Ecclesiastes 2:1–3:15

The Emptiness of Pleasure

2 I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; d enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. 2 I said about laughter, e “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” 3 I explored with my mind how to let my body enjoy life f with wine g and how to grasp folly h—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what is good for * people to do under heaven i during the few days of their lives. j

The Emptiness of Possessions

4 I increased my achievements. I built houses k and planted vineyards l for myself. 5 I made gardens m and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. 6 I constructed reservoirs of water for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. n 7 I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. o I also owned many herds of cattle and flocks, more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. p 8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. q I gathered male and female singers for myself, r and many concubines, the delights of men. s t 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; u my wisdom also remained with me. 10 All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. v I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. w 11 When I considered all that I had accomplished x and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. y There was nothing to be gained under the sun. z

The Relative Value of Wisdom

12 Then I turned to consider wisdom, a madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He b will do what has already been done. c 13 And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. d

14 The wise man has eyes in his head,

but the fool walks in darkness. e

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both. f 15 So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” g And I said to myself that this is also futile. 16 For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, h since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool? 17 Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

The Emptiness of Work

18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun i because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. j 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? k Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself over l to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21 When there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, m and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a man get with all his work and all his efforts n that he labors at under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; o even at night, his mind does not rest. p This too is futile.

24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy q r his work. s I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, t 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life u apart from Him? v 26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, w but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. x This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. y

The Mystery of Time

3 There is an occasion for everything,

and a time for every activity under heaven: z

2 a time to give birth and a time to die; a

a time to plant and a time to uproot; b

3 a time to kill and a time to heal;

a time to tear down and a time to build;

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; c

a time to mourn and a time to dance; d

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; e

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; f

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost;

a time to keep and a time to throw away;

7 a time to tear and a time to sew;

a time to be silent and a time to speak; g

8 a time to love and a time to hate;

a time for war and a time for peace. h

9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? i 10 I have seen the task that God has given * people to keep them occupied. j 11 He has made everything appropriate k in its time. l He has also put eternity in their hearts, m but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. n 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the o good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. p 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. q God works so that people will be in awe of Him. r 15 Whatever is, has already been, s and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. t