Chapter 1
1 The Futility of All Endeavor
The words 1697 of the Preacher 6953, the son 1121 of David 1732, king 4428 in Jerusalem 3389.
2 "Vanity 1892 of vanities 1892," says 559 the Preacher 6953, "Vanity 1892 of vanities 1892! All 3605 is vanity 1892."
3 ¶ What 4100 advantage 3504 does man 120 have in all 3605 his work 5999 Which 7945 he does 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121?
4 A generation 1755 goes 1980 and a generation 1755 comes 935, But the earth 776 remains 5975 forever 5769.
5 Also, the sun 8121 rises 2224 and the sun 8121 sets 935; And hastening 7602 to its place 4725 it rises 2224 there 8033 {again.}
6 Blowing 1980 toward 413 the south 1864, Then turning 5437 toward 413 the north 6828, The wind 7307 continues 1980 swirling 5437 along 1980; And on its circular 5439 courses 5439 the wind 7307 returns 7725.
7 All 3605 the rivers 5158 flow 1980 into the sea 3220, Yet the sea 3220 is not full 4392. To the place 4725 where 7945 the rivers 5158 flow 1980, There 8033 they flow 1980 again 7725.
8 All 3605 things 1697 are wearisome 3023; Man 376 is not able 3201 to tell 1696 {it.} The eye 5869 is not satisfied 7646 with seeing 7200, Nor 3808 is the ear 241 filled 4390 with hearing 8085.
9 That which has been 1961 is that which 7945 will be, And that which has been done 6213 is that which 7945 will be done 6213. So there 369 is nothing new 2319 under 8478 the sun 8121.
10 Is there 3426 anything 1697 of which 7945 one might say 559, "See 7200 this 2088, it is new 2319"? Already 3528 it has existed 1961 for ages 5769 Which 834 were before us.
11 There 369 is no 369 remembrance 2146 of earlier 7223 things 7223; And also 1571 of the later 314 things 314 which 7945 will occur 1961, There will be for them no 3808 remembrance 2146 Among 5973 those who 7945 will come 1961 later 314 {still.}
12 The Futility of Wisdom
¶ I, the Preacher 6953, have been 1961 king 4428 over 5921 Israel 3478 in Jerusalem 3389.
13 And I set 5414 my mind 3820 to seek 1875 and explore 8446 by wisdom 2451 concerning 5921 all 3605 that has been done 6213 under 8478 heaven 8064. {It} is a grievous 7451 task 6045 {which} God 430 has given 5414 to the sons 1121 of men 120 to be afflicted 6030 with.
14 I have seen 7200 all 3605 the works 4639 which 7945 have been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121, and behold 2009, all 3605 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
15 What is crooked 5791 cannot be straightened 8626 and what 2642 is lacking 2642 cannot be counted 4487.
16 ¶ I said 1696 to myself 3820, "Behold 2009, I have magnified 1431 and increased 3254 wisdom 2451 more 5921 than 5921 all 3605 who 834 were over 5921 Jerusalem 3389 before 6440 me; and my mind 3820 has observed 7200 a wealth 7235 of wisdom 2451 and knowledge 1847."
17 And I set 5414 my mind 3820 to know 3045 wisdom 2451 and to know 3045 madness 1947 and folly 5531; I realized 3045 that this 2088 also 1571 is striving 7475 after wind 7307.
18 Because 3588 in much 7230 wisdom 2451 there is much 7230 grief 3708, and increasing 3254 knowledge 1847 {results in} increasing 3254 pain 4341.
Chapter 2
1 The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions
I said 559 to myself 3820, "Come 1980 now 4994, I will test 5254 you with pleasure 8057. So enjoy yourself." And behold 2009, it too 1571 was futility 1892.
2 I said 559 of laughter 7814, "It is madness 1984," and of pleasure 8057, "What 4100 does it accomplish 6213?"
3 I explored 8446 with my mind 3820 {how} to stimulate 4900 my body 1320 with wine 3196 while my mind 3820 was guiding 5090 {me} wisely 2451, and how to take 270 hold 270 of folly 5531, until I could see 7200 what good 2896 there is for the sons 1121 of men 120 to do 6213 under 8478 heaven 8064 the few 4557 years 3117 of their lives 2425.
4 I enlarged 1431 my works 4639: I built 1129 houses 1004 for myself, I planted 5193 vineyards 3754 for myself;
5 I made 6213 gardens 1593 and parks 6508 for myself and I planted 5193 in them all 3605 kinds of fruit 6529 trees 6086;
6 I made 6213 ponds 1295 of water 4325 for myself from which to irrigate 8248 a forest 3293 of growing 6779 trees 6086.
7 I bought 7069 male 5650 and female 8198 slaves and I had 1961 homeborn slaves 1121. Also 1571 I possessed flocks 6629 and herds 1241 larger 7235 than 4480 all 3605 who 7945 preceded 6440 me in Jerusalem 3389.
8 Also 1571, I collected 3664 for myself silver 3701 and gold 2091 and the treasure 5459 of kings 4428 and provinces 4082. I provided 6213 for myself male and female singers 7891 and the pleasures 8588 of men--many 7705 concubines 7705.
9 ¶ Then I became 1431 great 1431 and increased 3254 more 4480 than 4480 all 3605 who 7945 preceded 6440 me in Jerusalem 3389. My wisdom 2451 also 637 stood 5975 by me.
10 All 3605 that my eyes 5869 desired 7592 I did not refuse 680 them. I did not withhold 4513 my heart 3820 from any 3605 pleasure 8057, for my heart 3820 was pleased 8056 because 4480 of all 3605 my labor 5999 and this 2088 was my reward 2506 for all 3605 my labor 5999.
11 Thus I considered 6437 all 3605 my activities 4639 which 7945 my hands 3027 had done 6213 and the labor 5999 which 7945 I had exerted 6213, and behold 2009 all 3605 was vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307 and there 369 was no 369 profit 3504 under 8478 the sun 8121.
12 Wisdom Excels Folly
¶ So I turned 6437 to consider 7200 wisdom 2451, madness 1947 and folly 5531; for what 4100 {will} the man 120 {do} who 7945 will come 935 after 310 the king 4428 {except} what 834 has already 3528 been done 6213?
13 And I saw 7200 that wisdom 2451 excels 3504 folly 5531 as light 216 excels 3504 darkness 2822.
14 The wise 2450 man's 2450 eyes 5869 are in his head 7218, but the fool 3684 walks 1980 in darkness 2822. And yet 1571 I know 3045 that one 259 fate 4745 befalls 7136 them both 3605.
15 Then I said 559 to myself 3820, "As is the fate 4745 of the fool 3684, it will also 1571 befall 7136 me. Why 4100 then 227 have I been 2449 extremely 3148 wise 2449?" So I said 1696 to myself 3820, "This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892."
16 For there 369 is no 369 lasting 5769 remembrance 2146 of the wise 2450 man 2450 {as} with the fool 3684, inasmuch 7945 as {in} the coming 935 days 3117 all 3605 will be forgotten 7911. And how 349 the wise 2450 man 2450 and the fool 3684 alike 5973 die 4191!
17 So I hated 8130 life 2425, for the work 4639 which 7945 had been done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121 was grievous 7451 to me; because 3588 everything 3605 is futility 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
18 The Futility of Labor
¶ Thus I hated 8130 all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I had labored 6001 under 8478 the sun 8121, for I must leave 5117 it to the man 120 who 7945 will come 1961 after 310 me.
19 And who 4310 knows 3045 whether he will be a wise 2450 man 2450 or 176 a fool 5530? Yet he will have control 7980 over 7980 all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I have labored 5998 by acting 2449 wisely 2449 under 8478 the sun 8121. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
20 Therefore I completely despaired 2976 of all 3605 the fruit 5999 of my labor 5999 for which 7945 I had labored 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121.
21 When 3588 there 3426 is a man 120 who 7945 has labored 5998 with wisdom 2451, knowledge 1847 and skill 3788, then he gives 5414 his legacy 2506 to one 120 who 7945 has not labored 5998 with them. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and a great 7227 evil 7463.
22 For what 4100 does a man 120 get 1933 in all 3605 his labor 5999 and in his striving 7475 with which 7945 he labors 6001 under 8478 the sun 8121?
23 Because 3588 all 3605 his days 3117 his task 6045 is painful 4341 and grievous 3708; even 1571 at night 3915 his mind 3820 does not rest 7901. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
24 ¶ There 369 is nothing 369 better 2896 for a man 120 {than} to eat 398 and drink 8354 and tell 7200 himself 5315 that his labor 5999 is good 2896. This 2090 also 1571 I have seen 7200 that it is from the hand 3027 of God 430.
25 For who 4310 can eat 398 and who 4310 can have 2363 enjoyment 2363 without Him?
26 For to a person 120 who 7945 is good 2896 in His sight 6440 He has given 5414 wisdom 2451 and knowledge 1847 and joy 8057, while to the sinner 2398 He has given 5414 the task 6045 of gathering 622 and collecting 3664 so that he may give 5414 to one 2896 who 2896 is good 2896 in God's 430 sight 6440. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
Chapter 3
1 A Time for Everything
There is an appointed 2165 time 2165 for everything 3605. And there is a time 6256 for every 3605 event 2656 under 8478 heaven 8064--
2 A time 6256 to give 3205 birth 3205 and a time 6256 to die 4191; A time 6256 to plant 5193 and a time 6256 to uproot 6131 what is planted 5193.
3 A time 6256 to kill 2026 and a time 6256 to heal 7495; A time 6256 to tear 6555 down 6555 and a time 6256 to build 1129 up.
4 A time 6256 to weep 1058 and a time 6256 to laugh 7832; A time 6256 to mourn 5594 and a time 6256 to dance 7540.
5 A time 6256 to throw 7993 stones 68 and a time 6256 to gather 3664 stones 68; A time 6256 to embrace 2263 and a time 6256 to shun 7368 embracing 2263.
6 A time 6256 to search 1245 and a time 6256 to give 6 up as lost 6; A time 6256 to keep 8104 and a time 6256 to throw 7993 away 7993.
7 A time 6256 to tear 7167 apart 7167 and a time 6256 to sew 8609 together 8609; A time 6256 to be silent 2814 and a time 6256 to speak 1696.
8 A time 6256 to love 157 and a time 6256 to hate 8130; A time 6256 for war 4421 and a time 6256 for peace 7965.
9 ¶ What 4100 profit 3504 is there to the worker 6213 from that in which 834 he toils 6001?
10 I have seen 7200 the task 6045 which 834 God 430 has given 5414 the sons 1121 of men 120 with which to occupy 6030 themselves.
11 God Set Eternity in the Heart of Man
He has made 6213 everything 3605 appropriate 3303 in its time 6256. He has also 1571 set 5414 eternity 5769 in their heart 3820, yet 1097 so 1097 that man 120 will not find 4672 out the work 4639 which 834 God 430 has done 6213 from the beginning 7218 even to the end 5490.
12 ¶ I know 3045 that there 369 is nothing 369 better 2896 for them than to rejoice 8055 and to do 6213 good 2896 in one's lifetime 2425;
13 moreover 1571, that every 3605 man 120 who 7945 eats 398 and drinks 8354 sees 7200 good 2896 in all 3605 his labor 5999--it is the gift 4991 of God 430.
14 I know 3045 that everything God 430 does 6213 will remain 1961 forever 5769; there 369 is nothing 369 to add 3254 to it and there 369 is nothing 369 to take 1639 from it, for God 430 has {so} worked 6213 that men should fear 3372 Him.
15 That which is has been 1961 already 3528 and that which 834 will be has already 3528 been 1961, for God 430 seeks 1245 what has passed 7291 by.
16 ¶ Furthermore 5750, I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121 {that} in the place 4725 of justice 4941 there 8033 is wickedness 7562 and in the place 4725 of righteousness 6664 there 8033 is wickedness 7562.
17 I said 559 to myself 3820, "God 430 will judge 8199 both the righteous 6662 man 6662 and the wicked 7563 man 7563," for a time 6256 for every 3605 matter 2656 and for every 3605 deed 4639 is there 8033.
18 I said 559 to myself 3820 concerning the sons 1121 of men 120, "God 430 has surely tested 1305 them in order for them to see 7200 that they are but beasts 929."
19 For the fate 4745 of the sons 1121 of men 120 and the fate 4745 of beasts 929 is the same 259. As one 2088 dies 4194 so 3651 dies 4194 the other 2088; indeed, they all 3605 have the same 259 breath 7307 and there 369 is no 369 advantage 4195 for man 120 over 4480 beast 929, for all 3605 is vanity 1892.
20 All 3605 go 1980 to the same 259 place 4725. All 3605 came 1961 from the dust 6083 and all 3605 return 7725 to the dust 6083.
21 Who 4310 knows 3045 that the breath 7307 of man 120 ascends 5927 upward 4605 and the breath 7307 of the beast 929 descends 3381 downward 4295 to the earth 776?
22 I have seen 7200 that nothing 369 is better 2896 than 4480 that man 120 should be happy 8055 in his activities 4639, for that is his lot 2506. For who 4310 will bring 935 him to see 7200 what 4100 will occur 1961 after 310 him?
Chapter 4
1 The Evils of Oppression
Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at all 3605 the acts 6217 of oppression 6217 which 834 were being done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121. And behold 2009 {I saw} the tears 1832 of the oppressed 6231 and {that} they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 {them;} and on the side 3027 of their oppressors 6231 was power 3581, but they had 369 no 369 one 369 to comfort 5162 {them.}
2 So I congratulated 7623 the dead 4191 who 7945 are already 3528 dead 4191 more 4480 than 4480 the living 2416 who 834 are still 5728 living 2416.
3 But better 2896 {off} than 4480 both 8147 of them is the one who 834 has never 3808 existed 1961, who 834 has never 3808 seen 7200 the evil 7451 activity 4639 that is done 6213 under 8478 the sun 8121.
4 ¶ I have seen 7200 that every 3605 labor 5999 and every 3605 skill 3788 which is done 4639 is {the result of} rivalry 7068 between a man 376 and his neighbor 7453. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
5 The fool 3684 folds 2263 his hands 3027 and consumes 398 his own flesh 1320.
6 One hand 3709 full 4393 of rest 5183 is better 2896 than 4480 two fists 2651 full 4393 of labor 5999 and striving 7469 after wind 7307.
7 ¶ Then I looked 7200 again 7725 at vanity 1892 under 8478 the sun 8121.
8 There 3426 was a certain 259 man 259 without 369 a dependent 8145, having 369 neither a son 1121 nor 369 a brother 251, yet there 369 was no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 his labor 5999. Indeed 1571, his eyes 5869 were not satisfied 7646 with riches 6239 {and he never asked,} "And for whom 4310 am I laboring 6001 and depriving 2637 myself 5315 of pleasure 2899?" This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and it is a grievous 7451 task 6045.
9 ¶ Two 8147 are better 2896 than 4480 one 259 because 834 they have 3426 a good 2896 return 7725 for their labor 5999.
10 For if 518 either of them falls 5307, the one 259 will lift 6965 up his companion 2270. But woe 337 to the one 259 who 7945 falls 5307 when there 369 is not another 8145 to lift 6965 him up.
11 Furthermore 1571, if 518 two 8147 lie 7901 down 7901 together they keep 2552 warm 2552, but how 349 can one 259 be warm 2552 {alone?}
12 And if 518 one 259 can overpower 8630 him who 259 is alone, two 8147 can resist him. A cord 2339 of three 8027 {strands} is not quickly 4120 torn 5423 apart 5423.
13 ¶ A poor 4542 yet wise 2450 lad 3206 is better 2896 than 4480 an old 2205 and foolish 3684 king 4428 who 834 no 3808 longer 5750 knows 3045 {how} to receive 2094 instruction 2094.
14 For he has come 3318 out of prison to become 4427 king 4427, even 1571 though 3588 he was born 3205 poor 7326 in his kingdom 4438.
15 I have seen 7200 all 3605 the living 2416 under 8478 the sun 8121 throng 1980 to the side 5973 of the second 8145 lad 3206 who 834 replaces him.
16 There 369 is no 369 end 7093 to all 3605 the people 5971, to all 3605 who 834 were before 6440 them, and even 1571 the ones 314 who 314 will come 314 later 314 will not be happy 8055 with him, for this 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892 and striving 7475 after wind 7307.
Chapter 5
1 Your Attitude Toward God
Guard 8104 your steps 7272 as you go 1980 to the house 1004 of God 430 and draw 7126 near 7138 to listen 8085 rather 4480 than 4480 to offer 5414 the sacrifice 2077 of fools 3684; for they do not know 3045 they are doing 6213 evil 7451.
2 Do not be hasty 4116 in word 6310 or impulsive 4116 in thought 3820 to bring 3318 up a matter 1697 in the presence 6440 of God 430. For God 430 is in heaven 8064 and you are on the earth 776; therefore let your words 1697 be few 4592.
3 For the dream 2472 comes 935 through much 7230 effort 6045 and the voice 6963 of a fool 3684 through many 7230 words 1697.
4 ¶ When 3512 you make 5087 a vow 5088 to God 430, do not be late 309 in paying 7999 it; for {He takes} no 369 delight 2656 in fools 3684. Pay 7999 what 834 you vow 5087!
5 It is better 2896 that you should not vow 5087 than 4480 that you should vow 5087 and not pay 7999.
6 Do not let 5414 your speech 6310 cause you to sin 2398 and do not say 559 in the presence 6440 of the messenger 4397 {of God} that it was a mistake 7684. Why 4100 should God 430 be angry 7107 on account 5921 of your voice 6963 and destroy 2254 the work 4639 of your hands 3027?
7 For in many 7230 dreams 2472 and in many 7235 words 1697 there is emptiness 1892. Rather 3588, fear 3372 God 430.
8 ¶ If 518 you see 7200 oppression 6233 of the poor 7326 and denial 1498 of justice 4941 and righteousness 6664 in the province 4082, do not be shocked 8539 at the sight 2656; for one official 1364 watches 8104 over another official 1364, and there are higher 1364 officials 1364 over 5921 them.
9 After all 3605, a king 4428 who cultivates 5647 the field 7704 is an advantage 3504 to the land 776.
10 The Folly of Riches
¶ He who loves 157 money 3701 will not be satisfied 7646 with money 3701, nor 3808 he who 4310 loves 157 abundance 1995 {with its} income 8393. This 2088 too 1571 is vanity 1892.
11 When good 2899 things 2899 increase 7235, those who consume 398 them increase 7231. So what 4100 is the advantage 3788 to their owners 1167 except to look on?
12 The sleep 8142 of the working 5647 man is pleasant 4966, whether 518 he eats 398 little 4592 or much 7235; but the full 7647 stomach 7647 of the rich 6223 man 6223 does not allow 5117 him to sleep 3462.
13 ¶ There 3426 is a grievous 2470 evil 7463 {which} I have seen 7200 under 8478 the sun 8121: riches 6239 being hoarded 8104 by their owner 1167 to his hurt 7463.
14 When those 1931 riches 6239 were lost 6 through a bad 7451 investment 6045 and he had fathered 3205 a son 1121, then there 369 was nothing to support 3027 him.
15 As he had come 3318 naked 6174 from his mother's 517 womb 990, so will he return 7725 as he came 935. He will take 5375 nothing from the fruit 5999 of his labor 5999 that he can carry 1980 in his hand 3027.
16 This 2090 also 1571 is a grievous 2470 evil 7463--exactly 5980 as a man is born 935, thus 3651 will he die 1980. So what 4100 is the advantage 3504 to him who 7945 toils 5998 for the wind 7307?
17 Throughout 3605 his life 3117 {he} also 1571 eats 398 in darkness 2822 with great 7235 vexation 3707, sickness 2483 and anger 7110.
18 ¶ Here 2009 is what 834 I have seen 7200 to be good 2896 and fitting 3303: to eat 398, to drink 8354 and enjoy oneself in all 3605 one's labor 5999 in which 7945 he toils 5998 under 8478 the sun 8121 {during} the few 4557 years 3117 of his life 2425 which 834 God 430 has given 5414 him; for this 1931 is his reward 2506.
19 Furthermore 1571, as for every 3605 man 120 to whom 834 God 430 has given 5414 riches 6239 and wealth 5233, He has also empowered 7980 him to eat 398 from them and to receive 5375 his reward 2506 and rejoice 8055 in his labor 5999; this 2090 is the