2 I
said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore
enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. 2 I
said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 3 I
sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart
with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that
good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the
days of their life. 4 I
made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 5 I
made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind
of fruits: 6 I
made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth
trees: 7 I
got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I
had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in
Jerusalem before me: 8 I
gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and
of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights
of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 9 So
I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem:
also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And
whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart
from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my
portion of all my labour. 11 Then
I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour
that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of
spirit, and there was no profit under the sun. 12 And
I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can
the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already
done. 13 Then
I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14
The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and
I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 15 Then
said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to
me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also
is vanity. 16 For
there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing
that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth
the wise man? as the fool. 17 Therefore
I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous
unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea,
I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should
leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And
who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have
rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed
myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore
I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took
under the sun. 21 For
there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity;
yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion.
This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 For
what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein
he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For
all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not
rest in the night. This is also vanity. 24 There
is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that
he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that
it was from the hand of God. 25 For
who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For
God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and
joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that
he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation
of spirit.