Ecclesiastes 2 Parallel Bible Translations

Ecclesiastes 2 ▼
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1 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile. I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also <i>is</i> vanity. I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.
2 I said of laughter, “It is folly,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I said of laughter, <i>It is</i> mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I said of laughter, “<i>It is</i> senseless,” and of pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”
3 I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly— my mind still guiding me with wisdom— until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of their lives. I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few 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 <i>was</i> that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I explored with my mind <i>how</i> to refresh my body with wine while my mind was guiding <i>me</i> wisely; and how to seize foolishness, until I could see what good there is for the sons of mankind to do under heaven for the few years of their lives. I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards.
5 I made gardens and parks for myself, where I planted all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all <i>kind of</i> fruits: I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
6 I built reservoirs to water my groves of flourishing trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees.
7 I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me, I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I got <i>me</i> 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 bought male and female slaves, and I had slaves <i>born</i> at home. I also possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me.
8 and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered to myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men— many concubines. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 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, <i>as</i> musical instruments, and that of all sorts. I also amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers, and the pleasures of the sons of mankind: many concubines. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart.
9 So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me; and my wisdom remained with me. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 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. All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them. I did not restrain my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained 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 <i>was</i> vanity and vexation of spirit, and <i>there was</i> no profit under the sun. So I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there was no benefit under the sun. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.
12 Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished? So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what <i>can</i> the man <i>do</i> that cometh after the king? <i>even</i> that which hath been already done. So I turned to consider wisdom, insanity, and foolishness; for what <i>will</i> the man <i>do</i> who will come after the king, <i>except</i> what has already been done? Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom, and also madness and folly. What more can the king’s successor do than what has already been done?
13 And I saw that wisdom exceeds folly, just as light exceeds darkness: Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. Then I saw that wisdom surpasses foolishness as light surpasses darkness. I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.
14 The wise man has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both. The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. The wise man's eyes <i>are</i> in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. The wise person’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one <i>and the same</i> fate happens to both of them. The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both.
15 So I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise?” And I said to myself that this too is futile. Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 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 <i>is</i> vanity. Then I said to myself, “As is the fate of the fool, it will also happen to me. Why then have I been extremely wise?” So I said to myself, “This too is futility.” Then I said to myself, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said to myself, “This too is meaningless.”
16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, just as with the fool, seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas, the wise man will die just like the fool! For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! For <i>there is</i> no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now <i>is</i> in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise <i>man</i>? as the fool. For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise, along with the fool, since <i>in</i> the coming days everything will soon be forgotten. And how the wise and the fool alike die! For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!
17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun <i>is</i> grievous unto me: for all <i>is</i> vanity and vexation of spirit. So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was unhappy to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
18 I hated all for which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come 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. So I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.
19 And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise <i>man</i> 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 <i>is</i> also vanity. And who knows whether he will be wise 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 futility. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.
20 So my heart began to despair over all the labor that I had done under the sun. So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun. Therefore I completely despaired over all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.
21 When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great evil. because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For there is a man whose labour <i>is</i> in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it <i>for</i> his portion. This also <i>is</i> vanity and a great evil. When there is a person who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and then gives his legacy to one who has not labored for it; this too is futility and a great evil. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
22 For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun? What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? For what does a person get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun?
23 Indeed, all his days are filled with grief, and his task is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity. For all his days <i>are</i> sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. Because all his days his activity is painful and irritating; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is futility. All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
24 Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God. There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, <i>There is</i> nothing better for a man, <i>than</i> that he should eat and drink, and <i>that</i> he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it <i>was</i> from the hand of God. There is nothing better for a person <i>than</i> to eat and drink, and show himself <i>some</i> good in his trouble. This too I have seen, that it is from the hand of God. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,
25 For apart from Him, who can eat and who can find enjoyment? for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For who can eat, or who else can hasten <i>hereunto</i>, more than I? For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?
26 To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. For <i>God</i> giveth to a man that <i>is</i> 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 <i>him that is</i> good before God. This also <i>is</i> vanity and vexation of spirit. 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 futility and striving after wind. To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
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