The Futility of Pleasure

1  אָמַ֤רְתִּֽי (Said) אֲנִי֙ (I) בְּלִבִּ֔י (in my heart), לְכָה־ (Come) נָּ֛א (now), אֲנַסְּכָ֛ה (I will test you) בְשִׂמְחָ֖ה (with gladness), וּרְאֵ֣ה (and look) בְט֑וֹב (on the good);

וְהִנֵּ֥ה (and behold), גַם־ (also) ה֖וּא (this) הָֽבֶל׃ (is vapor).

2  לִשְׂח֖וֹק (Of laughter) אָמַ֣רְתִּי (I said), מְהוֹלָ֑ל (It is madness), וּלְשִׂמְחָ֖ה (and of joy), מַה־ (What) זֹּ֥ה (good is this) עֹשָֽׂה׃ (doing)?

3  תַּ֣רְתִּי (I searched) בְלִבִּ֔י (in my heart) לִמְשׁ֥וֹךְ (to draw out) בַּיַּ֖יִן (with wine) אֶת־ (-) בְּשָׂרִ֑י (my flesh), וְלִבִּ֞י (and my heart) נֹהֵ֤ג (was guiding me) בַּֽחָכְמָה֙ (in wisdom), וְלֶאֱחֹ֣ז (and to lay hold) בְּסִכְל֔וּת (on folly) עַ֣ד (until) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אֶרְאֶ֗ה (I might see) אֵי־ (where) זֶ֨ה (is this)— ט֜וֹב (good) לִבְנֵ֤י (for the sons) הָאָדָם֙ (of man) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) יַעֲשׂוּ֙ (they might do) תַּ֣חַת (under) הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם (the heavens) מִסְפַּ֖ר (the number) יְמֵ֥י (of the days) חַיֵּיהֶֽם׃ (of their lives).

4  הִגְדַּ֖לְתִּי (I made great) מַעֲשָׂ֑י (my works); בָּנִ֤יתִי (I built) לִי֙ (for myself) בָּתִּ֔ים (houses) נָטַ֥עְתִּי (and I planted) לִ֖י (for myself) כְּרָמִֽים׃ (vineyards); 5  עָשִׂ֣יתִי (I made) לִ֔י (for myself) גַּנּ֖וֹת (gardens) וּפַרְדֵּסִ֑ים (and parks), וְנָטַ֥עְתִּי (and I planted) בָהֶ֖ם (in them) עֵ֥ץ (a tree) כָּל־ (of every) פֶּֽרִי׃ (fruit). 6  עָשִׂ֥יתִי (I made) לִ֖י (for myself) בְּרֵכ֣וֹת (pools) מָ֑יִם (of water), לְהַשְׁק֣וֹת (to cause to drink) מֵהֶ֔ם (from them) יַ֖עַר (a grove) צוֹמֵ֥חַ (of sprouting) עֵצִֽים׃ (trees).

7  קָנִ֙יתִי֙ (I acquired) עֲבָדִ֣ים (menservants) וּשְׁפָח֔וֹת (and maidservants), וּבְנֵי־ (and sons) בַ֖יִת (of the house) הָ֣יָה (were) לִ֑י (unto me), גַּ֣ם (also) מִקְנֶה֩ (possessions)— בָקָ֨ר (of cattle) וָצֹ֤אן (and sheep)— הַרְבֵּה֙ (great) הָ֣יָה (there were) לִ֔י (unto me) מִכֹּ֛ל (more than all) שֶֽׁהָי֥וּ (who were) לְפָנַ֖י (before my face) בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (in Jerusalem). 8  כָּנַ֤סְתִּי (I gathered) לִי֙ (for myself) גַּם־ (also) כֶּ֣סֶף (silver) וְזָהָ֔ב (and gold) וּסְגֻלַּ֥ת (and the property) מְלָכִ֖ים (of kings) וְהַמְּדִינ֑וֹת (and of the provinces). עָשִׂ֨יתִי (I appointed) לִ֜י (for myself) שָׁרִ֣ים (male singers) וְשָׁר֗וֹת (and female singers) וְתַעֲנוּגֹ֛ת (and the delights) בְּנֵ֥י (of the sons) הָאָדָ֖ם (of man)— שִׁדָּ֥ה (a wife) וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ (and wives).

9  וְגָדַ֣לְתִּי (And I became great) וְהוֹסַ֔פְתִּי (and I added) מִכֹּ֛ל (more than all) שֶׁהָיָ֥ה (who were) לְפָנַ֖י (before my face) בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (in Jerusalem). אַ֥ף (Also) חָכְמָתִ֖י (my wisdom) עָ֥מְדָה (stood) לִּֽי׃ (with me). 10  וְכֹל֙ (And all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ (asked) עֵינַ֔י (my eyes), לֹ֥א (not) אָצַ֖לְתִּי (did I lay aside) מֵהֶ֑ם (from them), לֹֽא־ (not) מָנַ֨עְתִּי (did I withhold) אֶת־ (-) לִבִּ֜י (my heart) מִכָּל־ (from any) שִׂמְחָ֗ה (joy). כִּֽי־ (For) לִבִּ֤י (my heart) שָׂמֵ֙חַ֙ (rejoiced) מִכָּל־ (in all) עֲמָלִ֔י (my toil); וְזֶֽה־ (and this) הָיָ֥ה (was) חֶלְקִ֖י (my portion) מִכָּל־ (from all) עֲמָלִֽי׃ (my toil).

11  וּפָנִ֣יתִֽי (And turned) אֲנִ֗י (I) בְּכָל־ (to all) מַעֲשַׂי֙ (the works) שֶֽׁעָשׂ֣וּ (that had done) יָדַ֔י (my hands), וּבֶֽעָמָ֖ל (and to the toil) שֶׁעָמַ֣לְתִּי (that I had toiled) לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת (to do), וְהִנֵּ֨ה (and behold), הַכֹּ֥ל (all) הֶ֙בֶל֙ (was vapor) וּרְע֣וּת (and a striving after) ר֔וּחַ (the wind), וְאֵ֥ין (and there was no) יִתְר֖וֹן (profit) תַּ֥חַת (under) הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (the sun).

The Wise and the Foolish

12  וּפָנִ֤יתִֽי (And turned) אֲנִי֙ (I) לִרְא֣וֹת (then to look at) חָכְמָ֔ה (wisdom) וְהוֹלֵל֖וֹת (and madness) וְסִכְל֑וּת (and folly); כִּ֣י׀ (for) מֶ֣ה (what) הָאָדָ֗ם (is the man) שֶׁיָּבוֹא֙ (who comes) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king)? אֵ֥ת (-) אֲשֶׁר־ (that which)— כְּבָ֖ר (already) עָשֽׂוּהוּ׃ (they have done) 13  וְרָאִ֣יתִי (and saw) אָ֔נִי (I) שֶׁיֵּ֥שׁ (that there is) יִתְר֛וֹן (profit) לַֽחָכְמָ֖ה (to wisdom) מִן־ (above) הַסִּכְל֑וּת (folly), כִּֽיתְר֥וֹן (like the profit) הָא֖וֹר (of the light) מִן־ (over) הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ (the darkness).

14  הֶֽחָכָם֙ (The wise one) עֵינָ֣יו (has his eyes) בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ (in his head),

וְהַכְּסִ֖יל (and the fool) בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ (in the darkness) הוֹלֵ֑ךְ (is walking).

וְיָדַ֣עְתִּי (And knew) גַם־ (also) אָ֔נִי (I) שֶׁמִּקְרֶ֥ה (of that event) אֶחָ֖ד (one) יִקְרֶ֥ה (that happens) אֶת־ (-) כֻּלָּֽם׃ (to all of them). 15  וְאָמַ֨רְתִּֽי (And said) אֲנִ֜י (I) בְּלִבִּ֗י (in my heart), כְּמִקְרֵ֤ה (As it happens to) הַכְּסִיל֙ (the fool), גַּם־ (also) אֲנִ֣י (to me) יִקְרֵ֔נִי (it will happen)— וְלָ֧מָּה (and what) חָכַ֛מְתִּי (in being wise) אֲנִ֖י (to me) אָ֣ז (then) יוֹתֵ֑ר (is profit)?

וְדִבַּ֣רְתִּי (And I said) בְלִבִּ֔י (in my heart), שֶׁגַּם־ (Also) זֶ֖ה (this) הָֽבֶל׃ (is vapor).

16  כִּי֩ (For) אֵ֨ין (there is no) זִכְר֧וֹן (memory) לֶחָכָ֛ם (of the wise)— עִֽם־ (with) הַכְּסִ֖יל (the fool)— לְעוֹלָ֑ם (forever), בְּשֶׁכְּבָ֞ר (in that already) הַיָּמִ֤ים (in the days) הַבָּאִים֙ (that are coming) הַכֹּ֣ל (all) נִשְׁכָּ֔ח (will be forgotten); וְאֵ֛יךְ (and how) יָמ֥וּת (will die) הֶחָכָ֖ם (a wise one) עִֽם־ (like) הַכְּסִֽיל׃ (the fool)! 17  וְשָׂנֵ֙אתִי֙ (And I have hated) אֶת־ (-) הַ֣חַיִּ֔ים (this life), כִּ֣י (because) רַ֤ע (was evil) עָלַי֙ (to me) הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה (the work) שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂ֖ה (that was done) תַּ֣חַת (under) הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (the sun). כִּֽי־ (For) הַכֹּ֥ל (all) הֶ֖בֶל (is vapor) וּרְע֥וּת (and a striving after) רֽוּחַ׃ (the wind).

The Futility of Work

18  וְשָׂנֵ֤אתִֽי (Hated) אֲנִי֙ (I) אֶת־ (-) כָּל־ (all) עֲמָלִ֔י (my toil) שֶׁאֲנִ֥י (that I) עָמֵ֖ל (had toiled) תַּ֣חַת (under) הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (the sun), שֶׁ֣אַנִּיחֶ֔נּוּ (because I must leave it) לָאָדָ֖ם (to the man) שֶׁיִּהְיֶ֥ה (who will come) אַחֲרָֽי׃ (after me). 19  וּמִ֣י (And who) יוֹדֵ֗עַ (knows) הֶֽחָכָ֤ם (whether wise) יִהְיֶה֙ (he will be) א֣וֹ (or) סָכָ֔ל (a fool)? וְיִשְׁלַט֙ (And he will rule) בְּכָל־ (over all) עֲמָלִ֔י (my toil) שֶֽׁעָמַ֥לְתִּי (that I have toiled) וְשֶׁחָכַ֖מְתִּי (and that I have done wisely) תַּ֣חַת (under) הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ (the sun). גַּם־ (Also) זֶ֖ה (this) הָֽבֶל׃ (is vapor).

20  וְסַבּ֥וֹתִֽי (And turned around) אֲנִ֖י (I) לְיַאֵ֣שׁ (gave to despair) אֶת־ (-) לִבִּ֑י (my heart) עַ֚ל (over) כָּל־ (all) הֶ֣עָמָ֔ל (the toil) שֶׁעָמַ֖לְתִּי (that I have toiled) תַּ֥חַת (under) הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (the sun). 21  כִּי־ (For) יֵ֣שׁ (there is) אָדָ֗ם (a man) שֶׁעֲמָל֛וֹ (whose toil) בְּחָכְמָ֥ה (is with wisdom) וּבְדַ֖עַת (and with knowledge) וּבְכִשְׁר֑וֹן (and with skill); וּלְאָדָ֞ם (and to a man) שֶׁלֹּ֤א (not) עָֽמַל־ (having toiled) בּוֹ֙ (for it) יִתְּנֶ֣נּוּ (he must give) חֶלְק֔וֹ (his portion). גַּם־ (Also) זֶ֥ה (this) הֶ֖בֶל (is vapor) וְרָעָ֥ה (and evil) רַבָּֽה׃ (great). 22  כִּ֠י (For) מֶֽה־ (what) הֹוֶ֤ה (has been) לָֽאָדָם֙ (for the man) בְּכָל־ (for all) עֲמָל֔וֹ (his toil) וּבְרַעְי֖וֹן (and for the striving) לִבּ֑וֹ (of his heart) שֶׁה֥וּא (with which he) עָמֵ֖ל (toils) תַּ֥חַת (under) הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ (the sun)? 23  כִּ֧י (For) כָל־ (all) יָמָ֣יו (his days) מַכְאֹבִ֗ים (are pains), וָכַ֙עַס֙ (and anger) עִנְיָנ֔וֹ (is his task), גַּם־ (even) בַּלַּ֖יְלָה (in the night). לֹא־ (Not) שָׁכַ֣ב (will take rest) לִבּ֑וֹ (his heart) גַּם־ (also). זֶ֖ה (This) הֶ֥בֶל (vapor) הֽוּא׃ (is).

24  אֵֽין־ (Nothing) ט֤וֹב (is better) בָּאָדָם֙ (for the man) שֶׁיֹּאכַ֣ל (than to eat) וְשָׁתָ֔ה (and drink), וְהֶרְאָ֧ה (to see) אֶת־ (-) נַפְשׁ֛וֹ (and his soul) ט֖וֹב (good) בַּעֲמָל֑וֹ (in his toil). גַּם־ (Also) זֹה֙ (this) רָאִ֣יתִי (saw) אָ֔נִי (I), כִּ֛י (that) מִיַּ֥ד (from the hand) הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (of God) הִֽיא׃ (it is). 25  כִּ֣י (For) מִ֥י (who) יֹאכַ֛ל (can eat), וּמִ֥י (and who) יָח֖וּשׁ (can enjoy) ח֥וּץ (apart) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (from me)? 26  כִּ֤י (For) לְאָדָם֙ (to the man) שֶׁטּ֣וֹב (who is good) לְפָנָ֔יו (in His eyes) נָתַ֛ן (He gives) חָכְמָ֥ה (wisdom) וְדַ֖עַת (and knowledge) וְשִׂמְחָ֑ה (and joy), וְלַחוֹטֶא֩ (and to the sinner) נָתַ֨ן (He gives) עִנְיָ֜ן (the task) לֶאֱס֣וֹף (to gather) וְלִכְנ֗וֹס (and to heap up), לָתֵת֙ (to give) לְטוֹב֙ (to the good) לִפְנֵ֣י (before the face of) הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (God). גַּם־ (Also) זֶ֥ה (this) הֶ֖בֶל (is vapor) וּרְע֥וּת (and a striving after) רֽוּחַ׃ (the wind).