Revised Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 2

1I saidאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559in mine heartבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820,Go to nowH3212,I will proveאֲנַסְּכָ֛ה'a.na.se.KhahH5254thee with mirthבְשִׂמְחָ֖הve.sim.ChahH8057,therefore enjoyוּרְאֵ֣הu.re.'EhH7200pleasureבְט֑וֹבve.TovH2896: and, behold, this also isvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

2I saidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559of laughterלִשְׂח֖וֹקlis.ChokH7814, It ismadמְהוֹלָ֑לme.ho.LalH1984:and of mirthוּלְשִׂמְחָ֖הu.le.sim.ChahH8057,Whatזֹּ֥הzohH2090doethעֹשָֽׂה׃'o.SahH6213it?

3I soughtתַּ֣רְתִּיTar.tiH8446in mine heartבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820to giveלִמְשׁ֥וֹךְlim.ShokhH4900myselfבְּשָׂרִ֑יbe.sa.RiH1320unto wineבַּיַּ֖יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196,yet acquaintingנֹהֵ֤גno.HegH5090mine heartוְלִבִּ֞יve.li.BiH3820with wisdomבַּֽחָכְמָה֙ba.cha.khe.MahH2451;and to lay holdוְלֶאֱחֹ֣זve.le.'e.ChozH270on follyבְּסִכְל֔וּתbe.sikh.LutH5531,till I might seeאֶרְאֶ֗ה'er.'EhH7200what wasthat goodט֜וֹבTovH2896for the sonsלִבְנֵ֤יliv.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120,which they should doיַעֲשׂוּ֙ya.'a.SuH6213under the heavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064allמִסְפַּ֖רmis.ParH4557the daysיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117of their lifeחַיֵּיהֶֽם׃chai.yei.HemH2416.

4I made me greatהִגְדַּ֖לְתִּיhig.Dal.tiH1431worksמַעֲשָׂ֑יma.'a.SaiH4639;I buildedבָּנִ֤יתִיba.Ni.tiH1129me housesבָּתִּ֔יםba.TimH1004;I plantedנָטַ֥עְתִּיna.Ta'.tiH5193me vineyardsכְּרָמִֽים׃ke.ra.MimH3754:

5I madeעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213me gardensגַּנּ֖וֹתga.NotH1593and orchardsוּפַרְדֵּסִ֑יםu.far.de.SimH6508,and I plantedוְנָטַ֥עְתִּיve.na.Ta'.tiH5193treesעֵ֥ץ'etzH6086in them of all kind offruitsפֶּֽרִי׃Pe.riH6529:

6I madeעָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213me poolsבְּרֵכ֣וֹתbe.re.KhotH1295of waterמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325,to waterלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.KotH8248therewith the woodיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293that bringeth forthצוֹמֵ֥חַtzo.Me.achH6779treesעֵצִֽים׃'e.TzimH6086:

7I gotקָנִ֙יתִי֙ka.Ni.tiH7069meservantsעֲבָדִ֣ים'a.va.DimH5650and maidensוּשְׁפָח֔וֹתu.she.fa.ChotH8198,and had servants bornוּבְנֵי־u.ve.nei-H1121in my houseבַ֖יִתVa.yitH1004;also I had greatהַרְבֵּה֙har.BehH7235possessionsמִקְנֶה֩mik.NehH4735of greatבָקָ֨רva.KarH1241and small cattleוָצֹ֤אןva.TzonH6629above all that were in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389beforeלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440me:

8I gatheredכָּנַ֤סְתִּיka.Nas.tiH3664me also silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701and goldוְזָהָ֔בve.za.HavH2091,and the peculiar treasureוּסְגֻלַּ֥תu.se.gu.LatH5459of kingsמְלָכִ֖יםme.la.KhimH4428and of the provincesוְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹתve.ha.me.di.NotH4082:I gatעָשִׂ֨יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213me men singersשָׁרִ֣יםsha.RimH7891and women singersוְשָׁר֗וֹתve.sha.RotH7891,and the delightsוְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛תve.ta.'a.nu.GotH8588of the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of menהָאָדָ֖םha.'a.DamH120, asmusical instrumentsH7705, and that of all sorts.

9So I was greatוְגָדַ֣לְתִּיve.ga.Dal.tiH1431,and increasedוְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּיve.ho.Saf.tiH3254more than all that were beforeלְפָנַ֖יle.fa.NaiH6440me in Jerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389:also my wisdomחָכְמָתִ֖יcha.khe.ma.TiH2451remainedעָ֥מְדָה'A.me.dahH5975with me.

10And whatsoever mine eyesעֵינַ֔י'ei.NaiH5869desiredשָֽׁאֲל֣וּsha.'a.LuH7592I keptאָצַ֖לְתִּי'a.Tzal.tiH680not from them, I withheldמָנַ֨עְתִּיma.Na'.tiH4513not my heartלִבִּ֜יli.BiH3820from any joyשִׂמְחָ֗הsim.ChahH8057;for my heartלִבִּ֤יli.BiH3820rejoicedשָׂמֵ֙חַ֙sa.Me.achH8056in all my labourעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999:and this was my portionחֶלְקִ֖יchel.KiH2506of all my labourעֲמָלִֽי׃'a.ma.LiH5999.

11Then I lookedוּפָנִ֣יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437on all the worksמַעֲשַׂי֙ma.'a.SaiH4639that my handsיָדַ֔יya.DaiH3027had wroughtשֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּshe.'a.SuH6213,and on the labourוּבֶֽעָמָ֖לu.ve.'a.MalH5999that I had labouredשֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998to doלַעֲשׂ֑וֹתla.'a.SotH6213: and, behold, all wasvanityהֶ֙בֶל֙he.velH1892and vexationוּרְע֣וּתu.re.'UtH7469of spiritר֔וּחַRu.achH7307, and there wasno profitיִתְר֖וֹןyit.RonH3504under the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

12And I turnedוּפָנִ֤יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437myself to beholdלִרְא֣וֹתlir.'otH7200wisdomחָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahH2451,and madnessוְהוֹלֵל֖וֹתve.ho.le.LotH1947,and follyוְסִכְל֑וּתve.sikh.LutH5531: for what canthe manהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120dothat comethשֶׁיָּבוֹא֙shei.ya.Vo'H935afterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428? eventhat which hath been alreadyכְּבָ֖רke.VarH3528doneעָשֽׂוּהוּ׃'a.Su.huH6213.

13Then I sawוְרָאִ֣יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200thatשֶׁיֵּ֥שׁshei.YeshH3426wisdomלַֽחָכְמָ֖הla.cha.khe.MahH2451excellethיִתְר֛וֹןyit.RonH3504follyהַסִּכְל֑וּתha.sikh.LutH5531,as far as lightהָא֖וֹרha.'OrH216excellethכִּֽיתְר֥וֹןkit.RonH3504darknessהַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ha.Cho.shekhH2822.

14The wise man’sהֶֽחָכָם֙he.cha.KhamH2450eyesעֵינָ֣יו'ei.NavH5869arein his headבְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹbe.ro.ShoH7218;but the foolוְהַכְּסִ֖ילve.ha.ke.SilH3684walkethהוֹלֵ֑ךְho.LekhH1980in darknessבַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekhH2822:and I myself perceivedוְיָדַ֣עְתִּיve.ya.Da'.tiH3045also that oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259eventשֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥הshe.mik.RehH4745happenethיִקְרֶ֥הyik.RehH7136to them all.

15Thenאָ֣ז'azH227saidוְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽיve.'a.Mar.tiH559I in my heartבְּלִבִּ֗יbe.li.BiH3820,As it happenethכְּמִקְרֵ֤הke.mik.RehH4745to the foolהַכְּסִיל֙ha.ke.SilH3684,so it happenethיִקְרֵ֔נִיyik.Re.niH7136even to meH1571;and why was I then moreיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseחָכַ֛מְתִּיcha.Kham.tiH2449?Then I saidוְדִבַּ֣רְתִּיve.di.Bar.tiH1696in my heartבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820, that this also isvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

16For there isno remembranceזִכְר֧וֹןzikh.RonH2146of the wiseלֶחָכָ֛םle.cha.KhamH2450more thanH5973of the foolהַכְּסִ֖ילha.ke.SilH3684for everלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769;seeing that which nowבְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞רbe.she.ke.VarH3528isin the daysהַיָּמִ֤יםhai.ya.MimH3117to comeהַבָּאִים֙ha.ba.'ImH935shall all be forgottenנִשְׁכָּ֔חnish.KachH7911.And how diethיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191the wiseהֶחָכָ֖םhe.cha.KhamH2450man?as the foolהַכְּסִֽיל׃ha.ke.SilH3684.

17Therefore I hatedוְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ve.sa.Ne.tiH8130lifeהַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha.chai.YimH2416;because the workהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔הha.ma.'a.SehH4639that is wroughtשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖הshe.na.'a.SahH6213under the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121isgrievousרַ֤עra'H7451unto me: for all isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and vexationוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469of spiritרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

18Yea, I hatedוְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽיve.sa.Ne.tiH8130all my labourעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999which I had takenעָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001under the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121:because I should leaveH3240it unto the manלָאָדָ֖םla.'a.DamH120that shall be afterאַחֲרָֽי׃'a.cha.RaiH310me.

19And who knowethיוֹדֵ֗עַyo.De.a'H3045whether he shall be a wiseהֶֽחָכָ֤םhe.cha.KhamH2450manor a foolסָכָ֔לsa.KhalH5530?yet shall he have ruleוְיִשְׁלַט֙ve.yish.LatH7980over all my labourעֲמָלִ֔י'a.ma.LiH5999wherein I have labouredשֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998,and wherein I have shewed myself wiseוְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּיve.she.cha.Kham.tiH2449under the sunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121. This isalso vanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

20Therefore I went aboutוְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽיve.sa.Bo.tiH5437to causeH2976my heartלִבִּ֑יli.BiH3820to despairH2976of all the labourהֶ֣עָמָ֔לhe.'a.MalH5999which I tookשֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּיshe.'a.Mal.tiH5998under the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

21For there isיֵ֣שׁyeshH3426a manאָדָ֗ם'a.DamH120whose labourשֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹshe.'a.ma.LoH5999isin wisdomבְּחָכְמָ֥הbe.cha.khe.MahH2451,and in knowledgeוּבְדַ֖עַתu.ve.Da.'atH1847,and in equityוּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹןu.ve.khish.RonH3788;yet to a manוּלְאָדָ֞םu.le.'a.DamH120that hath not labouredעָֽמַל־'a.mal-H5998therein shall he leaveיִתְּנֶ֣נּוּyi.te.Ne.nuH5414it forhis portionחֶלְק֔וֹchel.KoH2506. This also isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and a greatרַבָּֽה׃ra.BahH7227evilוְרָעָ֥הve.ra.'AhH7451.

22For what hathהֹוֶ֤הho.VehH1933manלָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.DamH120of all his labourעֲמָל֔וֹa.ma.LoH5999,and of the vexationוּבְרַעְי֖וֹןu.ve.ra'.YonH7475of his heartלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820,whereinשֶׁה֥וּאshe.Hu'H1931he hath labouredעָמֵ֖ל'a.MelH6001under the sunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121?

23For all his daysיָמָ֣יוya.MavH3117aresorrowsמַכְאֹבִ֗יםmakh.'o.VimH4341,and his travailעִנְיָנ֔וֹin.ya.NoH6045griefוָכַ֙עַס֙va.Kha.'asH3708;yea, his heartלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820taketh not restשָׁכַ֣בsha.KhavH7901in the nightבַּלַּ֖יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915.This is also vanityהֶ֥בֶלHe.velH1892.

24There isnothing betterט֤וֹבTovH2896for a manבָּאָדָם֙ba.'a.DamH120, thanthat he should eatשֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.KhalH398and drinkוְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.TahH8354, and thathe should make his soulנַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315enjoyוְהֶרְאָ֧הve.her.'AhH7200goodט֖וֹבTovH2896in his labourבַּעֲמָל֑וֹba.'a.ma.LoH5999.Thisזֹה֙zohH2090also I sawרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200, that it wasfrom the handמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027of Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.

25For who can eatיֹאכַ֛לyo.KhalH398,or who else can hastenיָח֖וּשׁya.ChushH2363hereunto,moreח֥וּץchutzH2351than I?

26For Godgivethנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414to a manלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120that isgoodשֶׁטּ֣וֹבshe.TovH2896in his sightלְפָנָ֔יוle.fa.NavH6440wisdomחָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahH2451,and knowledgeוְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atH1847,and joyוְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.ChahH8057:but to the sinnerוְלַחוֹטֶא֩ve.la.cho.Te'H2398he givethנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414travailעִנְיָ֜ן'in.YanH6045,to gatherלֶאֱס֣וֹףle.'e.SofH622and to heap upוְלִכְנ֗וֹסve.likh.NosH3664,that he may giveלָתֵת֙la.TetH5414to him that isgoodלְטוֹב֙le.tOvH2896beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430. This also isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and vexationוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469of spiritרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2