Ecclesiastes 2 | Biblion Bible Reader

WEB·Ecclesiastes 3

¹For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

KJVTo every thing there is a season^H2165, and a time^H6256 to every purpose^H2656 under the heaven^H8064:

² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

KJVA time^H6256 to be born^H3205^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to die^H4191^(H8800); a time^H6256 to plant^H5193^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to pluck up^H6131^(H8800) that which is planted^H5193^(H8803);

³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

KJVA time^H6256 to kill^H2026^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to heal^H7495^(H8800); a time^H6256 to break down^H6555^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to build up^H1129^(H8800);

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

KJVA time^H6256 to weep^H1058^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to laugh^H7832^(H8800); a time^H6256 to mourn^H5594^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to dance^H7540^(H8800);

⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

KJVA time^H6256 to cast away^H7993^(H8687) stones^H68, and a time^H6256 to gather^H3664 stones^H68 together^H3664^(H8800); a time^H6256 to embrace^H2263^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to refrain^H7368^(H8800) from embracing^H2263^(H8763);

⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

KJVA time^H6256 to get^H1245^(H8763), and a time^H6256 to lose^H6^(H8763); a time^H6256 to keep^H8104^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to cast away^H7993^(H8687);

⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

KJVA time^H6256 to rend^H7167^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to sew^H8609^(H8800); a time^H6256 to keep silence^H2814^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to speak^H1696^(H8763);

⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

KJVA time^H6256 to love^H157^(H8800), and a time^H6256 to hate^H8130^(H8800); a time^H6256 of war^H4421, and a time^H6256 of peace^H7965.

⁹ What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?

KJVWhat profit^H3504 hath he that worketh^H6213^(H8802) in that wherein^H834 he laboureth^H6001?

¹⁰ I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

KJVI have seen^H7200^(H8804) the travail^H6045, which God^H430 hath given^H5414^(H8804) to the sons^H1121 of men^H120 to be exercised^H6031^(H8800) in it.

¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.

KJVHe hath made^H6213^(H8804) every thing beautiful^H3303 in his time^H6256: also he hath set^H5414^(H8804) the world^H5769 in their heart^H3820, so that^H1097 no man^H120 can find out^H4672^(H8799) the work^H4639 that God^H430 maketh^H6213^(H8804) from the beginning^H7218 to the end^H5490.

¹² I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

KJVI know^H3045^(H8804) that there is no good^H2896 in them, but for a man to rejoice^H8055^(H8800), and to do^H6213^(H8800) good^H2896 in his life^H2416.

¹³ Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.

KJVAnd also that every man^H120 should eat^H398^(H8799) and drink^H8354^(H8804), and enjoy^H7200^(H8804) the good^H2896 of all his labour^H5999, it is the gift^H4991 of God^H430.

¹⁴ I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

KJVI know^H3045^(H8804) that, whatsoever God^H430 doeth^H6213^(H8799), it shall be for ever^H5769: nothing^H369 can be put^H3254^(H8687) to it, nor any thing taken^H1639^(H8800) from it: and God^H430 doeth^H6213^(H8804) it, that men should fear^H3372^(H8799) before^H6440 him.

¹⁵ That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago. God seeks again that which is passed away.

KJVThat which hath been is now^H3528; and that which is to be hath already^H3528 been; and God^H430 requireth^H1245^(H8762) that which is past^H7291^(H8737).

¹⁶ Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.

KJVAnd moreover I saw^H7200^(H8804) under the sun^H8121 the place^H4725 of judgment^H4941, that wickedness^H7562 was there; and the place^H4725 of righteousness^H6664, that iniquity^H7562 was there.

¹⁷ I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

KJVI said^H559^(H8804) in mine heart^H3820, God^H430 shall judge^H8199^(H8799) the righteous^H6662 and the wicked^H7563: for there is a time^H6256 there for every purpose^H2656 and for every work^H4639.

¹⁸ I said in my heart, “As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

KJVI said^H559^(H8804) in mine heart^H3820 concerning the estate^H1700 of the sons^H1121 of men^H120, that God^H430 might manifest^H1305^(H8800) them, and that they might see^H7200^(H8800) that they^H1992 themselves are beasts^H929.

¹⁹ For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals, for all is vanity.

KJVFor that which befalleth^H4745 the sons^H1121 of men^H120 befalleth^H4745 beasts^H929; even one thing^H259 befalleth^H4745 them: as the one dieth^H4194, so dieth^H4194 the other^H2088; yea, they have all one^H259 breath^H7307; so that a man^H120 hath no preeminence^H4195 above a beast^H929: for all is vanity^H1892.

²⁰ All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.

KJVAll go^H1980^(H8802) unto one^H259 place^H4725; all are of the dust^H6083, and all turn^H7725 to dust^H6083 again^H7725^(H8804).

²¹ Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”

KJVWho knoweth^H3045^(H8802) the spirit^H7307 of man^H1121^H120 that goeth^H5927^(H8802) upward^H4605, and the spirit^H7307 of the beast^H929 that goeth^H3381^(H8802) downward^H4295 to the earth^H776?

²² Therefore I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

KJVWherefore I perceive^H7200^(H8804) that there is nothing better^H2896, than that a man^H120 should rejoice^H8055^(H8799) in his own works^H4639; for that is his portion^H2506: for who shall bring^H935^(H8686) him to see^H7200^(H8800) what shall be after^H310 him?

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.

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

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