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity.

15Then 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 said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.

16For 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 long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

16For 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.

16For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool forever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned.

16For 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 long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!

17So 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.

17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

17And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit.

17So 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.

18And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

18Yea, 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.

18Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me,

18And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

19And 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.

19Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there anything so vain?

19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

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

20Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring anymore under the sun.

20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.

21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

21For 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.

21For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil.

21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?

22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

22For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he hath been tormented under the sun?

22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?

23For 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.

23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

23All his days are full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity?

23For 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.

24There is nothing better for a manthanthat he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

24There 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.

24Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God.

24There is nothing better for a manthanthat he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

25Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I?

25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

26For 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.

26For 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.

26God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind.

26For 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.