Berean Standard Bible

Ecclesiastes 2

1Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589saidאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559to myselfבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820, “Comeלְכָה־le.khah-H1980nowנָּ֛אna'H4994,I will testאֲנַסְּכָ֛ה'a.na.se.KhahH5254you with pleasureבְשִׂמְחָ֖הve.sim.ChahH8057;enjoyוּרְאֵ֣הu.re.'EhH7200what is goodבְט֑וֹבve.TovH2896!”But itה֖וּאhu'H1931provedוְהִנֵּ֥ה גַם־ve.hi.Neh gam-H2009 H1571to be futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

2I saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559of laughterלִשְׂח֖וֹקlis.ChokH7814, “It is follyמְהוֹלָ֑לme.ho.LalH1984,”and of pleasureוּלְשִׂמְחָ֖הu.le.sim.ChahH8057, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100does itזֹּ֥הzohH2090accomplishעֹשָֽׂה׃'o.SahH6213?”

3I soughtתַּ֣רְתִּי בְלִבִּ֔יTar.ti ve.li.BiH8446 H3820to cheer my bodyלִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ בְּשָׂרִ֑יlim.Shokh be.sa.RiH1320 H4900with wineבַּיַּ֖יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196אֶת־'et-H853and to embraceוְלֶאֱחֹ֣זve.le.'e.ChozH270follyבְּסִכְל֔וּתbe.sikh.LutH5531—my mindוְלִבִּ֞יve.li.BiH3820still guiding meנֹהֵ֤גno.HegH5090with wisdomבַּֽחָכְמָה֙ba.cha.khe.MahH2451—untilעַ֣ד'adH5704אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834I could seeאֶרְאֶ֗ה'er.'EhH7200whatאֵי־'ei-H335wasזֶ֨הzehH2088worthwhileט֜וֹבTovH2896for menלִבְנֵ֤י הָאָדָם֙liv.Nei ha.'a.DamH1121 H120אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834to doיַעֲשׂוּ֙ya.'a.SuH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064during the fewמִסְפַּ֖רmis.ParH4557daysיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117of their livesחַיֵּיהֶֽם׃chai.yei.HemH2416.

4I expandedהִגְדַּ֖לְתִּיhig.Dal.tiH1431my pursuitsמַעֲשָׂ֑יma.'a.SaiH4639.I builtבָּנִ֤יתִיba.Ni.tiH1129housesבָּתִּ֔יםba.TimH1004and plantedנָטַ֥עְתִּיna.Ta'.tiH5193vineyardsכְּרָמִֽים׃ke.ra.MimH3754for myself.

5I madeעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213gardensגַּנּ֖וֹתga.NotH1593and parksוּפַרְדֵּסִ֑יםu.far.de.SimH6508for myself, whereI plantedוְנָטַ֥עְתִּיve.na.Ta'.tiH5193all kindsכָּל־kol-H3605of fruitפֶּֽרִי׃Pe.riH6529treesעֵ֥ץ'etzH6086.

6I builtעָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213reservoirsבְּרֵכ֣וֹת מָ֑יִםbe.re.Khot Ma.yimH1295 H4325to waterלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.KotH8248my grovesיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293of flourishingצוֹמֵ֥חַtzo.Me.achH6779treesעֵצִֽים׃'e.TzimH6086.

7I acquiredקָנִ֙יתִי֙ka.Ni.tiH7069menservantsעֲבָדִ֣ים'a.va.DimH5650and maidservantsוּשְׁפָח֔וֹתu.she.fa.ChotH8198,and servants were bornוּבְנֵי־u.ve.nei-H1121in my houseבַ֖יִתVa.yitH1004.I alsoגַּ֣םgamH1571ownedH1961moreהַרְבֵּה֙har.BehH7235herdsמִקְנֶה֩ בָקָ֨רmik.Neh va.KarH1241 H4735and flocksוָצֹ֤אןva.TzonH6629than anyoneמִכֹּ֛לmi.KolH3605 H1961in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389before meלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440,

8and Iגַּם־gam-H1571accumulatedכָּנַ֤סְתִּיka.Nas.tiH3664for myselfsilverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָ֔בve.za.HavH2091and the treasureוּסְגֻלַּ֥תu.se.gu.LatH5459of kingsמְלָכִ֖יםme.la.KhimH4428and provincesוְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹתve.ha.me.di.NotH4082.I gatheredעָשִׂ֨יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213to myselfmale andשָׁרִ֣יםsha.RimH7891female singersוְשָׁר֗וֹתve.sha.RotH7891,and the delightsוְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛תve.ta.'a.nu.GotH8588of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120—manyשִׁדָּ֥הshi.DahH7705concubinesוְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ve.shi.DotH7705.

9So I became greatוְגָדַ֣לְתִּיve.ga.Dal.tiH1431and surpassedוְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּיve.ho.Saf.tiH3254allמִכֹּ֛לmi.KolH3605in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389who had preceded meשֶׁהָיָ֥ה לְפָנַ֖יshe.ha.Yah le.fa.NaiH1961 H6440;andאַ֥ף'afH637my wisdomחָכְמָתִ֖יcha.khe.ma.TiH2451remainedעָ֥מְדָה'A.me.dahH5975with me.

10Anythingוְכֹל֙ve.KholH3605אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834my eyesעֵינַ֔י'ei.NaiH5869desiredשָֽׁאֲל֣וּsha.'a.LuH7592,I did notלֹ֥אlo'H3808deny myselfאָצַ֖לְתִּי'a.Tzal.tiH680.I refusedמָנַ֨עְתִּיma.Na'.tiH4513אֶת־'et-H853my heartלִבִּ֜יli.BiH3820noלֹֽא־ מִכָּל־lo'- mi.kolH3808 H3605pleasureשִׂמְחָ֗הsim.ChahH8057.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588my heartלִבִּ֤יli.BiH3820took delightשָׂמֵ֙חַ֙sa.Me.achH8056in allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my workעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999,and thisוְזֶֽה־ve.zeh-H2088wasהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961the rewardחֶלְקִ֖יchel.KiH2506for allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my laborעֲמָלִֽי׃'a.ma.LiH5999.

11Yet when Iאֲנִ֗י'a.NiH589consideredוּפָנִ֣יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the worksמַעֲשַׂי֙ma.'a.SaiH4639that my handsיָדַ֔יya.DaiH3027had accomplishedשֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּshe.'a.SuH6213andוּבֶֽעָמָ֖לu.ve.'a.MalH5999whatI had toiledשֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998to achieveלַעֲשׂ֑וֹתla.'a.SotH6213,I foundוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009everythingהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605to be futileהֶ֙בֶל֙he.velH1892,a pursuitוּרְע֣וּתu.re.'UtH7469of the windר֔וּחַRu.achH7307;there was nothingוְאֵ֥יןve.'EinH369to be gainedיִתְר֖וֹןyit.RonH3504underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

The Wise and the Foolish

12Then Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589turnedוּפָנִ֤יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437to considerלִרְא֣וֹתlir.'otH7200wisdomחָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahH2451and madnessוְהוֹלֵל֖וֹתve.ho.le.LotH1947and follyוְסִכְל֑וּתve.sikh.LutH5531;forכִּ֣י׀kiH3588whatמֶ֣הmehH4100morecan the king’sהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428successorהָאָדָ֗ם שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ אַחֲרֵ֣יha.'a.Dam shei.ya.Vo' 'a.cha.ReiH120 H935 H310אֵ֥ת'etH853doאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834than what has alreadyכְּבָ֖רke.VarH3528been accomplishedעָשֽׂוּהוּ׃'a.Su.huH6213?

13And Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589sawוְרָאִ֣יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200thatשֶׁיֵּ֥שׁshei.YeshH3426wisdomלַֽחָכְמָ֖הla.cha.khe.MahH2451exceedsיִתְר֛וֹן מִן־yit.Ron min-H3504 H4480follyהַסִּכְל֑וּתha.sikh.LutH5531,just as lightהָא֖וֹרha.'OrH216exceedsכִּֽיתְר֥וֹן מִן־kit.Ron min-H3504 H4480darknessהַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ha.Cho.shekhH2822:

14The wiseהֶֽחָכָם֙he.cha.KhamH2450man has eyesעֵינָ֣יו'ei.NavH5869in his headבְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹbe.ro.ShoH7218,but the foolוְהַכְּסִ֖ילve.ha.ke.SilH3684walksהוֹלֵ֑ךְho.LekhH1980in darknessבַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekhH2822.Yet Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589alsoגַם־gam-H1571came to realizeוְיָדַ֣עְתִּיve.ya.Da'.tiH3045that oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259fateשֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥הshe.mik.RehH4745overcomesיִקְרֶ֥הyik.RehH7136themאֶת־'et-H853bothכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605.

15So Iאֲנִ֜י'a.NiH589saidוְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽיve.'a.Mar.tiH559to myselfבְּלִבִּ֗יbe.li.BiH3820, “The fateכְּמִקְרֵ֤הke.mik.RehH4745of the foolהַכְּסִיל֙ha.ke.SilH3684will alsoגַּם־gam-H1571befallיִקְרֵ֔נִיyik.Re.niH7136meאֲנִ֣י'a.NiH589.Whatוְלָ֧מָּהve.La.mahH4100thenאָ֣ז'azH227have Iאֲנִ֖י'a.NiH589gainedיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148by being wiseחָכַ֛מְתִּיcha.Kham.tiH2449?”And I saidוְדִבַּ֣רְתִּיve.di.Bar.tiH1696to myselfבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820that thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooשֶׁגַּם־she.gam-H1571is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

16Forכִּי֩kiH3588there is noאֵ֨ין'einH369lastingלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769remembranceזִכְר֧וֹןzikh.RonH2146of the wiseלֶחָכָ֛םle.cha.KhamH2450,just as withעִֽם־'im-H5973the foolהַכְּסִ֖ילha.ke.SilH3684,seeing thatבְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞רbe.she.ke.VarH3528bothהַכֹּ֣לha.KolH3605will be forgottenנִשְׁכָּ֔חnish.KachH7911in the daysהַיָּמִ֤יםhai.ya.MimH3117to comeהַבָּאִים֙ha.ba.'ImH935.Alasוְאֵ֛יךְve.'EikhH349,the wise manהֶחָכָ֖םhe.cha.KhamH2450will dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191just likeעִֽם־'im-H5973the foolהַכְּסִֽיל׃ha.ke.SilH3684!

17So I hatedוְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ve.sa.Ne.tiH8130אֶת־'et-H853lifeהַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha.chai.YimH2416,becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔הha.ma.'a.SehH4639that is doneשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖הshe.na.'a.SahH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121was grievousרַ֤עra'H7451to meעָלַי֙'a.LaiH5921.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588everythingהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605is futileהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and a pursuitוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469of the windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

The Futility of Work

18Iאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589אֶת־'et-H853hatedוְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽיve.sa.Ne.tiH8130allכָּל־kol-H3605for whichשֶׁאֲנִ֥יshe.'a.NiH589I had toiledעֲמָלִ֔י עָמֵ֖ל'a.ma.Li 'a.MelH5999 H6001underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121,because I must leave itשֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּshe.'an.ni.Che.nuH5117to the manלָאָדָ֖םla.'a.DamH120who comesשֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥הshei.yih.YehH1961after meאַחֲרָֽי׃'a.cha.RaiH310.

19And whoוּמִ֣יu.MiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֗עַyo.De.a'H3045whether that man will beיִהְיֶה֙yih.YehH1961wiseהֶֽחָכָ֤םhe.cha.KhamH2450orא֣וֹ'oH176foolishסָכָ֔לsa.KhalH5530?Yet he will takeוְיִשְׁלַט֙ve.yish.LatH7980over allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the laborעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999at which I have workedשֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998skillfullyוְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּיve.she.cha.Kham.tiH2449underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is futileהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

20Soאֲנִ֖י'a.NiH589my heartלִבִּ֑יli.BiH3820beganוְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽיve.sa.Bo.tiH5437to despairלְיַאֵ֣שׁle.ya.'EshH2976אֶת־'et-H853overעַ֚ל'alH5921allכָּל־kol-H3605the laborהֶ֣עָמָ֔לhe.'a.MalH5999that I had doneשֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

21Whenכִּי־ki-H3588there isיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426a manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120who has laboredשֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹshe.'a.ma.LoH5999with wisdomבְּחָכְמָ֥הbe.cha.khe.MahH2451,knowledgeוּבְדַ֖עַתu.ve.Da.'atH1847,and skillוּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹןu.ve.khish.RonH3788,and he must giveיִתְּנֶ֣נּוּyi.te.Ne.nuH5414his portionחֶלְק֔וֹchel.KoH2506to a manוּלְאָדָ֞םu.le.'a.DamH120who has notשֶׁלֹּ֤אshe.Lo'H3808workedעָֽמַל־'a.mal-H5998for it,thisזֶ֥הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is futileהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and a greatרַבָּֽה׃ra.BahH7227evilוְרָעָ֥הve.ra.'AhH7451.

22Forכִּ֠יkiH3588whatמֶֽה־meh-H4100does a manלָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.DamH120getהֹוֶ֤הho.VehH1933for allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the toilעֲמָל֔וֹa.ma.LoH5999לִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820and strivingוּבְרַעְי֖וֹןu.ve.ra'.YonH7475with whichשֶׁה֥וּאshe.Hu'H1931he laborsעָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121?

23Indeedכִּ֧יkiH3588,allכָל־khol-H3605his daysיָמָ֣יוya.MavH3117are filled with griefמַכְאֹבִ֗יםmakh.'o.VimH4341,and his taskעִנְיָנ֔וֹin.ya.NoH6045is sorrowfulוָכַ֙עַס֙va.Kha.'asH3708;evenגַּם־gam-H1571at nightבַּלַּ֖יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915,his mindלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820does notלֹא־lo'-H3808restשָׁכַ֣בsha.KhavH7901.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is futileהֶ֥בֶל הֽוּא׃He.vel Hu'H1892 H1931.

24Nothingאֵֽין־'ein-H369isbetterט֤וֹבTovH2896for a manבָּאָדָם֙ba.'a.DamH120than to eatשֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.KhalH398and drinkוְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.TahH8354and enjoyוְהֶרְאָ֧הve.her.'AhH7200אֶת־'et-H853נַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315ט֖וֹבTovH2896his workבַּעֲמָל֑וֹba.'a.ma.LoH5999.Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589have alsoגַּם־gam-H1571seenרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200thatכִּ֛יkiH3588thisזֹה֙zohH2090isהִֽיא׃Hi'H1931from the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.

25Forכִּ֣יkiH3588apart fromח֥וּץchutzH2351Himמִמֶּֽנִּי׃mi.Me.niH4480,whoמִ֥יmiH4310can eatיֹאכַ֛לyo.KhalH398and whoוּמִ֥יu.MiH4310can find enjoymentיָח֖וּשׁya.ChushH2363?

26Toכִּ֤יkiH3588the manלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120who is pleasingשֶׁטּ֣וֹבshe.TovH2896in His sightלְפָנָ֔יוle.fa.NavH6440,He givesנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414wisdomחָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahH2451and knowledgeוְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atH1847and joyוְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.ChahH8057,but to the sinnerוְלַחוֹטֶא֩ve.la.cho.Te'H2398He assignsנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414the taskעִנְיָ֜ן'in.YanH6045of gatheringלֶאֱס֣וֹףle.'e.SofH622and accumulatingוְלִכְנ֗וֹסve.likh.NosH3664that whichhe will hand overלָתֵת֙la.TetH5414to one who pleasesלְטוֹב֙ לִפְנֵ֣יle.tOv lif.NeiH2896 H6440Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.Thisזֶ֥הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is futileהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and a pursuitוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469of the windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

The Wise and the Foolish

The Futility of Work

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2