 |  | Ecclesiastes 2 |  |  |
| |||||||
 | ||||
The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions | ||||
 NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself." And behold, it too was futility. | 1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. | 1 I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity. | 1 I said in my heart: I will go, and abound with delights, and enjoy good things. And I saw that this also was vanity. | 1 I said in my heart, 'Pray, come, I try thee with mirth, and look thou on gladness;' and lo, even it is vanity. | 2 I said of laughter, "It is madness," and of pleasure, "What does it accomplish?" | 2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? | 2 I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it? | 2 Laughter I counted error: and to mirth I said: Why art thou vainly deceived? | 2 Of laughter I said, 'Foolish!' and of mirth, 'What is this it is doing?' | 3 I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. | 3 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. | 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 on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life. | 3 I thought in my heart, to withdraw my flesh from wine, that I might turn my mind to wisdom, and might avoid folly, till I might see what was profitable for the children of men: and what they ought to do under the sun, all the days of their life. | 3 I have sought in my heart to draw out with wine my appetite, (and my heart leading in wisdom), and to take hold on folly till that I see where is this -- the good to the sons of man of that which they do under the heavens, the number of the days of their lives. | 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; | 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: | 4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; | 4 I made me great works, I built me houses, and planted vineyards, | 4 I made great my works, I builded for me houses, I planted for me vineyards. | 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; | 5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: | 5 I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit; | 5 I made gardens, and orchards, and set them with trees of all kinds, | 5 I made for me gardens and paradises, and I planted in them trees of every fruit. | NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. | 6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: | 6 I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared; | 6 And I made me ponds of water, to water therewith the wood of the young trees, | 6 I made for me pools of water, to water from them a forest shooting forth trees. | 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. | 7 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: | 7 I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem; | 7 I got me menservants, and maidservants, and had a great family: and herds of oxen, and great flocks of sheep, above all that were before me in Jerusalem: | 7 I got men-servants, and maid-servants, and sons of the house were to me; also, I had much substance -- herd and flock -- above all who had been before me in Jerusalem. | 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines. | 8 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. | 8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts. | 8 I heaped together for myself silver and gold, and the wealth of kings, and provinces: I made me singing men, and singing women, and the delights of the sons of men, cups and vessels to serve to pour out wine: | 8 I gathered for me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I prepared for me men-singers and women-singers, and the luxuries of the sons of man -- a wife and wives. | 9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. | 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. | 9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. | 9 And I surpassed in riches all that were before me in Jerusalem: my wisdom also remained with me. | 9 And I became great, and increased above every one who had been before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stood with me. | 10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. | 10 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. | 10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor. | 10 And whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not: and I withheld not my heart from enjoying every pleasure, and delighting itself in the things which I had prepared: and esteemed this my portion, to make use of my own labour. | 10 And all that mine eyes asked I kept not back from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labour, and this hath been my portion, from all my labour, | NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun. | 11 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. | 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. | 11 And when I turned myself to all the works which my hands had wrought, and to the labours wherein I had laboured in vain, I saw in all things vanity, and vexation of mind, and that nothing was lasting under the sun. | 11 and I have looked on all my works that my hands have done, and on the labour that I have laboured to do, and lo, the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit, and there is no advantage under the sun! | Wisdom Excels Folly |
| 12 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done? | 12 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. | 12 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 done long ago. | 12 I passed further to behold wisdom, and errors and folly, (What is man, said I, that he can follow the King his maker?) | 12 And I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and folly, but what is the man who cometh after the king? that which is already -- they have done it! | 13 And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. | 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. | 13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. | 13 And I saw that wisdom excelled folly, as much as light differeth from darkness. | 13 And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. | 14 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. | 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all. | 14 The eyes of a wise man are in his head: the fool walketh in darkness: and I learned that they were to die both alike. | 14 The wise! -- his eyes are in his head, and the fool in darkness is walking, and I also knew that one event happeneth with them all; | 15 Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity." | 15 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. | 15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth 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. | 15 And I said in my heart: If the death of the fool and mine shall be one, what doth it avail me, that I have applied myself more to the study of wisdom? And speaking with my own mind, I perceived that this also was vanity. | 15 and I said in my heart, 'As it happeneth with the fool, it happeneth also with me, and why am I then more wise?' And I spake in my heart, that also this is vanity: | NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! | 16 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. | 16 For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool! | 16 For there shall be no remembrance of the wise no more than of the fool for ever, and the times to come shall cover all things together with oblivion: the learned dieth in like manner as the unlearned. | 16 That there is no remembrance to the wise -- with the fool -- to the age, for that which is already, in the days that are coming is all forgotten, and how dieth the wise? with the fool! | 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. | 17 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. | 17 So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind. | 17 And therefore I was weary of my life, when I saw that all things under the sun are evil, and all vanity and vexation of spirit. | 17 And I have hated life, for sad to me is the work that hath been done under the sun, for the whole is vanity and vexation of spirit. | The Futility of Labor |
| 18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. | 18 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. | 18 And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me. | 18 Again I hated all my application wherewith I had earnestly laboured under the sun, being like to have an heir after me, | 18 And I have hated all my labour that I labour at under the sun, because I leave it to a man who is after me. | 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. | 19 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. | 19 And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. | 19 Whom I know not whether he will be a wise man or a fool, and he shall have rule over all my labours with which I have laboured and been solicitous: and is there any thing so vain? | 19 And who knoweth whether he is wise or foolish? yet he doth rule over all my labour that I have laboured at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! this also is vanity. | 20 Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. | 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. | 20 Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun. | 20 Wherefore I left off and my heart renounced labouring any more under the sun. | 20 And I turned round to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labour that I laboured at under the sun. | NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. | 21 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. | 21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil. | 21 For when a man laboureth in wisdom, and knowledge, and carefulness, he leaveth what he hath gotten to an idle man: so this also is vanity, and a great evil. | 21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity, and to a man who hath not laboured therein he giveth it -- his portion! Even this is vanity and a great evil. | 22 For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? | 22 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? | 22 For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun? | 22 For what profit shall a man have of all his labour, and vexation of spirit, with which he bath been tormented under the sun? | 22 For what hath been to a man by all his labour, and by the thought of his heart that he laboured at under the sun? | 23 Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity. | 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. | 23 For all his days are but'sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity. | 23 All his days axe full of sorrows and miseries, even in the night he doth not rest in mind: and is not this vanity? | 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail sadness; even at night his heart hath not lain down; this also is vanity. | 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. | 24 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. | 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. | 24 Is it not better to eat and drink, and to shew his soul good things of his labours? and this is from the hand of God. | 24 There is nothing good in a man who eateth, and hath drunk, and hath shewn his soul good in his labour. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. | 25 For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? | 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? | 25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I? | 25 Who shall so feast and abound with delights as I? | 25 For who eateth and who hasteth out more than I? | NASB | KJV | ASV | DRB | YLT |
| 26 For to a person who is good in His sight He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, while to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting so that he may give to one who is good in God's sight. This too is vanity and striving after wind. | 26 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. | 26 For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth 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 pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. | 26 God hath given to a man that is good in his sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he hath given vexation, and superfluous care, to heap up and to gather together, and to give it to him that hath pleased God: but this also is vanity, and a fruitless solicitude of the mind. | 26 For to a man who is good before Him, He hath given wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; and to a sinner He hath given travail, to gather and to heap up, to give to the good before God. Even this is vanity and vexation of spirit. |
<< Ecclesiastes 2 >> New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Online Parallel BibleOnline Parallel BibleOnline Parallel Bible | ||||