Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes or, the Preacher, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

Futility of Self-Indulgent Pleasure

   1 I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.
   2 I said of partying, "It is folly," and of self-indulgent pleasure, "It accomplishes nothing!"
   3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

Futility of Materialism

   4 I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.
   5 I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
   6 I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.
   7 I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock - both herds and flocks - than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.
   8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight - a harem of beautiful concubines!
   9 So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:
   10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.
   11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: "All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless - like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth."

Wisdom is Better than Folly

   12 Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?
   13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:
   14 The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.
   15 So I thought to myself, "The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?" So I lamented to myself, "The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!"
   16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies - just like the fool!
   17 So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile - like chasing the wind.

Futility of Being a Workaholic

   18 So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.
   19 Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!
   20 So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.
   21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

Painful Days and Restless Nights

   22 What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
   23 For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

Enjoy Work and its Benefits

   24 There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.
   25 For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.
   26 For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth - only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile - like chasing the wind!

King James Version

   1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
   2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
   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.
   4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
   5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
   6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
   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:
   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.
   9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   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.
   20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
   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.
   22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
   23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
   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.
   25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
   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.