I said to myself , “ Come now , I will test you with pleasure ; enjoy what is good ! ” But it proved ... to be futile.
I said of laughter , “ It is folly , ” and of pleasure , “ What does it accomplish ? ”
I sought ... to cheer my body ... with wine - and to embrace folly — my mind still guiding me with wisdom — until - I could see what (was) worthwhile for men ... - to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.
I expanded my pursuits. I built houses and planted vineyards
I made gardens and parks I planted all kinds of fruit trees.
I built reservoirs ... to water my groves of flourishing trees.
I acquired menservants and maidservants , and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds ... and flocks than anyone ... ... in Jerusalem before me ,
and I accumulated silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers , and the delights of the sons of men — many concubines.
So I became great and surpassed all in Jerusalem who had preceded me ... ; and my wisdom remained
Anything - my eyes desired , I did not deny myself. I refused - my heart no ... pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work , and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and (what) I had toiled to achieve , I found everything to be futile , a pursuit of the wind ; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly ; for what (more) can the king’s vvv successor ... - do than what has already been accomplished ?
And I saw that wisdom exceeds ... folly , just as light exceeds ... darkness :
The wise man has eyes in his head , but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also came to realize that one fate overcomes them both.
So I said to myself , “ The fate of the fool will also befall me. What then have I gained by being wise ? ” And I said to myself that this too is futile.
For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise , just as with the fool , seeing that both will be forgotten in the days to come. Alas , the wise man will die just like the fool !
So I hated - life , because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
I - hated all for which I had toiled ... under the sun , because I must leave it to the man who comes after me.
And who knows whether (that man) will be wise or foolish ? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.
So my heart began to despair - over all the labor that I had done under the sun.
When there is a man who has labored with wisdom , knowledge , and skill , and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked this too is futile and a great evil.
For what does a man get for all the toil - and striving with which he labors under the sun ?
Indeed , all his days are filled with grief , and his task is sorrowful ; even at night , his mind does not rest. This too is futile ....
Nothing (is) better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy - - ... his work. I have also seen that this (is) from the hand of God.
For apart from Him , who can eat and who can find enjoyment ?
To the man who is pleasing in His sight , He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy , but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating (that which) he will hand over to one who pleases ... God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.