| 2:1 | I thought to myself,* “Come now,* I will try* self-indulgent pleasure* to see* if it is worthwhile.”* But I found* that it also is futile.* |
| 2:2 | I said of partying,* “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure,* “It accomplishes nothing!”* |
| 2:3 | I thought deeply* about the effects of* indulging* myself* with wine (all the while* my mind was guiding me* with wisdom)* and the effects of* behaving foolishly,* so that* I might discover what is profitable* for people* to do on earth* during the few days* of their lives. |
| 2:4 | I increased my possessions:* I built houses for myself;* I planted vineyards for myself. |
| 2:5 | I designed* royal gardens* and parks* 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* of flourishing trees. |
| 2:7 | I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house;* I also possessed more livestock – both herds and flocks – than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.* |
| 2:8 | I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures* taken from kingdoms and provinces.* I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight* – a harem of beautiful concubines!* |
| 2:9 | So* I was far wealthier* than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:* |
| 2:10 | I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted;* I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure.* So all my accomplishments gave me joy;* this was my reward for all my effort.* |
| 2:11 | Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished* and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it,* I concluded:* “All these* achievements and possessions* are ultimately* profitless* – like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained* from them* on earth.”* |
| 2:12 | Next, I decided to consider* wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas.* For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king* has already done? |
| 2:13 | I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly,* just as light is preferable to darkness: |
| 2:14 | The wise man can see where he is going,* but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate* happens to them both.* |
| 2:15 | So I thought to myself, “The fate of the fool will happen even to me!* Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively* wise?”* So I lamented to myself,* “The benefits of wisdom* are ultimately* meaningless!” |
| 2:16 | For the wise man, like* the fool, will not be remembered for very long,* because* in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten.* Alas,* the wise man dies – just like* the fool! |
| 2:17 | So I loathed* life* because what happens* on earth* seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom* are futile – like chasing the wind. |
| 2:18 | So I loathed all the fruit of* my effort,* for which I worked so hard* on earth,* because* I must leave it* behind* in the hands of my successor.* |
| 2:19 | Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet* he will be master over all the fruit of* my labor* for which I worked so wisely* on earth!* This also is futile! |
| 2:20 | So I began to despair* about all the fruit of* my labor* for which I worked so hard* on earth.* |
| 2:21 | For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over* the fruit of his labor* as an inheritance* to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!* |
| 2:22 | What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?* |
| 2:23 | For all day long* his work produces pain and frustration,* and even at night his mind cannot relax!* This also is futile! |
| 2:24 | There is nothing better for* people* than* to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment* in their* work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment* comes from God.* |
| 2:25 | For no one* can eat and drink* or experience joy* apart from him.* |
| 2:26 | For to the one who pleases him,* God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing* wealth* – only to give* it* to the one who pleases God. This* task of the wicked* is futile – like chasing the wind! |
Ecclesiastes 2 - NET Bible [draft]
