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Ecclesiastes

Questions the meaning of life and the value of worldly pursuits, concluding that fearing God is important. ... click to read full summary of this book.

Chapter 2

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I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.

I thought to myself, Let's try enjoying fun and happiness now. So, I did, but it was still pointless.

I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

I said that laughter seems crazy, and about joy, what purpose does it serve?

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.

I wanted to enjoy wine while also being wise, and to understand foolishness so I could know what was good for people to do under the sun during their lives.

I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:

I created many projects; I built myself homes; I established my own grape gardens.

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:

I created gardens and fruit groves, filling them with various fruit-bearing trees.

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:

I created water ponds to provide water for the wood that grows trees.

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:

I had servants and maids, and was born with more servants in my home. I also owned many large and small animals, more than anyone else in Jerusalem.

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.

I collected silver and gold, along with unique treasures belonging to kings and regions. I hired male and female singers, and various forms of enjoyment provided by people's music, including different types of instruments.

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.

I became very important, growing more than anyone who came before me in Jerusalem, and my wisdom stayed with me.

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.

Whatever I wanted, I didn't stop myself from getting it. I also didn't hold back my happiness. My heart was happy with all my work, and this was the result of all my hard work.

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.

Then I saw everything I made with my hands and the effort I put in. But it was all meaningless and left me feeling sad, with nothing gained in the end.

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.

I looked at wisdom, madness, and foolishness, wondering what a person can do after a king. They can only do what has already been done.

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Then I realized that being wise is much better than being foolish, just like how light is better than darkness.

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.

A smart person's eyes are in their head, but a foolish person walks in darkness. I noticed that one thing happens to all of them eventually.

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.

I thought to myself, just like foolish people experience things, so do I; why am I any smarter? So, I concluded that this too is pointless.

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.

There's no difference between the memory of a wise person and a fool in the long run, because everything in the present will eventually be forgotten. Both the wise and the foolish ultimately meet the same end.

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.

So, I didn't like living; the tasks we do on Earth were too hard for me, and everything felt pointless and frustrating.

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.

Yes, I disliked all my hard work I did under the sun, because I would have to leave it for the person who comes after me.

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.

Who knows if someone will be wise or foolish? But they will still control everything I've worked for and shown my wisdom for, which is pointless in the end.

Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

So, I tried to make myself feel sad about all the hard work I did under the sun.

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.

A wise man works hard and is fair. But if he doesn't pass his work to someone else, it's unfair. This is a problem and not logical.

For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

What does a person get from all their hard work and worry, which they have done under the sun?

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.

For all his life, he has troubles and hard work that bring sadness. Even at night, his heart doesn't find peace. This is pointless.

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.

The best thing for someone is to enjoy eating, drinking, and working, which makes their soul happy. I noticed this comes from God's actions.

For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?

Who can eat faster than me or do it more often?

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.

God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who are good in His eyes. But to sinners, He gives hard work to collect and pile up things, which will then be given to those who are good with God. This is pointless and frustrating for the sinner.

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