1I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
2I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
3I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
4I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.
5I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
6I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
7I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
8I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”
9I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
10I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
11I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
12I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.
13I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
14I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
15I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
16I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.
17I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
18I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
19I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
20I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.
21I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
22I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
23I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
24I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.
25I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
26I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
27I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
28I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.
29I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
30I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
31I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
32I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.
33So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
34So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
35So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
36So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.
37Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
38Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
39Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
40Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this was my portion from all my labour.
41Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labour that I had laboured to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
42Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labour that I had laboured to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
43Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labour that I had laboured to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
44Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labour that I had laboured to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
45I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
46I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
47I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
48I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.
49Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
50Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
51Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
52Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.
53The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
54The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
55The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
56The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.
57Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
58Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
59Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
60Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.
61For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
62For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
63For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
64For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!
65So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
66So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
67So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
68So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
69I hated all my labour in which I laboured under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
70I hated all my labour in which I laboured under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
71I hated all my labour in which I laboured under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
72I hated all my labour in which I laboured under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
73Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labour in which I have laboured, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
74Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labour in which I have laboured, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
75Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labour in which I have laboured, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
76Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labour in which I have laboured, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
77Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour in which I had laboured under the sun.
78Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour in which I had laboured under the sun.
79Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour in which I had laboured under the sun.
80Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour in which I had laboured under the sun.
81For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not laboured for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
82For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not laboured for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
83For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not laboured for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
84For there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not laboured for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.
85For what does a man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, in which he labours under the sun?
86For what does a man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, in which he labours under the sun?
87For what does a man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, in which he labours under the sun?
88For what does a man have of all his labour and of the striving of his heart, in which he labours under the sun?
89For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
90For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
91For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
92For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
93There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
94There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
95There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
96There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
97For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
98For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
99For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
100For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
101For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
102For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
103For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
104For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.