1
I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with joy. See good.” But see— this also was vapor.
2
Of laughter I said, “It is madness,” and of joy, “What does this accomplish?”
3
I searched in my heart how to draw my flesh with wine, while my heart guided me with wisdom, and how to take hold of foolishness until I might see what is good for the sons of Adam to do under the heavens during the number of the days of their lives.
4
I made my works great. I built houses for myself. I planted vineyards for myself.
5
I made gardens and orchards for myself, and planted in them trees of every fruit.
6
I made pools of water for myself to irrigate from them a forest growing trees.
7
I acquired male servants and female servants, and servants were born in my house. I also had great possessions of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Yerushalayim.
8
I gathered for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired for myself male singers and female singers, and the delights of the sons of Adam— concubine upon concubine.
9
So I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Yerushalayim. Also my wisdom remained with me.
10
And whatever my eyes desired I did not withhold from them. I did not restrain my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.
11
Then I turned to all my works which my hands had made, and to the labor with which I had labored to accomplish them. And see— everything was vapor and pursuit of wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
12
Then I turned to see wisdom, and madness, and foolishness. For what can the Adam do who comes after the king except what has already been done?
13
And I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness as light has advantage over darkness.
14
The wise has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I myself knew that one event happens to them all.
15
Then I said in my heart, “As the event of the fool happens, so also it shall happen to me. Why then was I exceedingly wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vapor.
16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool forever, because in the days to come all shall already be forgotten. And how does the wise die? Just like the fool.
17
Therefore I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was evil to me. For everything is vapor and pursuit of wind.
18
And I hated all my labor with which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the Adam who comes after me.
19
And who knows whether he shall be wise or a fool? Yet he shall rule over all my labor in which I labored and acted wisely under the sun. This also is vapor.
20
Therefore I turned to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor with which I labored under the sun.
21
For there is an ish whose labor is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in skill, yet to an Adam who did not labor in it he must give it as his portion. This also is vapor and a great evil.
22
For what does Adam have from all his labor and from the striving of his heart with which he labors under the sun?
23
For all his days are pains, and his occupation is grief. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vapor.
24
There is nothing better for Adam than that he eat and drink and cause his being to see good in his labor. This also I saw— that it is from the hand of Elohim.
25
For who can eat, and who can experience enjoyment, apart from Him?
26
For to the Adam who is good before Him He gives wisdom, and knowledge, and joy. But to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and collecting to give to the one who is good before Elohim. This also is vapor and pursuit of wind.