Ecclesiastes 2:3-23

3I searched in my heartH3820 how to cheer my fleshH1320 with wineH3196, my heartH3820 yet guiding me with wisdomH2451, and how to lay holdH270 on follyH5531, till I might seeH7200 what it was goodH2896 for the sonsH1121 of menH120 that they should do under heavenH8064 all the daysH3117 of their life. 4I made me greatH1431 worksH4639; I builded me housesH1004; I plantedH5193 me vineyardsH3754; 5I madeH6213 me gardensH1593 and parks, and I plantedH5193 treesH6086 in them of all kinds of fruitH6529; 6I madeH6213 me poolsH1295 of waterH4325, to waterH4325 therefrom the forestH3293 where treesH6086 were reared; 7I boughtH7069 men-servants and maid-servants, and had servantsH5650 born in my houseH1004; alsoH1571 I had great possessions of herdsH1241 and flocksH6629, above all that wereH1961 before me in JerusalemH3389; 8I gatheredH3664 me alsoH1571 silverH3701 and goldH2091, and the treasureH5459 of kingsH4428 and of the provincesH4082; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sonsH1121 of menH120, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9So I wasH1961 greatH1431, and increasedH3254 more than all that wereH1961 before me in JerusalemH3389: alsoH637 my wisdomH2451 remained with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyesH5869 desired I kept not from them; I withheldH4513 not my heartH3820 from any joyH8057; for my heartH3820 rejoicedH8055 because of all my laborH5999; and this wasH1961 my portionH2506 from all my laborH5999. 11Then I looked on all the worksH4639 that my handsH3027 had wrought, and on the laborH5999 that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanityH1892 and a striving after windH7307, and there was no profitH3504 under the sunH8121.

12And I turnedH6437 myself to behold wisdomH2451, and madnessH1947, and follyH5531: for whatcanthe manH120dothat cometh after the kingH4428? even that which hath been done long ago. 13Then I sawH7200 that wisdomH2451 excelleth follyH5531, as far as lightH216 excelleth darknessH2822. 14The wiseH2450 man’s eyesH5869 are in his headH7218, and the foolH3684 walketh in darknessH2822: and yet I perceived that oneH259 event happeneth to them all. 15ThenH227 saidH559 I in my heartH3820, As it happeneth to the foolH3684, so will it happen even to me; and whyH4100 was I thenH227 more wiseH2449? ThenH227 saidH559 I in my heartH3820, that this alsoH1571 is vanityH1892. 16For of the wiseH2450 man, even as of the foolH3684, there is no remembranceH2146 for everH5769; seeing that in the daysH3117 to comeH935 all will have been long forgottenH7911. And howH349 doth the wiseH2450 man dieH4191 even as the foolH3684! 17So I hatedH8130 lifeH2416, because the workH4639 that is wrought under the sunH8121 was grievous unto me; for all is vanityH1892 and a striving after windH7307.

18And I hatedH8130 all my laborH5999 wherein I labored under the sunH8121, seeing that I must leave it unto the manH120 that shall beH1961 after me. 19And who knoweth whether he will beH1961 a wiseH2450 man or a foolH5530? yet will he have rule over all my laborH5999 wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wiseH2450 under the sunH8121. This alsoH1571 is vanityH1892. 20Therefore I turnedH5437 about to cause my heartH3820 to despairH2976 concerning all the laborH5999 wherein I had labored under the sunH8121. 21For there is a manH120 whose laborH5999 is with wisdomH2451, and with knowledgeH1847, and with skilfulness; yet to a manH120 that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portionH2506. This alsoH1571 is vanityH1892 and a greatH7227 evilH7451. 22For what hath a manH120 of all his laborH5999, and of the striving of his heartH3820, wherein he laboreth under the sunH8121? 23For all his daysH3117 are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the nightH3915 his heartH3820 taketh no restH7901. This alsoH1571 is vanityH1892.