Testing pleasure and work
I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure and see what good is in it. And look — that too was empty. Of laughter I said, It is mad. And of pleasure, What does it get you? I tried giving myself to wine, while my mind still guided me with wisdom, and taking hold of folly — until I could see what was good for the people to do under heaven all the days of their life. I took on big projects. I built myself houses. I planted vineyards. I made gardens and orchards and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I made pools to water a forest of growing trees. I bought male and female servants, and had others born in my house. I had more herds and flocks than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got myself men singers and women singers, and every delight of the people, and every kind of instrument. So I became great, greater than anyone before me in Jerusalem — and my wisdom stayed with me. Whatever my eyes wanted, I didn't keep from them. I didn't hold my heart back from any joy. My heart rejoiced in all my work, and that was my share from all of it. Then I looked at everything my hands had done, and at all the work I had put in — and look, it was all empty and chasing the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
I said in my heart: Come on now, I'll test you with gladness. So enjoy pleasure. And look — that was empty too. I said of laughing: It's mad. And of gladness: What does it do? I looked in my heart to give myself to wine, while still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to take hold of folly — till I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under the sky all the days of their life. I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit. I made myself pools of water, to water the wood that grows the trees. I got servants and servant women, and had servants born in my house. I had great possessions of herds and flocks too, more than everyone before me in Jerusalem. I gathered myself silver and gold too, and the special treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men — all kinds of instruments. So I was great and grew more than everyone before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom stayed with me too. And whatever my eyes wanted, I didn't hold back from them. I didn't keep my heart from any joy. Because my heart was glad in all my work. And this was my share of all my work. Then I looked at everything my hands had done, and at the work I'd worked at. And look — it was all empty and chasing the wind, and there was nothing to be got under the sun.
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure and see what good is in it. And look — that too was empty.
I said in my heart: Come on now, I'll test you with gladness. So enjoy pleasure. And look — that was empty too.
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Of laughter I said, It is mad. And of pleasure, What does it get you?
I said of laughing: It's mad. And of gladness: What does it do?
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I tried giving myself to wine, while my mind still guided me with wisdom, and taking hold of folly — until I could see what was good for the people to do under heaven all the days of their life.
I looked in my heart to give myself to wine, while still guiding my heart with wisdom, and to take hold of folly — till I could see what was good for the sons of men to do under the sky all the days of their life.
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
I took on big projects. I built myself houses. I planted vineyards.
I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
I made gardens and orchards and planted every kind of fruit tree in them.
I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
I made pools to water a forest of growing trees.
I made myself pools of water, to water the wood that grows the trees.
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
I bought male and female servants, and had others born in my house. I had more herds and flocks than anyone before me in Jerusalem.
I got servants and servant women, and had servants born in my house. I had great possessions of herds and flocks too, more than everyone before me in Jerusalem.
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
I gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got myself men singers and women singers, and every delight of the people, and every kind of instrument.
I gathered myself silver and gold too, and the special treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men — all kinds of instruments.
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
So I became great, greater than anyone before me in Jerusalem — and my wisdom stayed with me.
So I was great and grew more than everyone before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom stayed with me too.
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Whatever my eyes wanted, I didn't keep from them. I didn't hold my heart back from any joy. My heart rejoiced in all my work, and that was my share from all of it.
And whatever my eyes wanted, I didn't hold back from them. I didn't keep my heart from any joy. Because my heart was glad in all my work. And this was my share of all my work.
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Then I looked at everything my hands had done, and at all the work I had put in — and look, it was all empty and chasing the wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
Then I looked at everything my hands had done, and at the work I'd worked at. And look — it was all empty and chasing the wind, and there was nothing to be got under the sun.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
The wise and the fool die alike
So I turned to look at wisdom, and madness, and folly. Because what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has been done already. And I saw that wisdom is better than folly, as far as light is better than darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in the dark. But I noticed that the same thing happens to the both of them. So I said to myself, What happens to the fool will happen to me too. Then why was I any wiser? And I said to myself, This too is empty. Because the wise man isn't remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come both will be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool. So I hated life, because everything done under the sun felt miserable to me. It's all empty and chasing the wind. I hated all the work I had done under the sun, because I have to leave it to the man who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over everything I worked for and used my wisdom on under the sun. This too is empty. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the work I had done under the sun. Because here is a man whose work is done with wisdom, knowledge and skill, yet he has to leave his share to somebody who never worked for it. This too is empty, and a great evil. Because what does a man get out of all his work and all the worry he puts into it under the sun? All his days are sorrow and his work is grief. Even at night his heart doesn't rest. This too is empty. There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find some good in his work. And I saw that this too comes from the hand of God. Because who can eat, or who can enjoy it, more than I? To the man who is good in his eyes, God gives wisdom, knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the hard work of gathering and heaping up, only to give it to the one who is good before God. This too is empty and chasing the wind.
And I turned myself to look at wisdom and madness and folly. Because what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what's already been done. Then I saw that wisdom is better than folly, the way light is better than darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And I knew myself too that one thing happens to all of them. Then I said in my heart: What happens to the fool happens to me too. So why was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this was empty too. Because there's no remembering of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing that in the days to come everything will be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Like the fool. So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was hard for me. Because it's all empty and chasing the wind. Yes, I hated all my work that I'd worked at under the sun, because I have to leave it to the man who comes after me. And who knows whether he'll be a wise man or a fool? But he'll rule over all my work that I've worked at and shown myself wise in under the sun. This is empty too. So I went about to make my heart despair of all the work I'd worked at under the sun. Because there's a man whose work is in wisdom and in knowledge and in doing well. But he has to leave it as his share to a man who hasn't worked at it. This is empty too, and a great trouble. Because what does a man have of all his work and of the pushing of his heart that he's worked at under the sun? Because all his days are sorrows, and his business is grief. Yes, his heart doesn't rest at night. This is empty too. There's nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and make his soul enjoy good in his work. I saw this too, that it was from the hand of God. Because who can eat, or who can hurry to it, more than me? Because God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to the man who's good in his sight. But to the sinner he gives the hard work of gathering and heaping up, to give to the one who's good in front of God. This is empty too, and chasing the wind.
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
So I turned to look at wisdom, and madness, and folly. Because what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has been done already.
And I turned myself to look at wisdom and madness and folly. Because what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what's already been done.
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
And I saw that wisdom is better than folly, as far as light is better than darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom is better than folly, the way light is better than darkness.
Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in the dark. But I noticed that the same thing happens to the both of them.
The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And I knew myself too that one thing happens to all of them.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
So I said to myself, What happens to the fool will happen to me too. Then why was I any wiser? And I said to myself, This too is empty.
Then I said in my heart: What happens to the fool happens to me too. So why was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this was empty too.
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
Because the wise man isn't remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come both will be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Just like the fool.
Because there's no remembering of the wise more than of the fool forever, seeing that in the days to come everything will be forgotten. And how does the wise man die? Like the fool.
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
So I hated life, because everything done under the sun felt miserable to me. It's all empty and chasing the wind.
So I hated life, because the work done under the sun was hard for me. Because it's all empty and chasing the wind.
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
I hated all the work I had done under the sun, because I have to leave it to the man who comes after me.
Yes, I hated all my work that I'd worked at under the sun, because I have to leave it to the man who comes after me.
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over everything I worked for and used my wisdom on under the sun. This too is empty.
And who knows whether he'll be a wise man or a fool? But he'll rule over all my work that I've worked at and shown myself wise in under the sun. This is empty too.
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the work I had done under the sun.
So I went about to make my heart despair of all the work I'd worked at under the sun.
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Because here is a man whose work is done with wisdom, knowledge and skill, yet he has to leave his share to somebody who never worked for it. This too is empty, and a great evil.
Because there's a man whose work is in wisdom and in knowledge and in doing well. But he has to leave it as his share to a man who hasn't worked at it. This is empty too, and a great trouble.
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Because what does a man get out of all his work and all the worry he puts into it under the sun?
Because what does a man have of all his work and of the pushing of his heart that he's worked at under the sun?
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
All his days are sorrow and his work is grief. Even at night his heart doesn't rest. This too is empty.
Because all his days are sorrows, and his business is grief. Yes, his heart doesn't rest at night. This is empty too.
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find some good in his work. And I saw that this too comes from the hand of God.
There's nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and make his soul enjoy good in his work. I saw this too, that it was from the hand of God.
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Because who can eat, or who can enjoy it, more than I?
Because who can eat, or who can hurry to it, more than me?
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
To the man who is good in his eyes, God gives wisdom, knowledge and joy. But to the sinner he gives the hard work of gathering and heaping up, only to give it to the one who is good before God. This too is empty and chasing the wind.
Because God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to the man who's good in his sight. But to the sinner he gives the hard work of gathering and heaping up, to give to the one who's good in front of God. This is empty too, and chasing the wind.
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.