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Qohelet’s Investigation of Self-Indulgence
2 I said ⌊to myself⌋,a “Come! I will testb pleasure ⌊to see whether it is worthwhile⌋.”c But look, “This also is vanity!” 2 I said of laughter, “It is folly!” and of pleasure, “⌊What does it accomplish?⌋”d 3 I also ⌊explored⌋e ⌊the effects of indulging my flesh⌋f with wine. My mind guiding me with wisdom, ⌊I investigated⌋g folly so that I might discover what is good under heavenh for ⌊humans⌋i to do ⌊during the days of their lives⌋.j
Qohelet’s Investigation of Personal Accomplishment
4 ⌊I accomplished great things⌋.k I built for myself houses; I planted for myself vineyards. 5 I made for myself gardens and parks, and I planted all sorts of fruit trees in them. 6 I made for myself pools of water from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. 7 I acquired male slaves and female slaves, as well as children born in my house. I also had livestock, cattle, and flocks more than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered to myself silver and gold—the royal and provincial treasuries. I acquired for myself male and female singers, as well as the delight of ⌊men⌋,l ⌊voluptuous concubines⌋.m
9 Thus, ⌊I accomplished far more⌋n than anyone who was before me in Jerusalem—indeed, my wisdom stood by me. 10 I neither withheld anything from my eyes that they desired, nor did I deprive any pleasure from my heart. My heart rejoiced in all my toil, for this was my reward from all my toil. 11 Yet when I consideredo all the effort which I expended and the toil with which I toiled to do, then behold, “Everything is vanity and chasing wind! There is nothing profitable under the sun!”
a | Literally “to my heart” |
b | The MT reads “I will test you,” but the BHS editors propose “I will test …” Whether or not one adopts MT, Qohelet is speaking to himself |
c | Literally “and look at goodness”; this idiom refers to the enjoyment of life |
d | Literally “What does it give?” |
e | Literally “I searched in my mind” |
f | Literally “to cheer my flesh” |
g | Literally “laid hold of” |
h | Follows MT; two medieval Hebrew manuscripts, LXX, Peshitta read, “under the sun,” cf. 1:3, 9, etc. |
i | Literally “the sons of the man” |
j | Literally “the number of the days of their lives” |
k | Literally “I made great my works” |
l | Literally “the sons of the man” |
m | Literally “a breast and breasts,” as a synecdoche for beautiful women in the king’s harem |
n | Literally “I became great and I surpassed” |
o | Or “turned to” |
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