Revised Version 1895

Ecclesiastes 2

1ISAIDאָמַ֤רְתִּֽי'a.Mar.tiH559in mineheartבְּלִבִּ֔יbe.li.BiH3820,GoH4994tonowH4994, I will prove thee withmirthH8057; thereforeenjoyוּרְאֵ֣הu.re.'EhH7200pleasureבְשִׂמְחָ֖הve.sim.ChahH8057: and,beholdוְהִנֵּ֥הve.hi.NehH2009, this also wasvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

2Isaidאָמַ֣רְתִּי'a.Mar.tiH559oflaughterלִשְׂח֖וֹקlis.ChokH7814, It is mad: and ofmirthוּלְשִׂמְחָ֖הu.le.sim.ChahH8057,Whatמַה־mah-H4100doeth it?

3I searched inmineH8478heartבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820howH834to cheer myfleshבְּשָׂרִ֑יbe.sa.RiH1320withwineבַּיַּ֖יִןbai.Ya.yinH3196,mineH8478heartוְלִבִּ֞יve.li.BiH3820yet guidingmeH7200withwisdomבַּֽחָכְמָה֙ba.cha.khe.MahH2451, andhowH834tolayH1121holdוְלֶאֱחֹ֣זve.le.'e.ChozH270onfollyבְּסִכְל֔וּתbe.sikh.LutH5531,tillH5704I mightseeH7200whatH834it wasgoodט֜וֹבTovH2896for thesonsH1121ofmenהָאָדָם֙ha.'a.DamH120that they shoulddoיַעֲשׂוּ֙ya.'a.SuH6213underH8478theheavenהַשָּׁמַ֔יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064allH5704thedaysיְמֵ֥יye.MeiH3117of theirlifeH3117.

4ImadeH4639meH1004greatהִגְדַּ֖לְתִּיhig.Dal.tiH1431worksמַעֲשָׂ֑יma.'a.SaiH4639; I buildedmeH1004housesH1004; Iplantedנָטַ֥עְתִּיna.Ta'.tiH5193meH1004vineyardsכְּרָמִֽים׃ke.ra.MimH3754;

5Imadeעָשִׂ֣יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213meH3605gardensגַּנּ֖וֹתga.NotH1593andparksוּפַרְדֵּסִ֑יםu.far.de.SimH6508, and Iplantedוְנָטַ֥עְתִּיve.na.Ta'.tiH5193treesעֵ֥ץ'etzH6086in them ofallH3605kindsH3605offruitפֶּֽרִי׃Pe.riH6529:

6Imadeעָשִׂ֥יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213meלְהַשְׁק֣וֹתle.hash.KotH8248poolsבְּרֵכ֣וֹתbe.re.KhotH1295ofwaterמָ֑יִםMa.yimH4325, towaterH4325therefrom theforestיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293wheretreesעֵצִֽים׃'e.TzimH6086were reared:

7Iboughtקָנִ֙יתִי֙ka.Ni.tiH7069menservants and maidens, and hadservantsעֲבָדִ֣ים'a.va.DimH5650bornוּבְנֵי־u.ve.nei-H1121in myhouseבַ֖יִתVa.yitH1004; also I had greatpossessionsמִקְנֶה֩mik.NehH4735ofherdsבָקָ֨רva.KarH1241andflocksוָצֹ֤אןva.TzonH6629,aboveH6440allמִכֹּ֛לmi.KolH3605that werebeforeH6440meH6440inJerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389:

8Igatheredכָּנַ֤סְתִּיka.Nas.tiH3664meH1121alsosilverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701andgoldוְזָהָ֔בve.za.HavH2091, and the peculiartreasureוּסְגֻלַּ֥תu.se.gu.LatH5459ofkingsמְלָכִ֖יםme.la.KhimH4428and of theprovincesוְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹתve.ha.me.di.NotH4082: I gatmeH1121menH120singersשָׁרִ֣יםsha.RimH7891and womensingersוְשָׁר֗וֹתve.sha.RotH7891, and the delights of thesonsH1121ofmenH120,concubinesשִׁדָּ֥הshi.DahH7705veryגַּם־gam-H1571manyוְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ve.shi.DotH7705.

9SoH1961I wasgreatוְגָדַ֣לְתִּיve.ga.Dal.tiH1431, andincreasedH3254moreH3254thanH3605allH3605that werebeforeH6440meH6440inJerusalemבִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389: also mywisdomחָכְמָתִ֖יcha.khe.ma.TiH2451remainedH1961withmeH6440.

10Andwhatsoeverוְכֹל֙ve.KholH3605mineeyesעֵינַ֔י'ei.NaiH5869desiredשָֽׁאֲל֣וּsha.'a.LuH7592IkeptH4513notלֹ֥אlo'H3808from them: IwithheldH4513notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808myheartלִבִּ֜יli.BiH3820fromanyמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605joyשִׂמְחָ֗הsim.ChahH8057, for myheartלִבִּ֤יli.BiH3820rejoicedH8055becauseכִּֽי־ki-H3588ofallמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my labour; and this was myportionחֶלְקִ֖יchel.KiH2506fromallמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605my labour.

11Then Ilookedוּפָנִ֣יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437onallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605theworksמַעֲשַׂי֙ma.'a.SaiH4639that myhandsיָדַ֔יya.DaiH3027hadwroughtH4639, and on the labour that I had laboured todoH6213: and,beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009,allהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605wasvanityהֶ֙בֶל֙he.velH1892and astrivingH7469afterH7469windר֔וּחַRu.achH7307, and there wasnoוְאֵ֥יןve.'EinH369profitיִתְר֖וֹןyit.RonH3504underתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

12And Iturnedוּפָנִ֤יתִֽיu.fa.Ni.tiH6437myselfאֲנִי֙'a.NiH589tobeholdלִרְא֣וֹתlir.'otH7200wisdomחָכְמָ֔הchokh.mahH2451, andmadnessוְהוֹלֵל֖וֹתve.ho.le.LotH1947andfollyוְסִכְל֑וּתve.sikh.LutH5531; forwhatH4100canH4100themanהָאָדָ֗םha.'a.DamH120doH6213that comethafterאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310thekingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428?evenכִּ֣י׀kiH3588thatwhichאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834hath beenalreadyכְּבָ֖רke.VarH3528doneH6213.

13Then Isawוְרָאִ֣יתִיve.ra.'I.tiH7200thatwisdomלַֽחָכְמָ֖הla.cha.khe.MahH2451excellethfollyהַסִּכְל֑וּתha.sikh.LutH5531, as far aslightהָא֖וֹרha.'OrH216excellethdarknessהַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ha.Cho.shekhH2822.

14Thewiseהֶֽחָכָם֙he.cha.KhamH2450man’sH2450eyesעֵינָ֣יו'ei.NavH5869are in hisheadבְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹbe.ro.ShoH7218, and thefoolוְהַכְּסִ֖ילve.ha.ke.SilH3684walketh indarknessבַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekhH2822: and yet Iperceivedוְיָדַ֣עְתִּיve.ya.Da'.tiH3045that one event happeneth to themallכֻּלָּֽם׃ku.LamH3605.

15ThensaidH559I in myheartבְּלִבִּ֗יbe.li.BiH3820, As it happeneth to thefoolהַכְּסִיל֙ha.ke.SilH3684,soגַּם־gam-H1571will it happenevenשֶׁגַּם־she.gam-H1571tomeH589; andwhyוְלָ֧מָּהve.La.mahH4100was I thenmoreיוֹתֵ֑רyo.TerH3148wiseחָכַ֛מְתִּיcha.Kham.tiH2449? Then IsaidH559in myheartבְלִבִּ֔יve.li.BiH3820, that this also wasvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

16For of thewiseלֶחָכָ֛םle.cha.KhamH2450manH2450,evenH3588as of thefoolהַכְּסִ֖ילha.ke.SilH3684, there isnoאֵ֨ין'einH369remembranceזִכְר֧וֹןzikh.RonH2146foreverלְעוֹלָ֑םle.'o.LamH5769;seeingH3588that in thedaysהַיָּמִ֤יםhai.ya.MimH3117tocomeהַבָּאִים֙ha.ba.'ImH935allהַכֹּ֣לha.KolH3605will have beenalreadyבְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞רbe.she.ke.VarH3528forgottenנִשְׁכָּ֔חnish.KachH7911. Andhowוְאֵ֛יךְve.'EikhH349doth thewiseהֶחָכָ֖םhe.cha.KhamH2450manH2450dieיָמ֥וּתya.MutH4191evenH3588as thefoolהַכְּסִֽיל׃ha.ke.SilH3684!

17Soשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖הshe.na.'a.SahH6213Ihatedוְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ve.sa.Ne.tiH8130lifeהַ֣חַיִּ֔יםha.chai.YimH2416;becauseH3588theworkהַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔הha.ma.'a.SehH4639that iswroughtH4639underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121was grievous untomeH5921: forallהַכֹּ֥לha.KolH3605isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and astrivingוּרְע֥וּתu.re.'UtH7469afterH5921windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

18And Ihatedוְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽיve.sa.Ne.tiH8130allכָּל־kol-H3605my labour wherein I labouredunderתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121: seeing that Imustאֶת־'et-H853leaveH3240it unto themanלָאָדָ֖םla.'a.DamH120that shall beafterאַחֲרָֽי׃'a.cha.RaiH310meH8130.

19And who knowethwhetherא֣וֹ'oH176he shall be awiseהֶֽחָכָ֤םhe.cha.KhamH2450manH2450or afoolסָכָ֔לsa.KhalH5530? yet shall he have rule overallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewedwisdomוְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּיve.she.cha.Kham.tiH2449underתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁha.Sha.meshH8121. This also isvanityהָֽבֶל׃Ha.velH1892.

20Therefore Iturnedוְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽיve.sa.Bo.tiH5437aboutעַ֚ל'alH5921to cause myheartלִבִּ֑יli.BiH3820todespairלְיַאֵ֣שׁle.ya.'EshH2976concerningallכָּל־kol-H3605the labour wherein I had labouredunderתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121.

21For there is amanH120whoseH120labour is withwisdomבְּחָכְמָ֥הbe.cha.khe.MahH2451, and withknowledgeוּבְדַ֖עַתu.ve.Da.'atH1847, and with skilfulness; yet to amanH120that hathnotשֶׁלֹּ֤אshe.Lo'H3808laboured therein shall he leave it for hisportionחֶלְק֔וֹchel.KoH2506. This also isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and agreatרַבָּֽה׃ra.BahH7227evilוְרָעָ֥הve.ra.'AhH7451.

22Forwhatמֶֽה־meh-H4100hath amanלָֽאָדָם֙la.'a.DamH120ofallבְּכָל־be.kholH3605his labour, and of thestrivingוּבְרַעְי֖וֹןu.ve.ra'.YonH7475of hisheartלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820, wherein he labourethunderתַּ֥חַתTa.chatH8478thesunהַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ha.Sha.meshH8121?

23Forallכָל־khol-H3605hisdaysיָמָ֣יוya.MavH3117are butsorrowsמַכְאֹבִ֗יםmakh.'o.VimH4341, and his travail is grief;yeaכִּ֧יkiH3588,evenH1571in thenightבַּלַּ֖יְלָהba.Lay.lahH3915hisheartלִבּ֑וֹli.BoH3820takethnoלֹא־lo'-H3808restשָׁכַ֣בsha.KhavH7901. This also isvanityהֶ֥בֶלHe.velH1892.

24There isnothingאֵֽין־'ein-H369betterט֤וֹבTovH2896for amanבָּאָדָם֙ba.'a.DamH120thanH2896that he shouldeatשֶׁיֹּאכַ֣לshei.yo.KhalH398anddrinkוְשָׁתָ֔הve.sha.TahH8354, andmakeH7200hissoulנַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315enjoyH7200goodט֖וֹבTovH2896in his labour. This also IsawH7200, that it is from thehandמִיַּ֥דmi.YadH3027ofGodהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430.

25For whocanמִ֥יmiH4310eatיֹאכַ֛לyo.KhalH398, or whocanוּמִ֥יu.MiH4310have enjoyment,moreH4480thanH4480I?

26For to themanלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120that pleaseth himGodהָֽאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430givethwisdomחָכְמָ֥הchokh.mahH2451, andknowledgeוְדַ֖עַתve.Da.'atH1847, andjoyוְשִׂמְחָ֑הve.sim.ChahH8057: but to thesinnerוְלַחוֹטֶא֩ve.la.cho.Te'H2398he giveth travail, togatherלֶאֱס֣וֹףle.'e.SofH622and toheapנָתַ֛ןna.TanH5414upנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414, that he maygiveלָתֵת֙la.TetH5414to him that pleasethGodH430. This also isvanityהֶ֖בֶלHe.velH1892and astrivingH7469afterH7469windרֽוּחַ׃Ru.achH7307.

Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 2

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain