2:2 I said of partying, 1 “It is folly,”
and of self-indulgent pleasure, 2 “It accomplishes nothing!” 3
2:3 I thought deeply 4 about the effects of 5 indulging 6 myself 7 with wine
(all the while 8 my mind was guiding me 9 with wisdom) 10
and the effects of 11 behaving foolishly, 12
so that 13 I might discover what is profitable 14
for people 15 to do on earth 16 during the few days 17 of their lives.
2:4 I increased my possessions: 18
I built houses for myself; 19
I planted vineyards for myself.
2:5 I designed 20 royal gardens 21 and parks 22 for myself,
and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.
2:6 I constructed pools of water for myself,
to irrigate my grove 23 of flourishing trees.
2:7 I purchased male and female slaves,
and I owned slaves who were born in my house; 24
I also possessed more livestock – both herds and flocks –
than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem. 25
2:8 I also amassed silver and gold for myself,
as well as valuable treasures 26 taken from kingdoms and provinces. 27
I acquired male singers and female singers for myself,
and what gives a man sensual delight 28 – a harem of beautiful concubines! 29
2:9 So 30 I was far wealthier 31 than all my predecessors in Jerusalem,
yet I maintained my objectivity: 32
2:10 I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; 33
I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. 34
So all my accomplishments gave me joy; 35
this was my reward for all my effort. 36
2:11 Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished 37
and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, 38
I concluded: 39 “All these 40 achievements and possessions 41 are ultimately 42 profitless 43 –
like chasing the wind!
There is nothing gained 44 from them 45 on earth.” 46
2:12 Next, I decided to consider 47 wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. 48
For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king 49 has already done?
2:13 I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, 50
just as light is preferable to darkness:
2:14 The wise man can see where he is going, 51 but the fool walks in darkness.
Yet I also realized that the same fate 52 happens to them both. 53
2:15 So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me! 54
Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively 55 wise?” 56
So I lamented to myself, 57
“The benefits of wisdom 58 are ultimately 59 meaningless!”
2:16 For the wise man, like 60 the fool, will not be remembered for very long, 61
because 62 in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. 63
Alas, 64 the wise man dies – just like 65 the fool!
2:17 So I loathed 66 life 67 because what
happens 68 on earth 69 seems awful to me;
for all the benefits of wisdom 70 are futile – like chasing the wind.
2:18 So I loathed all the fruit of 71 my effort, 72
for which I worked so hard 73 on earth, 74
because 75 I must leave it 76 behind 77 in the hands of my successor. 78
2:19 Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool?
Yet 79 he will be master over all the fruit of 80 my labor 81
for which I worked so wisely 82 on earth! 83
This also is futile!
2:20 So I began to despair 84 about all the fruit of 85 my labor 86
for which I worked so hard 87 on earth. 88
2:21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill;
however, he must hand over 89 the fruit of his labor 90 as an inheritance 91
to someone else who did not work for it.
This also is futile, and an awful injustice! 92
2:22 What does a man acquire from all his labor
and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth? 93
2:23 For all day long 94 his work produces pain and frustration, 95
and even at night his mind cannot relax! 96
This also is futile!
2:24 There is nothing better for 97 people 98 than 99 to eat and drink,
and to find enjoyment 100 in their 101 work.
I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment 102 comes from God. 103
2:25 For no one 104 can eat and drink 105
or experience joy 106 apart from him. 107
2:26 For to the one who pleases him, 108 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy,
but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing 109 wealth 110 –
only to give 111 it 112 to the one who pleases God.
This 113 task of the wicked 114 is futile – like chasing the wind!