Dual Panel1I said<559> to myself<3820>, "Come<1980> now<4994>, I will test<5254> you with pleasure<8057>. So enjoy<7200><2896> yourself." And behold<2009>, it too<1571> was futility<1892>.
2I said<559> of laughter<7814>, "It is madness<1984>," and of pleasure<8057>, "What<4100> does it accomplish<6213>?"
3I explored<8446> with my mind<3820> how to stimulate<4900> my body<1320> with wine<3196> while my mind<3820> was guiding<5090> me wisely<2451>, and how to take<270> hold<270> of folly<5531>, until<5704><834> I could see<7200> what<335><2088> good<2896> there is for the sons<1121> of men<120> to do<6213> under<8478> heaven<8064> the few<4557> years<3117> of their lives<2425>.
4I enlarged<1431> my works<4639>: I built<1129> houses<1004> for myself, I planted<5193> vineyards<3754> for myself;
5I made<6213> gardens<1593> and parks<6508> for myself and I planted<5193> in them all<3605> kinds of fruit<6529> trees<6086>;
6I made<6213> ponds<1295> of water<4325> for myself from which to irrigate<8248> a forest<3293> of growing<6779> trees<6086>.
7I bought<7069> male<5650> and female<8198> slaves<8198><5650> and I had<1961> homeborn<1121><1004> slaves<1121>. Also<1571> I possessed flocks<6629> and herds<1241> larger<7235> than<4480> all<3605> who<7945> preceded<6440> me in Jerusalem<3389>.
8Also<1571>, I collected<3664> for myself silver<3701> and gold<2091> and the treasure<5459> of kings<4428> and provinces<4082>. I provided<6213> for myself male and female singers<7891> and the pleasures<8588> of men<1121><120>--many<7705> concubines<7705>.
9Then I became<1431> great<1431> and increased<3254> more<4480> than<4480> all<3605> who<7945> preceded<6440> me in Jerusalem<3389>. My wisdom<2451> also<637> stood<5975> by me.
10All<3605> that my eyes<5869> desired<7592> I did not refuse<680> them. I did not withhold<4513> my heart<3820> from any<3605> pleasure<8057>, for my heart<3820> was pleased<8056> because<4480> of all<3605> my labor<5999> and this<2088> was my reward<2506> for all<3605> my labor<5999>.
11Thus I considered<6437> all<3605> my activities<4639> which<7945> my hands<3027> had done<6213> and the labor<5999> which<7945> I had exerted<6213>, and behold<2009> all<3605> was vanity<1892> and striving<7469> after wind<7307> and there<369> was no<369> profit<3504> under<8478> the sun<8121>.
12So I turned<6437> to consider<7200> wisdom<2451>, madness<1947> and folly<5531>; for what<4100> will the man<120> do who<7945> will come<935> after<310> the king<4428> except what<834> has already<3528> been done<6213>?
13And I saw<7200> that wisdom<2451> excels<3504> folly<5531> as light<216> excels<3504> darkness<2822>.
14The wise<2450> man's<2450> eyes<5869> are in his head<7218>, but the fool<3684> walks<1980> in darkness<2822>. And yet<1571> I know<3045> that one<259> fate<4745> befalls<7136> them both<3605>.
15Then I said<559> to myself<3820>, "As is the fate<4745> of the fool<3684>, it will also<1571> befall<7136> me. Why<4100> then<227> have I been<2449> extremely<3148> wise<2449>?" So I said<1696> to myself<3820>, "This<2088> too<1571> is vanity<1892>."
16For there<369> is no<369> lasting<5769> remembrance<2146> of the wise<2450> man<2450> as with the fool<3684>, inasmuch<7945> as in the coming<935> days<3117> all<3605> will be forgotten<7911>. And how<349> the wise<2450> man<2450> and the fool<3684> alike<5973> die<4191>!
17So I hated<8130> life<2425>, for the work<4639> which<7945> had been done<6213> under<8478> the sun<8121> was grievous<7451> to me; because<3588> everything<3605> is futility<1892> and striving<7469> after wind<7307>.
18Thus I hated<8130> all<3605> the fruit<5999> of my labor<5999> for which<7945> I had labored<6001> under<8478> the sun<8121>, for I must leave<5117> it to the man<120> who<7945> will come<1961> after<310> me.
19And who<4310> knows<3045> whether he will be a wise<2450> man<2450> or<176> a fool<5530>? Yet he will have control<7980> over<7980> all<3605> the fruit<5999> of my labor<5999> for which<7945> I have labored<5998> by acting<2449> wisely<2449> under<8478> the sun<8121>. This<2088> too<1571> is vanity<1892>.
20Therefore I completely<5437><3820> despaired<2976> of all<3605> the fruit<5999> of my labor<5999> for which<7945> I had labored<5998> under<8478> the sun<8121>.
21When<3588> there<3426> is a man<120> who<7945> has labored<5998> with wisdom<2451>, knowledge<1847> and skill<3788>, then he gives<5414> his legacy<2506> to one<120> who<7945> has not labored<5998> with them. This<2088> too<1571> is vanity<1892> and a great<7227> evil<7463>.
22For what<4100> does a man<120> get<1933> in all<3605> his labor<5999> and in his striving<7475> with which<7945> he labors<6001> under<8478> the sun<8121>?
23Because<3588> all<3605> his days<3117> his task<6045> is painful<4341> and grievous<3708>; even<1571> at night<3915> his mind<3820> does not rest<7901>. This<2088> too<1571> is vanity<1892>.
24There<369> is nothing<369> better<2896> for a man<120> than to eat<398> and drink<8354> and tell<7200> himself<5315> that his labor<5999> is good<2896>. This<2090> also<1571> I have seen<7200> that it is from the hand<3027> of God<430>.
25For who<4310> can eat<398> and who<4310> can have<2363> enjoyment<2363> without<2351><4480> Him?
26For to a person<120> who<7945> is good<2896> in His sight<6440> He has given<5414> wisdom<2451> and knowledge<1847> and joy<8057>, while to the sinner<2398> He has given<5414> the task<6045> of gathering<622> and collecting<3664> so that he may give<5414> to one<2896> who<2896> is good<2896> in God's<430> sight<6440>. This<2088> too<1571> is vanity<1892> and striving<7469> after wind<7307>.