1 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 things that are fun. So have a good time.” But see, this also was for nothing.

2 I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

I said of laughing, “It is crazy,” and of fun, “What use is it?”

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.

I tried to find in my mind how to make my body happy with wine, yet at the same time having my mind lead me with wisdom. I tried to find how to take hold of what is foolish, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven during the few years of their lives.

4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself;

I did great things. I built houses for myself. I planted grape-fields for myself.

5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees;

I made gardens and beautiful places for myself, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.

6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.

I made pools of water for myself from which to water many new 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.

I bought men and women servants, and had other servants who were born in my house. I had more flocks and cattle than anyone before me in Jerusalem.

8 A lso, 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.

I gathered for myself silver and gold and the riches of kings and lands. I got for myself male and female singers, and kept many women who acted as my wives, the joy of man.

9 T hen I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.

Then I became great, greater than all who lived before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom stayed with me.

10 A ll 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.

Whatever my eyes wanted I did not keep away from them. I did not keep my heart from anything that was pleasing, for my heart was pleased with all my work. This was my reward for all my work.

11 T hus 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. Wisdom Excels Folly

Then I thought about all that my hands had done, and the work I had done. I saw that it was all for nothing. It was like trying to catch the wind, and there was nothing to get for it under the sun. The End of the Wise Man or Fool

12 S o 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?

So I turned to think about wisdom and what is crazy and foolish. For what can the man do who comes after the king, except what has already been done?

13 A nd I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.

And I saw that wisdom is better than what is foolish, as light is better than darkness.

14 T he wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both.

The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I know that one thing will happen to both of them.

15 T hen 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.”

Then I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” So I said to myself, “This also is for nothing.”

16 F or 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!

For the wise man will not be remembered forever any more than the fool. All will be forgotten in the days to come. The wise man dies just like the fool!

17 S o 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. The Futility of Labor

So I hated life. For the work which had been done under the sun brought sorrow to me. Because everything is for nothing and is like trying to catch the wind.

18 T hus 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.

I hated what came from all my work which I had done under the sun. For I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

19 A nd 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.

And who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will rule over all that I have worked for by acting with wisdom under the sun. This also is for nothing.

20 T herefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun.

So I was filled with sorrow for all I had worked for under the sun.

21 W hen 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.

For here is a man who has worked with wisdom, much learning, and an able hand. Yet he must give this to one who has not worked for it. This also is for nothing, and very wrong.

22 F or what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun?

For what does a man get from all his work and trouble under the sun?

23 B ecause all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

For his work brings pain and sorrow all his days. Even during the night his mind does not rest. This also is for nothing.

24 T here 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.

There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find joy in his work. I have seen that this also is from the hand of God.

25 F or who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?

For who can eat and who can find joy without Him?

26 F or 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.

For God has given wisdom and much learning and joy to the person who is good in God’s eyes. But to the sinner He has given the work of gathering and getting many riches together to give to the one who pleases God. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.