Ecclesiastes 2
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Revised Literal Translation

Ecclesiastes 2:4-18

4I made me greatH1431 worksH4639; I buildedH1129 me housesH1004; I plantedH5193 me vineyardsH3754: 5I madeH6213 me gardensH1593 and orchardsH6508, and I plantedH5193 treesH6086 in them of all kind of fruitsH6529: 6I madeH6213 me poolsH1295 of waterH4325, to waterH8248 therewith the woodH3293 that bringeth forthH6779 treesH6086: 7I gotH7069 me servantsH5650 and maidensH8198, and had servants bornH1121 in my houseH1004; also I had greatH7235 possessionsH4735 of greatH1241 and small cattleH6629 above all that were in JerusalemH3389 beforeH6440 me:1 8I gatheredH3664 me also silverH3701 and goldH2091, and the peculiar treasureH5459 of kingsH4428 and of the provincesH4082: I gatH6213 me men singersH7891 and women singersH7891, and the delightsH8588 of the sonsH1121 of menH120, as musical instrumentsH7705, and that of all sorts.2 9So I was greatH1431, and increasedH3254 more than all that were beforeH6440 me in JerusalemH3389: also my wisdomH2451 remainedH5975 with me. 10And whatsoever mine eyesH5869 desiredH7592 I keptH680 not from them, I withheldH4513 not my heartH3820 from any joyH8057; for my heartH3820 rejoicedH8056 in all my labourH5999: and this was my portionH2506 of all my labourH5999. 11Then I lookedH6437 on all the worksH4639 that my handsH3027 had wroughtH6213, and on the labourH5999 that I had labouredH5998 to doH6213: and, behold, all was vanityH1892 and vexationH7469 of spiritH7307, and there was no profitH3504 under the sunH8121.

12And I turnedH6437 myself to beholdH7200 wisdomH2451, and madnessH1947, and follyH5531: for what can the manH120 do that comethH935 afterH310 the kingH4428? even that which hath been alreadyH3528 doneH6213.3 13Then I sawH7200 thatH3426 wisdomH2451 excellethH3504 follyH5531, as far as lightH216 excellethH3504 darknessH2822.4 14The wise man’sH2450 eyesH5869 are in his headH7218; but the foolH3684 walkethH1980 in darknessH2822: and I myself perceivedH3045 also that oneH259 eventH4745 happenethH7136 to them all. 15ThenH227 saidH559 I in my heartH3820, As it happenethH4745 to the foolH3684, so it happenethH7136 even to meH1571; and why was I then moreH3148 wiseH2449? Then I saidH1696 in my heartH3820, that this also is vanityH1892.5 16For there is no remembranceH2146 of the wiseH2450 more thanH5973 of the foolH3684 for everH5769; seeing that which nowH3528 is in the daysH3117 to comeH935 shall all be forgottenH7911. And how diethH4191 the wiseH2450 man? as the foolH3684. 17Therefore I hatedH8130 lifeH2416; because the workH4639 that is wroughtH6213 under the sunH8121 is grievousH7451 unto me: for all is vanityH1892 and vexationH7469 of spiritH7307.

18Yea, I hatedH8130 all my labourH5999 which I had takenH6001 under the sunH8121: because I should leaveH3240 it unto the manH120 that shall be afterH310 me.6

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Notes

  1. 1. Ecclesiastes 2:7 servants born…: Heb. sons of my house. ↩
  2. 2. Ecclesiastes 2:8 musical…: Heb. musical instrument and instruments. ↩
  3. 3. Ecclesiastes 2:12 even…: or, in those things which have been already done. ↩
  4. 4. Ecclesiastes 2:13 that…: Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc. ↩
  5. 5. Ecclesiastes 2:15 happeneth even…: Heb. happeneth to me, even to me. ↩
  6. 6. Ecclesiastes 2:18 taken: Heb. laboured. ↩

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

Revised Literal Translation — © 2018 Michael W. Jones, Sr. — GPL