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The Emptiness of Pleasure

¹ I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure;^(C1) enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. ² I said about laughter,^(C1) “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” ³ I explored with my mind the pull of wine^(C1) on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom— and how to grasp folly,^(C2) until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven^(F1) during the few days of their lives.^(C3)

The Emptiness of Possessions

⁴ I increased my achievements. I built houses^(C1) and planted vineyards^(C2) for myself. ⁵ I made gardens^(C1) and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. ⁶ I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees.^{(C1) 7} I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house.^(C1) I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem.^{(C2) 8} I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces.^(C1) I gathered male and female singers for myself,^(C2) and many concubines, the delights of men.^{(F1)(F2) 9} So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem;^(C1) my wisdom also remained with me. ¹⁰ All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them.^(C1) I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles.^{(C2) 11} When I considered all that I had accomplished^(F1) and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind.^(F2)(C1) There was nothing to be gained under the sun.^(C2)

The Relative Value of Wisdom

¹² Then I turned to consider wisdom,^(C1) madness, and folly, for what will the king’s successor^(F1) be like? He^(F2) will do what has already been done.^{(C2) 13} And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness.^(C1)

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both.^{(C2) 15} So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” ^(C1) And I said to myself that this is also futile. ¹⁶ For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise,^(C1) since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise person 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^(C1) because I must leave it to the one who comes after me.^{(C2) 19} And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?^(C1) 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^(F1) to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. ²¹ When there is a person whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,^(C1) and he must give his portion to a person who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. ²² For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts^(C1) that he labors at under the sun? ²³ For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;^(C1) even at night, his mind does not rest.^(C2) This too is futile.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy^(F1)(F2) his work.^(C1) I have seen that even this is from God’s hand,^{(C2) 25} because who can eat and who can enjoy life^(F1) apart from him?^{(F2) 26} For to the person who is pleasing in his sight, he gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy;^(C1) 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.^(C2) This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.^(C3)