Ecclesiastes 1 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Ecclesiastes 2

¹I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure;” and behold, this also was vanity.

KJVI said^H559^(H8804) in mine heart^H3820, Go to now^H3212^(H8798), I will prove^H5254^(H8762) thee with mirth^H8057, therefore enjoy^H7200^(H8798) pleasure^H2896: and, behold, this also is vanity^H1892.

² I said of laughter, “It is foolishness;” and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?”

KJVI said^H559^(H8804) of laughter^H7814, It is mad^H1984^(H8781): and of mirth^H8057, What^H2090 doeth^H6213^(H8802) it?

³ I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

KJVI sought^H8446^(H8804) in mine heart^H3820 to give^H4900^(H8800) myself^H1320 unto wine^H3196, yet acquainting^H5090^(H8802) mine heart^H3820 with wisdom^H2451; and to lay hold^H270^(H8800) on folly^H5531, till I might see^H7200^(H8799) what was that good^H2896 for the sons^H1121 of men^H120, which they should do^H6213^(H8799) under the heaven^H8064 all^H4557 the days^H3117 of their life^H2416.

⁴ I made myself great works. I built myself houses. I planted myself vineyards.

KJVI made me great^H1431^(H8689) works^H4639; I builded^H1129^(H8804) me houses^H1004; I planted^H5193^(H8804) me vineyards^H3754:

⁵ I made myself gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit.

KJVI made^H6213^(H8804) me gardens^H1593 and orchards^H6508, and I planted^H5193^(H8804) trees^H6086 in them of all kind of fruits^H6529:

⁶ I made myself pools of water, to water the forest where trees were grown.

KJVI made^H6213^(H8804) me pools^H1295 of water^H4325, to water^H8248^(H8687) therewith the wood^H3293 that bringeth forth^H6779^(H8802) trees^H6086:

⁷ I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house. I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all who were before me in Jerusalem.

KJVI got^H7069^(H8804) me servants^H5650 and maidens^H8198, and had servants born^H1121 in my house^H1004; also I had great^H7235^(H8687) possessions^H4735 of great^H1241 and small cattle^H6629 above all that were in Jerusalem^H3389 before^H6440 me:

⁸ I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men: musical instruments of all sorts.

KJVI gathered^H3664^(H8804) me also silver^H3701 and gold^H2091, and the peculiar treasure^H5459 of kings^H4428 and of the provinces^H4082: I gat^H6213^(H8804) me men singers^H7891^(H8802) and women singers^H7891^(H8802), and the delights^H8588 of the sons^H1121 of men^H120, as musical instruments^H7705^H7705, and that of all sorts.

⁹ So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

KJVSo I was great^H1431^(H8804), and increased^H3254^(H8689) more than all that were before^H6440 me in Jerusalem^H3389: also my wisdom^H2451 remained^H5975^(H8804) with me.

¹⁰ Whatever my eyes desired, I didn’t keep from them. I didn’t withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

KJVAnd whatsoever mine eyes^H5869 desired^H7592^(H8804) I kept^H680^(H8804) not from them, I withheld^H4513^(H8804) not my heart^H3820 from any joy^H8057; for my heart^H3820 rejoiced^H8056 in all my labour^H5999: and this was my portion^H2506 of all my labour^H5999.

¹¹ Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.

KJVThen I looked^H6437^(H8804) on all the works^H4639 that my hands^H3027 had wrought^H6213^(H8804), and on the labour^H5999 that I had laboured^H5998^(H8804) to do^H6213^(H8800): and, behold, all was vanity^H1892 and vexation^H7469 of spirit^H7307, and there was no profit^H3504 under the sun^H8121.

¹² I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly; for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

KJVAnd I turned^H6437^(H8804) myself to behold^H7200^(H8800) wisdom^H2451, and madness^H1947, and folly^H5531: for what can the man^H120 do that cometh^H935^(H8799) after^H310 the king^H4428? even that which hath been already^H3528 done^H6213^(H8804).

¹³ Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

KJVThen I saw^H7200^(H8804) that^H3426 wisdom^H2451 excelleth^H3504 folly^H5531, as far as light^H216 excelleth^H3504 darkness^H2822.

¹⁴ The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

KJVThe wise man's^H2450 eyes^H5869 are in his head^H7218; but the fool^H3684 walketh^H1980^(H8802) in darkness^H2822: and I myself perceived^H3045^(H8804) also that one^H259 event^H4745 happeneth^H7136^(H8799) to them all.

¹⁵ Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

KJVThen^H227 said^H559^(H8804) I in my heart^H3820, As it happeneth^H4745 to the fool^H3684, so it happeneth^H7136^(H8799) even to me^H1571; and why was I then more^H3148 wise^H2449^(H8804)? Then I said^H1696^(H8765) in my heart^H3820, that this also is vanity^H1892.

¹⁶ For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory forever, since in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool!

KJVFor there is no remembrance^H2146 of the wise^H2450 more than^H5973 of the fool^H3684 for ever^H5769; seeing that which now^H3528 is in the days^H3117 to come^H935^(H8802) shall all be forgotten^H7911^(H8738). And how dieth^H4191^(H8799) the wise^H2450 man? as the fool^H3684.

¹⁷ So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

KJVTherefore I hated^H8130^(H8804) life^H2416; because the work^H4639 that is wrought^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121 is grievous^H7451 unto me: for all is vanity^H1892 and vexation^H7469 of spirit^H7307.

¹⁸ I hated all my labor in which I labored under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.

KJVYea, I hated^H8130^(H8804) all my labour^H5999 which I had taken^H6001 under the sun^H8121: because I should leave^H3240^(H8686) it unto the man^H120 that shall be after^H310 me.

¹⁹ Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

KJVAnd who knoweth^H3045^(H8802) whether he shall be a wise^H2450 man or a fool^H5530? yet shall he have rule^H7980^(H8799) over all my labour^H5999 wherein I have laboured^H5998^(H8804), and wherein I have shewed myself wise^H2449^(H8804) under the sun^H8121. This is also vanity^H1892.

²⁰ Therefore I began to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor in which I had labored under the sun.

KJVTherefore I went about^H5437^(H8804) to cause^H2976 my heart^H3820 to despair^H2976^(H8763) of all the labour^H5999 which I took^H5998^(H8804) under the sun^H8121.

²¹ For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

KJVFor there is^H3426 a man^H120 whose labour^H5999 is in wisdom^H2451, and in knowledge^H1847, and in equity^H3788; yet to a man^H120 that hath not laboured^H5998^(H8804) therein shall he leave^H5414^(H8799) it for his portion^H2506. This also is vanity^H1892 and a great^H7227 evil^H7451.

²² For what does a man have of all his labor and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

KJVFor what hath^H1933^(H8802) man^H120 of all his labour^H5999, and of the vexation^H7475 of his heart^H3820, wherein^H1931 he hath laboured^H6001 under the sun^H8121?

²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

KJVFor all his days^H3117 are sorrows^H4341, and his travail^H6045 grief^H3708; yea, his heart^H3820 taketh not rest^H7901^(H8804) in the night^H3915. This is also vanity^H1892.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

KJVThere is nothing better^H2896 for a man^H120, than that he should eat^H398^(H8799) and drink^H8354^(H8804), and that he should make his soul^H5315 enjoy^H7200^(H8689) good^H2896 in his labour^H5999. This^H2090 also I saw^H7200^(H8804), that it was from the hand^H3027 of God^H430.

²⁵ For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?

KJVFor who can eat^H398^(H8799), or who else can hasten^H2363^(H8799) hereunto, more^H2351 than I?

²⁶ For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

KJVFor God giveth^H5414^(H8804) to a man^H120 that is good^H2896 in his sight^H6440 wisdom^H2451, and knowledge^H1847, and joy^H8057: but to the sinner^H2398^(H8802) he giveth^H5414^(H8804) travail^H6045, to gather^H622^(H8800) and to heap up^H3664^(H8800), that he may give^H5414^(H8800) to him that is good^H2896 before^H6440 God^H430. This also is vanity^H1892 and vexation^H7469 of spirit^H7307.

WEB·Ecclesiastes 1

¹The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

KJVThe words^H1697 of the Preacher^H6953, the son^H1121 of David^H1732, king^H4428 in Jerusalem^H3389.

² “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

KJVVanity^H1892 of vanities^H1892, saith^H559^(H8804) the Preacher^H6953, vanity^H1892 of vanities^H1892; all is vanity^H1892.

³ What does man gain from all his labor in which he labors under the sun?

KJVWhat profit^H3504 hath a man^H120 of all his labour^H5999 which he taketh^H5998^(H8799) under the sun^H8121?

⁴ One generation goes, and another generation comes; but the earth remains forever.

KJVOne generation^H1755 passeth away^H1980^(H8802), and another generation^H1755 cometh^H935^(H8802)^(H8676)^H935^(H8804): but the earth^H776 abideth^H5975^(H8802) for ever^H5769.

⁵ The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hurries to its place where it rises.

KJVThe sun^H8121 also ariseth^H2224^(H8804), and the sun^H8121 goeth down^H935^(H8804), and hasteth^H7602^(H8802) to his place^H4725 where he arose^H2224^(H8802).

⁶ The wind goes toward the south, and turns around to the north. It turns around continually as it goes, and the wind returns again to its courses.

KJVThe wind^H7307 goeth^H1980^(H8802) toward the south^H1864, and turneth about^H5437^(H8802) unto the north^H6828; it whirleth about continually^H1980^(H8802), and the wind^H7307 returneth again^H7725^(H8804) according to his circuits^H5439.

⁷ All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.

KJVAll the rivers^H5158 run^H1980^(H8802) into the sea^H3220; yet the sea^H3220 is not full^H4392; unto the place^H4725 from whence the rivers^H5158 come^H1980^(H8802), thither they return^H7725^(H8802) again^H3212^(H8800).

⁸ All things are full of weariness beyond uttering. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

KJVAll things^H1697 are full of labour^H3023; man^H376 cannot^H3201^(H8799) utter^H1696^(H8763) it: the eye^H5869 is not satisfied^H7646^(H8799) with seeing^H7200^(H8800), nor the ear^H241 filled^H4390^(H8735) with hearing^H8085^(H8800).

⁹ That which has been is that which shall be, and that which has been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun.

KJVThe thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done^H6213^(H8738) is that which shall be done^H6213^(H8735): and there is no new^H2319 thing under the sun^H8121.

¹⁰ Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new”? It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

KJVIs there^H3426 any thing^H1697 whereof it may be said^H559^(H8799), See^H7200^(H8798), this is new^H2319? it hath been already^H3528 of old time^H5769, which was before^H6440 us.

¹¹ There is no memory of the former; neither shall there be any memory of the latter that are to come, among those that shall come after.

KJVThere is no remembrance^H2146 of former^H7223 things; neither shall there be any remembrance^H2146 of things that are to come^H314 with those that shall come after^H314.

¹² I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

KJVI the Preacher^H6953 was king^H4428 over Israel^H3478 in Jerusalem^H3389.

¹³ I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

KJVAnd I gave^H5414^(H8804) my heart^H3820 to seek^H1875^(H8800) and search out^H8446^(H8800) by wisdom^H2451 concerning all things that are done^H6213^(H8738) under heaven^H8064: this sore^H7451 travail^H6045 hath God^H430 given^H5414^(H8804) to the sons^H1121 of man^H120 to be exercised^H6031^(H8800) therewith.

¹⁴ I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

KJVI have seen^H7200^(H8804) all the works^H4639 that are done^H6213^(H8738) under the sun^H8121; and, behold, all is vanity^H1892 and vexation^H7469 of spirit^H7307.

¹⁵ That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.

KJVThat which is crooked^H5791^(H8794) cannot^H3201^(H8799) be made straight^H8626^(H8800): and that which is wanting^H2642 cannot^H3201^(H8799) be numbered^H4487^(H8736).

¹⁶ I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

KJVI communed^H1696^(H8765) with mine own heart^H3820, saying^H559^(H8800), Lo, I am come to great estate^H1431^(H8689), and have gotten^H3254^(H8689) more wisdom^H2451 than all they that have been before^H6440 me in Jerusalem^H3389: yea, my heart^H3820 had great^H7235^(H8687) experience^H7200^(H8804) of wisdom^H2451 and knowledge^H1847.

¹⁷ I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

KJVAnd I gave^H5414^(H8799) my heart^H3820 to know^H3045^(H8800) wisdom^H2451, and to know^H3045^(H8800) madness^H1947 and folly^H5531: I perceived^H3045^(H8804) that this^H1571 also is vexation^H7475 of spirit^H7307.

¹⁸ For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

KJVFor in much^H7230 wisdom^H2451 is much^H7230 grief^H3708: and he that increaseth^H3254^(H8686) knowledge^H1847 increaseth^H3254^(H8686) sorrow^H4341.

Section titles come from the Biblion commentary, not from Scripture.

You can also read or listen to the Introduction to the book of Ecclesiastes.