New American Standard Bible 1995

Ecclesiastes 2

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

1I saidאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559to myselfבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820, “Comeלְכָה־le.khah-H1980nowנָּ֛אna'H4994,I will testאֲנַסְּכָ֛ה'a.na.se.KhahH5254you withpleasureבְשִׂמְחָ֖הve.sim.ChahH8057. Soenjoyוּרְאֵ֣ה בְט֑וֹבu.re.'Eh ve.TovH7200 H2896yourself.” And beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009,it tooגַם־gam-H1571was futilityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

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

3I exploredתַּ֣רְתִּיTar.tiH8446with mymindבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820how tostimulateלִמְשׁ֥וֹךְlim.ShokhH4900my bodyבְּשָׂרִ֑יbe.sa.RiH1320with wineבַּיַּ֖יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196while mymindוְלִבִּ֞יve.li.BiH3820was guidingנֹהֵ֤גno.HegH5090mewiselyבַּֽחָכְמָה֙ba.cha.khe.MahH2451,and how to takeוְלֶאֱחֹ֣זve.le.'e.ChozH270holdH270offollyבְּסִכְל֔וּתbe.sikh.LutH5531,untilעַ֣ד'adH5704 H834I could seeאֶרְאֶ֗ה'er.'EhH7200whatאֵי־ זֶ֨ה'ei- zehH335 H2088goodט֜וֹבTovH2896there is for the sonsלִבְנֵ֤יliv.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120to doיַעֲשׂוּ֙ya.'a.SuH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064the fewמִסְפַּ֖רmis.ParH4557yearsיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117of their livesH2425.

4I enlargedהִגְדַּ֖לְתִּיhig.Dal.tiH1431my worksמַעֲשָׂ֑יma.'a.SaiH4639: Ibuiltבָּנִ֤יתִיba.Ni.tiH1129housesבָּתִּ֔יםba.TimH1004for myself, I plantedנָטַ֥עְתִּיna.Ta'.tiH5193vineyardsכְּרָמִֽים׃ke.ra.MimH3754for myself;

5I madeעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213gardensגַּנּ֖וֹתga.NotH1593andparksוּפַרְדֵּסִ֑יםu.far.de.SimH6508for myself and I plantedוְנָטַ֥עְתִּיve.na.Ta'.tiH5193in them allכָּל־kol-H3605kinds of fruitפֶּֽרִי׃Pe.riH6529treesעֵ֥ץ'etzH6086;

6I madeעָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213pondsבְּרֵכ֣וֹתbe.re.KhotH1295of waterמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325for myself from which to irrigateלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.KotH8248a forestיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293of growingצוֹמֵ֥חַtzo.Me.achH6779treesעֵצִֽים׃'e.TzimH6086.

7I boughtקָנִ֙יתִי֙ka.Ni.tiH7069maleעֲבָדִ֣ים'a.va.DimH5650and femaleוּשְׁפָח֔וֹתu.she.fa.ChotH8198slavesH8198 H5650and I hadH1961homebornבַ֖יִתVa.yitH1121 H1004slavesH1121.Alsoגַּ֣םgamH1571I possessed flocksוָצֹ֤אןva.TzonH6629andherdsבָקָ֨רva.KarH1241largerהַרְבֵּה֙har.BehH7235thanH4480allמִכֹּ֛לmi.KolH3605whoH7945precededלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440me in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

8Alsoגַּם־gam-H1571,I collectedכָּנַ֤סְתִּיka.Nas.tiH3664for myself silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701andgoldוְזָהָ֔בve.za.HavH2091and the treasureוּסְגֻלַּ֥תu.se.gu.LatH5459of kingsמְלָכִ֖יםme.la.KhimH4428and provincesוְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹתve.ha.me.di.NotH4082.I providedעָשִׂ֨יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213for myselfmale and female singersH7891and the pleasuresוְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛תve.ta.'a.nu.GotH8588of menבְּנֵ֥י הָאָדָ֖םbe.Nei ha.'a.DamH1121 H120--manyשִׁדָּ֥הshi.DahH7705concubinesוְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ve.shi.DotH7705.

9Then I becameH1431greatוְגָדַ֣לְתִּיve.ga.Dal.tiH1431and increasedוְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּיve.ho.Saf.tiH3254moreH4480thanH4480allמִכֹּ֛לmi.KolH3605whoH7945precededלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440me in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389.My wisdomחָכְמָתִ֖יcha.khe.ma.TiH2451alsoאַ֥ף'afH637stoodעָ֥מְדָה'A.me.dahH5975by me.

10Allוְכֹל֙ve.KholH3605that my eyesעֵינַ֔י'ei.NaiH5869desiredשָֽׁאֲל֣וּsha.'a.LuH7592I did not refuseאָצַ֖לְתִּי'a.Tzal.tiH680them. I did not withholdמָנַ֨עְתִּיma.Na'.tiH4513my heartלִבִּ֜יli.BiH3820from anyמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605pleasureשִׂמְחָ֗הsim.ChahH8057,for my heartלִבִּ֤יli.BiH3820was pleasedשָׂמֵ֙חַ֙sa.Me.achH8056becauseH4480of allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my laborעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999and thisוְזֶֽה־ve.zeh-H2088was myrewardחֶלְקִ֖יchel.KiH2506for allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my laborעֲמָלִֽי׃'a.ma.LiH5999.

11Thus I consideredוּפָנִ֣יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605my activitiesמַעֲשַׂי֙ma.'a.SaiH4639whichH7945my handsיָדַ֔יya.DaiH3027had doneשֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּshe.'a.SuH6213and the laborוּבֶֽעָמָ֖לu.ve.'a.MalH5999whichH7945I hadexertedלַעֲשׂ֑וֹתla.'a.SotH6213,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009allהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605wasvanityהֶ֙בֶל֙he.velH1892and strivingוּרְע֣וּתu.re.'UtH7469after windר֔וּחַRu.achH7307and thereH369wasnoH369profitיִתְר֖וֹןyit.RonH3504underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

Wisdom Excels Folly

12So I turnedוּפָנִ֤יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437toconsiderלִרְא֣וֹתlir.'otH7200wisdomחָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahH2451,madnessוְהוֹלֵל֖וֹתve.ho.le.LotH1947and follyוְסִכְל֑וּתve.sikh.LutH5531;for whatמֶ֣הmehH4100willthe manהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120dowhoH7945will comeשֶׁיָּבוֹא֙shei.ya.Vo'H935afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428exceptwhatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834has alreadyכְּבָ֖רke.VarH3528been doneעָשֽׂוּהוּ׃'a.Su.huH6213?

13And I sawוְרָאִ֣יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200thatwisdomלַֽחָכְמָ֖הla.cha.khe.MahH2451excelsיִתְר֛וֹןyit.RonH3504follyהַסִּכְל֑וּתha.sikh.LutH5531as lightהָא֖וֹרha.'OrH216excelsכִּֽיתְר֥וֹןkit.RonH3504darknessהַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ha.Cho.shekhH2822.

14The wiseהֶֽחָכָם֙he.cha.KhamH2450man’sH2450eyesעֵינָ֣יו'ei.NavH5869are in his headבְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹbe.ro.ShoH7218, but thefoolוְהַכְּסִ֖ילve.ha.ke.SilH3684walksהוֹלֵ֑ךְho.LekhH1980in darknessבַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekhH2822.And yetגַם־gam-H1571I knowוְיָדַ֣עְתִּיve.ya.Da'.tiH3045thatoneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259fateשֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥הshe.mik.RehH4745befallsיִקְרֶ֥הyik.RehH7136them bothכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605.

15Then I saidוְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽיve.'a.Mar.tiH559to myselfבְּלִבִּ֗יbe.li.BiH3820, “As is the fateכְּמִקְרֵ֤הke.mik.RehH4745of the foolהַכְּסִיל֙ha.ke.SilH3684,it will alsoגַּם־gam-H1571befallיִקְרֵ֔נִיyik.Re.niH7136me.Whyוְלָ֧מָּהve.La.mahH4100thenאָ֣ז'azH227have I beenH2449extremelyיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseחָכַ֛מְתִּיcha.Kham.tiH2449?” SoI saidוְדִבַּ֣רְתִּיve.di.Bar.tiH1696to myselfבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820, “Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooשֶׁגַּם־she.gam-H1571is vanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.”

16For thereH369isnoH369lastingלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769remembranceזִכְר֧וֹןzikh.RonH2146of the wiseלֶחָכָ֛םle.cha.KhamH2450manH2450aswith the foolהַכְּסִ֖ילha.ke.SilH3684,inasmuchH7945as inthe comingהַבָּאִים֙ha.ba.'ImH935daysהַיָּמִ֤יםhai.ya.MimH3117allהַכֹּ֣לha.KolH3605will be forgottenנִשְׁכָּ֔חnish.KachH7911. Andhowוְאֵ֛יךְve.'EikhH349the wiseהֶחָכָ֖םhe.cha.KhamH2450manH2450and the foolהַכְּסִֽיל׃ha.ke.SilH3684alikeH5973dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191!

17So Ihatedוְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ve.sa.Ne.tiH8130lifeH2425,for the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔הha.ma.'a.SehH4639whichH7945had been doneשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖הshe.na.'a.SahH6213underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121wasgrievousרַ֤עra'H7451to me; becauseH3588everythingהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605is futilityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and strivingוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469after windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

The Futility of Labor

18Thus I hatedוְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽיve.sa.Ne.tiH8130allכָּל־kol-H3605the fruitH5999of my laborH5999for whichH7945I had laboredעָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121, for I mustleaveשֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּshe.'an.ni.Che.nuH5117it to the manלָאָדָ֖םla.'a.DamH120whoH7945will comeשֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥הshei.yih.YehH1961afterאַחֲרָֽי׃'a.cha.RaiH310me.

19And whoוּמִ֣יu.MiH4310knowsיוֹדֵ֗עַyo.De.a'H3045whether he will be a wiseהֶֽחָכָ֤םhe.cha.KhamH2450manH2450orא֣וֹ'oH176a foolסָכָ֔לsa.KhalH5530? Yet he will havecontrolH7980overH7980allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605the fruitH5999of my laborH5999for whichH7945I have laboredשֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998by actingH2449wiselyH2449underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571isvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

20Therefore Icompletelyוְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי לִבִּ֑יve.sa.Bo.ti li.BiH5437 H3820despairedלְיַאֵ֣שׁle.ya.'EshH2976of allכָּל־kol-H3605the fruitH5999of my laborH5999for whichH7945I had laboredשֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

21Whenכִּי־ki-H3588thereיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426is a manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120whoH7945has laboredH5998with wisdomבְּחָכְמָ֥הbe.cha.khe.MahH2451,knowledgeוּבְדַ֖עַתu.ve.Da.'atH1847andskillוּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹןu.ve.khish.RonH3788, then hegivesיִתְּנֶ֣נּוּyi.te.Ne.nuH5414hislegacyחֶלְק֔וֹchel.KoH2506to oneוּלְאָדָ֞םu.le.'a.DamH120whoH7945has not laboredH5998with them. Thisזֶ֥הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is vanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and a greatרַבָּֽה׃ra.BahH7227evilH7463.

22For whatמֶֽה־meh-H4100does a manלָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.DamH120getהֹוֶ֤הho.VehH1933inallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605his laborעֲמָל֔וֹa.ma.LoH5999and inhis strivingוּבְרַעְי֖וֹןu.ve.ra'.YonH7475with whichH7945he laborsעָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121?

23Becauseכִּ֧יkiH3588allכָל־khol-H3605his daysיָמָ֣יוya.MavH3117his taskעִנְיָנ֔וֹin.ya.NoH6045is painfulמַכְאֹבִ֗יםmakh.'o.VimH4341andgrievousוָכַ֙עַס֙va.Kha.'asH3708;evenגַּם־gam-H1571at nightבַּלַּ֖יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915hismindלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820does not restשָׁכַ֣בsha.KhavH7901.Thisזֶ֖הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571is vanityהֶ֥בֶלHe.velH1892.

24ThereH369isnothingH369betterט֤וֹבTovH2896for a manבָּאָדָם֙ba.'a.DamH120thanto eatשֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.KhalH398and drinkוְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.TahH8354andtellוְהֶרְאָ֧הve.her.'AhH7200himselfנַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315that his laborבַּעֲמָל֑וֹba.'a.ma.LoH5999is goodט֖וֹבTovH2896.Thisזֹה֙zohH2090alsoגַּם־gam-H1571I have seenרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200that it isfrom the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.

25For whoמִ֥יmiH4310can eatיֹאכַ֛לyo.KhalH398and whoוּמִ֥יu.MiH4310can haveH2363enjoymentH2363withoutח֥וּץ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃chutz mi.Me.niH2351 H4480Him?

26For to a personלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120whoH7945is goodH2896in His sightלְפָנָ֔יוle.fa.NavH6440He has givenנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414wisdomחָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahH2451and knowledgeוְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atH1847and joyוְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.ChahH8057,while to the sinnerוְלַחוֹטֶא֩ve.la.cho.Te'H2398He has givenנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414the taskעִנְיָ֜ן'in.YanH6045of gatheringלֶאֱס֣וֹףle.'e.SofH622and collectingוְלִכְנ֗וֹסve.likh.NosH3664so that he maygiveלָתֵת֙la.TetH5414to oneH2896whoH2896is goodH2896in God’sהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430sightלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440.Thisזֶ֥הzehH2088tooגַּם־gam-H1571isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and strivingוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469after windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

Wisdom Excels Folly

The Futility of Labor

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2