Kohelet, starting at chapter 1
{1:1} The words of [1>]Kohelet[<1], the son of David, king in
Yerushalayim:
{1:2} "Vanity of vanities," says [2>]Kohelet[<2]; "Vanity of
vanities, all is vanity." {1:3} What does man gain from all his labor
in which he labors under the sun? {1:4} One generation goes, and
another generation comes; but the [3>]eretz[<3] remains forever. {1:5}
The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place
where it rises. {1:6} The wind goes toward the south, and turns around
to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind
returns again to its courses. {1:7} All the rivers run into the sea,
yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there
they flow again. {1:8} All things are full of weariness beyond
uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled
with hearing. {1:9} That which has been is that which shall be; and
that which has been done is that which shall be done: and there is no
new thing under the sun. {1:10} Is there a thing of which it may be
said, "Behold, this is new?" It has been long ago, in the ages which
were before us. {1:11} There is no memory of the former; neither shall
there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that
shall come after.
{1:12} I, [4>]Kohelet[<4], was king over Yisra'el in Yerushalayim.
{1:13} I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom
concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that
God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. {1:14} I have
seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is
vanity and a chasing after wind. {1:15} That which is crooked can't be
made straight; and that which is lacking can't be counted. {1:16} I
said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above
all who were before me in Yerushalayim. Yes, my heart has had great
experience of wisdom and knowledge." {1:17} I applied my heart to know
wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was
a chasing after wind. {1:18} For in much wisdom is much grief; and he
who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
{2:1} I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth:
therefore enjoy pleasure;" and, behold, this also was vanity. {2:2} I
said of laughter, "It is foolishness;" and of mirth, "What does it
accomplish?"
{2:3} I 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. {2:4} I made myself great
works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards. {2:5} I made
myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of
fruit. {2:6} I made myself pools of water, to water from it the forest
where trees were reared. {2:7} I bought men-servants and
maid-servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great
possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in
Yerushalayim; {2:8} I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and
the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself men-singers
and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men -- musical
instruments, and that of all sorts. {2:9} So I was great, and
increased more than all who were before me in Yerushalayim. My wisdom
also remained with me. {2:10} Whatever 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 labor, and this was my portion from all my
labor. {2:11} Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked,
and at the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity
and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
{2:12} I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for
what can the king's successor do? Just that which has been done long
ago. {2:13} Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light
excels darkness. {2:14} The 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. {2:15} Then said I in my heart, "As it happens to the
fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?"
Then said I in my heart that this also is vanity. {2:16} For of the
wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, seeing
that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed,
the wise man must die just like the fool!
{2:17} So 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.
{2:18} I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, seeing
that I must leave it to the man who comes after me. {2:19} Who knows
whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over
all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown
myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
{2:20} Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all
the labor in which I had labored under the sun. {2:21} For there is a
man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness;
yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for
it. This also is vanity and a great evil. {2:22} For what has a man of
all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors
under the sun? {2:23} For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is
grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is
vanity. {2:24} There is nothing better for a man than that he should
eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I
saw, that it is from the hand of God. {2:25} For who can eat, or who
can have enjoyment, more than I? {2:26} For 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.
{3:1} For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose
under heaven:
{3:2} A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck up that which is planted;
{3:3} A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
{3:4} A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
{3:5} A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
{3:6} A time to seek,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to cast away;
{3:7} A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
{3:8} A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time for war,
And a time for shalom.
{3:9} What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
{3:10} I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men
to be afflicted with. {3:11} He has made everything beautiful in its
time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can't
find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the
end. {3:12} I know that there is nothing better for them than to
rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. {3:13} Also that every
man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift
of God. {3:14} I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has
done it, that men should fear before him. {3:15} That which is has
been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God
seeks again that which is passed away.
{3:16} Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that
wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that
wickedness was there. {3:17} I said in my heart, "God will judge the
righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose
and for every work." {3:18} I said in my heart, "As for the sons of
men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are
like animals. {3:19} For that which happens to the sons of men happens
to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the
other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage
over the animals: for all is vanity. {3:20} All go to one place. All
are from the dust, and all turn to dust again. {3:21} Who knows the
spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal,
whether it goes downward to the [1>]eretz[<1]?"
{3:22} Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man
should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can
bring him to see what will be after him?
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Footnotes:
[1] {1:1} the Preacher
[2] {1:2} the Preacher
[3] {1:4} earth
[4] {1:12} the Preacher
[1] {3:21} earth
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